The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-03

State government, The cause OF the
present condition OF aifain is the dis.
puted title to the Office Of Governor. The
Two rival governments are contendipk for
the possession Of the executive office, and
1t is properly in order that they may
possess proper facilities for exercising
the office, II the government Of the United
States can not properly under the pres.
ent circumstances determine which Of
the two coniending State governments Is
the lawful one. The forces at the State
House arc not, in any proper sense,
acting to the disparagement OF the
rights Of either Of the contending claim.
ants, but on the contrary they are held.
ing the rival parties in an attitude in
which each can pursue its proper rene.
dies and seek proper settlement Of Its
claims. lion the other hand, it is within
tho power and the duty OF the Govern.
ment Of the United States to determine
political fact and the question which
Of the two rival State Governments Is the
lawful one, and to conform its political
conduct 10 such determination, then at
whatever moment such determination
shall be reached and announced all prob.
able necessity for the actual presence Of
armed forces to further sustain the gov.
ernment thus decided 10 be the lawful
government will cease. II further neces.
sity for the aid Of the Government Of the
United States shall arise such aid will be
demanded and extended or denied under
the well known provisions Of the Consti-
tuition Of the United States.
Ny next objection Is that such with
drawal at the present time Is ending q
decision Of the question Of validity Of one
or the other Of the two governments and
will be practical decision in favor Of my
opponent, By this / mean that my on
ponent is at this moment fully prepared
in point Of physicAl strength to overthrow
the government whicn represent. Why
is thisH The cause is honorable to the
political party which represent. They
arc law abiding, they are patient Under
the inilictions Of wrong; they are slow
to resort to violence, even in defense Of
their rights; they have trusted tina! de.
cent regard for law and decent respect
for the rights conferred by the govern.
ment Of the United States would restrain
their opponents from the violence which
has now oyertaken them, and they know
that they can expect from their
political enemies neither Justice nor
mercy. They have relied with un.
shaken faith on the protection of the
United States. II, therefore, the United
States forces now stationed at the State
House shall be Withdrawn, they will re-
gard that act, under the circumstances
now existing, as leaving them exposed to
the power and vengeance Of the illegal
military which covers the State and con-
stitute the political machinery OF the
Democratic party. They will regard that
act--l speak now only OF the fact-as
declaration by the United States that no
further protection can be hoped for ex-
cept such as they hold in their own hand.
They cannot alone maintain the unequal
contest, and l certainly cannot advise
further resistance. That which should
be an imperative duty under other
circumstances would become madness
now. II it be SAID in reply that
such use ofthe United States forces is
merely giving political advantage to
one Of the two contending parties in the
assertion Of its claim, answer, in my
view, itsrather the preservation to each
party Of their right to chance in the
struggle ifitmust go on, or il the Gov
ernment which represent is the lawful
Government, it is the protection of the
Government against domestic violence
In accordance with the Constitution. Ny
opponents demand the withdrawal Of the
United States forces from the State
House. It will be Of service in Judging
what results will follow, or accompany
with the demand to ask which demand is
made. l suppose that neither courtesy
or charity will warrant suggestion
that it arises from Jealous regard for
the constitutional limitations on the part
Of my opponents. On the other hand
the demand is plainly made for the pur-
poses Of political advantage in the present
struggle. What is this advantage? It
is to enable my opponent 10 pursue his
legal remedies in the premises. It is a
sufficient answer TO this TO say that no
hindrance Of any kind now exists to the
peaceful and complete enforcement OF all
legal remedies. None whatever. Every
legal right and remedy which belongs to
my opponent under any circumstances is
within his unObstructed reach to-day,
and has been on all days. This
fact points at once to the con-
clusion that in demanding the with.
drawal Of the troops from the State
House, my opponent does not desire
thereby to secure his own right by lawful
means or peaceful agencies, but to rob me
or my associates and constituents Of our
rights, by unlawful means, and violent
agencies. II reference be made to the
profession Of those who demand the with.
drawal Of the forces, that they seek 10 sc.
cure their rights by lawful means /?
| respectfully answer that l am
familiar with such professions that
they have been made with end
less reiteration, during q campaign Of
unprecedented length, marked from the
opening 10 the close by every degree and
form Of physical violence. To one not
familiar with the condition Of South
Carolina the statements have now made
may seem extravagant. l refer for the
confirmation Of all that have stated toI
the testimony taken by the Congressional
Committees during the past winter, and
l affirm that my present acquaintance
with the facts conpels me to say that this
testimony falls short OF the truth. The
Republicans Of South Carolina have
carried on the. struggle up to the present
for the preservation Of their rights.
Their hope has been that they might con-
tinue 10, live under 4 free government.
The withdrawal OF the forces from the
State House will close it in defeat Of a
large majority Of people Of the State, in
sacrifice Of their rights, in complete sue.
cess Of violence and fraud, as agents in
reaching political results. To reiterate
the results which will follow the with
drawal Of the troops from the State
House, l say:
l. 1t will remove the protection abso-
lutely necessary TO enable the Republi-
cans to assert and enforce their claim to
disagreement OF the State.
2. 1t will enable the Democrats to re.
move all effective opposition to the
illegal military forces under the control
OF my opponent.
3. 1t will place all agencies for main.