The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-13


Republicans. who have had complete
control ct the State Government for
years, that if they could show that law
lessness prevailed in certain localities
and crime went UNPUBLISHED, that those
facts furnished a reason why they
should be continued in power, notwith-
standing the large majority Of ballots
cast against them.
BREAKING GOWN THE COLOR LINE.
Another assumption eff tbs Republic
ans is that all the colored men in the
State are necessarily Republicans. This
is by no means true. We were visited
by large number of colored persons
from different parts of the State, includ-
ing the alleged disturbed districts, who
made speeches and took an active part
in the canvass in favor of the Democratic
ticket, and who gave, among the reasons
Tor so doing, that they had been deceived
by the Republican officials, who had
proved dishonest and corrupt, and rob-
bed them of their school money and bur.
dened them with unnecessary taxes and
that they believed it for the INTEREST," of
the colored race TO unite their fortunes
with the whites, whose interests. like
their own, were identified with the State.
1t is certain that thousands of colored
persons voluntarily and actively sup
ported the Democratic ticket. The en-
tire vote OF the State, at the recent
election, is about fifteen thousand greater
than ever before; and even in the par
iSheE where intimidation is charged it
exceeds, in the aggregate, any previous
vote. The Congressional committee,
which, it is understood will soon visit the
State armed with authority to send for
persons and papers, and inquire into all
the facts connected with the recent
election and the action of the Returning
Board, will have greater facilities for ar
irving at the truth than We possess, but
with the law and such facts before US as
have been disclosed by the action of the
Returning Board, we do not hesitate to
declare that its proceedings as witnessed
by Us were partial and unfair, and hat
the result it has announced is arbitrary,
illegal and entitled to no ::respect what
ever.
hi
Fifteen Years ago, when Fort Sumpter
was fired upon by men who sought II
disruption of the Union. A million pa
triots, without regard to party attiilia-
tions, sprang to its defense. Will
the same patriotic citizens now sit idly
by and see representative government
overthrown by usurpation and fraud?
Shall the will of forty millions of people,
constitutionaly expressed, be thwarted
by the corrupt, arbitrary and. illegal
action of the illegally constituted Re-
turning Board of Louisiana, whose
wrongful action heretofore, in all respects
similar to its,prosent action, has been con-
demned by all parties? 1t is an admitted
fact that Mr.. rllden received majority
of quarter of million of the votes at
the recent election. This majority Is
ready and willing to submit to the rule
of the minority when constitutlonally
entitled to demand such submission, but
it 1t is wiling that by an arbitrary and
false declaration Of votes IN Louisiana
the minority shall usurp power? These
are dark DAYS for the American people
when such questions are forced upon
their consideration. Ifs were true, rs
some insist, that neither the white nor
the colorcd voters have in all instances
been afforded an opportunity to give
free expression to their wishes at the bal
lot box, shall we, by sustaining fradu-
lent and illegal declaration OF the votes
cast, stihe the voice of the millions Of
V tiers who have freely expressed their
choice and thus seek to correct II great
wrong by committing another immcas-
urably greater wrong?
Can we sanction such action OF the
Louisiana Returning Board, and there
by form precedent under the authority
of which a party once in power may for
ever perpetrate its rule, and SO end con-
stitulional liberty? Shall such be the
tate of this republic at the beginning OF
the second century of its existence? is
the momentous question now presented
tor the determination OF the American
people. JOHN Nj. fALaEK
WILLIAM BIGLER,
GEORGE w. JULIAN,
LYMAN TRUMBULL,
GEORGE b. SMITH,
p. Ii. WATSON.
NV ORLEANS, December 6, 1876.