The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-29
In an article written by him for tho
New York Independent, Mr.. CoLFAx In


illustrating his argument says:
Virginia, West Virginia and North
Carolina were all, aiier reconstruction.
Republican sates s, ,.d ~ Io,,,iar Pon St1s
c %Is nominee v iSr Governor, 20, by what
was called a Conservative Republican
ticket, tho candidates on which claimed
aurl PsssiSsot ihan their onnonen, S1 eyc m
telcpraphing their Congratulations to him
when they won their victory; Elias any
one heard Oh any iiamphs o iGr ,he,papican
pr pti n Inc q constitntionsl eonveDtion OF
West Virginia, OF in tho Ku.Klux dens
Of North Cardinal m'faa.ati
We have heard ofsome very important
"triumphs for Republican principles and
ideas In the Constitutional Convention Of
West Virginia" Lett be borne in mind
that tile Convention has but twelve Re
publican members out Of seventy.eighti
that OF the sixty.six, many were actively
and most alphabetically identified with
tho rebellion. Their party came into
power on an outcry against negro suf-
trage, against ballot voting and other pc
culiarly Republican ideas 1t came in on
declarations by It's newspapers and stump
speakers in favor Of the most rcactionary
measures, Yet with, an Overwhelming
majority in the Convention and in the
Legislature, and with all the State Offices
in It's handt, what do we see? Really tho
finest triumphsR Republican principles have
ever had in the State; for now that the
first flush OF victory Is over with our i'd
yersarics, they begin 10 Weld 10 and &C.
knole1ge the silent but Epotent inilu-
ence of those principles. They cannot
and dare not stand up against them. The
battle is fought over and over, with tho
tlercest tenacity and Republican princl.
pies triumph every time, even in BODY
that numbers GO Democrats to IL Republi.
cans. ' ,' Id. '.,.
The very first sentence Of the new Con.
stitnuon Is a solemn recantation of the
heresy Of secession. 1t is declared that
the State Is and shall forever remain one
OF the United States, and that the Nation.
al Constitution is the Supreme law.
Then when it came to the suffrage-on
which Is founded the grandest article O.
the whole Republican laiih-the fight was
repeated, and the outcome Of It was the
adoption of a provision recognizing, with.
out protest or qualification, the equal right
of the colored man to the suffrage with
his white fellow citizen.
And so in regard to the manner Of
voting. The reactionists essayed to make
a stand for the old pica UOce mode Of
voting but they were routed horse, foot
and dragons and the secret ballot intro.
duGed for the first time on the sacred soil
by Republicans, was perpetusted.
Then the contest was renewed when II
came To defining the qualification for of
flee. A proposition was made 10 create
qualification Of color, and for one dav il
prevailed; but tho battle was renewed and
the Republican creed triumphed, afle,
days Of debate, and the right TO competf
for and enjoy official honors and cmolu.
ments was left as free 10 the black man
as to the white.
IL these arc not triumphs for Rcpub,i
can principles what should we call them
The Democratic party Of the State n,
represented in the Convention. dare moi
stand on the platform on which they CANT
into power. They realize the power Of
the public sentiment that the Republican
party has created and defer to its require.
ments. The last act of tho Republicans,
viz: the enIranchisment of the Confeder.
ates, coupling 1t with recognition Of ~tAe
Acknowledgement Of the blacks, has helped
nr;ro;r,o .ho. ,o.,I, ~ a. -,
Tho.a s"a' was wU.su a.. sos'
q, ~ !, "n n w. o.. "notsSpeu Dene,
tn,oa ~ a. =. 80 'U ,n.s o, " o ~s"t w 'uo
,h;o =" ,sa amaO U, VU =. p p w Seo
1870 T.S..oSn s y. I WE aSu ~
~, -, anoh a,oaa 49, "Du "ocDs' Aie
- ~. ~ =. 'uOn 'p01ousS ~ S Inese ltOm sqcn
r ,Sn - 0uCa = Doey iu.lpn' 'Or I've
puO.'sn ptIo'paes. ouE party naS SUI,
~.,a; sssn s, - me's W., .ns.u,' w. 10 yi'Al
t"ds-. - $3.50 o1 anu cAsas tSn lotCe
"uAs a. !. po'SH'lSiiy Us wnen a .ne party
. a,o"lns sl',u W. ~ pom osc NC lues'
sS avn a us u low "as Nne'n'
ei VIC shoulu FlSk SUCCESS as an OFganlZa'