The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-10-11
JUDGE WOODS AGAIN.
y Whining Letter In Which lie Says lie
SrYrr IirlirxrI In Siuf.s Isi..hiA

Whining Letter In Which lie Says lie
Never Believed In States Rights.
Here is IN interesting letter from Judge
Woods, read in the House OF Delegates,
and reproduced now from the llouso
Journal OF 1860, pages 81 and IS:
pnILlrrl, January -, 1869.
"Mgor Ftn|lon Iioues, House Of Delegates,
Wheeling, w. Eu.:
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 18th inst.
informing me, among other things, that
some members OF the General Assembly
DID not consider my memorial as coming
up to the requirements OF Senate Joint
Resolution No. 5, which Resolved, That
we will not iayorably consider the pcti-
ton ofany person who is disqualified by
reason OF participating in tile rebellion
against the United States, to practice his
profession, except such petition bcaccom-
panied by written dcnunciution OF for
mer wrongs and an acknowledgment OF
errors, discarding the false dogma OF ex-
elusive States rights sovereignty
ut is due to myself to recall to your
mind the fact that the memorial was
written nearly month before the passage
OF said resolution, and when the LegisIa-
tnre bad not indicated its wishes on the
subject. 1t was not, therefore, intended to
meet the resolution, but did thereby in
tend to declare in the pluincst possible
manner that | accepted the situation in
which the war left me, in good faith, thank
ful it is not worse. The "ialsc dogma OF
exclusive States rights sovereignty" never
having formed any part OF my political
creed, have no hesitation in discurding
and disclaiuing it.
The doctrine OF State Sovereignty and
Secession, rs well us the institution of
slavery, persisted i'll the war. A large
majority OF the people OF the United States
believed them wrong and they have so
decided, in almost every possible manner.
Ny own opinion and convictions were laid
down, forever, when took the oath OF
amnesty and pardon, on the eth OF May,
1865, prescribed by President Lincoln.
All these questions so fur us | was
concerned rs an individual were
forever at rest. From that day l
rested on the mercy OF the Government
Of the United States. Thus depending, |
hare since that day en,leavored to show
myself worthy OF it, Thankful for what
was given me in this State, | have not
murmurcd at what has been withheld for
lcould never suppose that my privilege OF
practicing my profession would be with
held longer than was necessary to be as
sured Of my patient obedience to the
laws OF my State. Thanking you ior the
interest manifested in my behalf, I re-
main, Respectfully yours, &c.,
SAMUEL WooDs.'
The Point OF the Letter.
Wheeling Mit'Iiytmer (Rfp.)
Judge Woods letter shows on the face of
it that he groveled and wallowcd in the
mire for no other reason than that he
might resume the practice OF law. He was
too sbject to be sincere. He debased him
self and crawled OIL his belly before the
Legislature, rs though he could never
have enough OF debasing. He declares
that he never did believe in the doctrine
OF State sovereignty-without which scces.
sion was without pretext, the Confed-
eracy without corncr-stoncnndt the firing
on Sumpter the first act OF Il bloody
drama Of wanton cruelty 10 the men,
women and children OF the North and the
South.
Judge Woods was early in the arena as
q seccssi6nist. Iii the Richruoud cou,cn.