The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-08-25
Letter From Governor Mathews.


The Democracy of New York city
recently held a grand Hancock and
English ratification meeting, at
which a number ofeloquent speeches
were delivered and patriotic letters
from distinguished gentlemen from
different sections of the country were
read. In response TO- an invitation
to DO present, Governor II. M. Math-
ews, of West Virginia, wrote the fol-
lowing timely aud sensible letter:
WHITE SULPHUR sfRINas,
w. Va, July 26, 1880.
Messrs. John McKeon, Edpand Cooper
and Others, Committee,
GENTLEMEN-In consequence Of my
absence from Wheeling, your letter
inviting me toaddress general meet
ing of the Democracy of the city and
county Of New York, at the Academy
of Music, on the 2Sth inst, did not
reach me until this morning. My
engagements are now such as to de-
prive me Of the pleasure of being
present on that occasion. I regret
that West Virginia will not be then
present, that you might learn from
some Of her citizens with what graf
i6cation the Democracy here receiv.
ed the announcement Of the action
of the Convention, and with how
great earnestness we join in the APP
proyal Of the nomination Of Hancock
and English. The cordial support
which will be given to this ticket by
the Democracy of the South should
vince every fair-minded man of
the North of the loyalty Of our sec.
tion and of her sincere acceptance Of
all the results Of the war. There are
some misguided though honest men
of the North who have doubted the
sincerity of our professions, and who,
while realizing the Importance of
changing the administration, have
hesitated for this reason to aid in re.
turning the Democratic party to
power.
The view which prevails general
ly, almost universally, in the South,
may be briefly stated. For years
difference of opinion obtained be.
tween the two sections as to the prop
er construction of the Constitution.
All peaceable means of adjusting
this difference were resorted to and
failed. Peace conferences and com
promise measures were alike unavail-
ing, and at last, and Of necessity, the
controversy was referred to the tri-
bunal Of arms. After a war Of four
years, illustrated by unsurpassed
gallantry and devotion on both sides.
The decision was rendered, and
against us. We accepted that decis.
ion in perfect good faith. The doc.
trine Of secession was utterly over
thrown and was never again to be
asserted. The institution Of slavery
was destroyed forever, and all that
secession and slavery properly i'm.
piled was gone. We gave our allie
glance fully and sincerely to the
Constitution as it now is, and for
years we have desired TO aid to the
extent Of our ability to promote the
welfare Of our common country.
The test Of Southern loyalty pre-.
scribed by the Republican party, and
which We shall always reject, is not
an unquestionable devotion to the
Constitution but a willingness to en-.
dorse every Republican measure
however it may be at variance with
the spirit and letter Of the fundamen.
tai law. We believe that the rule oil
construction Of the Constitution
heretofore insisted upon by the De.
mocracy are still the true rules Of its
constructions that the PRINCIPLES OIL
government declared by the fathers
viz: that the powers Of government
shall belimited by Constitutional bar.
riers; that the men Of eanh locality
shall be no privileged class. either
of individuals or corporations-are
still the correct principles Of free
government, and when applied to
the changed cirormstonoas anJ 49,.