Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-08
THE OLD TIME TRessPAss SUITS
scathirgIy Reviewed by n Democrat
A Hint In Regard to Delegates.

| ScathirgIy Reviewed by Democrat
A Hiatt In Regard to Delegates.
To Tie Editor of the Register. -
BURLINGTON, w. Va, March 2i.-Since
the attention Of every honest thinking
man, who takes an interest in politics
throughout the country is turned to the
all important subject OF selecting good
and true men TO represent us in the differ.
ent branches OF our Government, | may be
pardoned for addressing you upon the sub
ject in which desire first to say that II Is
not only important that the Democracy Of
The country should know that those whom
they propose to trust not only claim to be
Democrats, but they should also make in.
quiry as to the principles upon which
their Democracy Is based.
When we remember that each dele yate TO
our nominating conventions will favor the
nomination OF Candidates whose views
correspond as nearly ss possible 10 his own
il will be seen that II ls cWinently proper
that information should bP had as TO the
status of each deies.tr upon the funda
mental principles nl D~ruurrdcy before We
trust him in the Ir,p,rtaDt matter Of Sc
lecring our STANDARD n-arers in the all I'm
porIant election for which We are now
making preparation.
The Trespa>s sufts.
Now II will be remembered by every man
onversant with the history OF West Vir-
ginia since it became state that numer.
Gus trespass suits wers - l.,
cuuuIlss IN west virginia, particularly III
the county OF Preston, In which 1t was tne
effort TO make Confederate soldiers iiaDie
for damages for acts OF war committees oy
tho particular brnnch Oh tneaIhy W Nh'Ob
they belonged
Some of the counsel in these infamous
cases, prompted by the vindictive feeling
and the most merCenary motives, proposed
to take as contingent fee in those cases
one half they recovered. Most OF these
cases were tried immediately after the war,
when the prejudIces engendered by the
war pervaded over the judicial branch oil
the State government To such an extent
that Justice through the courts IN cases IN
which politics c0ulu De Drought ~ oeaf
was not expected.
The consequeuce was that under the pJ'
iiIiCal decisions rendered by these conrts
ia which the plea OF belligerent rights
was denied, judgments we're rendered Tor
lsrFe amount d for alleged trespass not be-
Crls. lhe parties against whom inese lud.'
u,p.s were rendered were personally gull
= .t uy Scr for which tney could De hsid
!, r,r sIblp. but because Of the acts ot war
.
C,rl. CrTaIe Army 10 which these psrsons
Dr.uIf 80.
The counsel in these cases therefore be-
,a,.r he owner ut oue halt % these JduS-
.rl.Ai,uCtGI x u ItEpJssibie Tor the par
IL. H. hos usme the suits were brought
80 rru uronnss Ih.nl without h'S consent,
r., mo uEfpOsr Ut gl!aDlLg Al lr's aITife
? .riuL iup rbout b"ttei l-.ing between
., a,r. f tie \ it., the INSTITUTIONAL
II Al e n
ayits and IL R-pI nliCans adopted provls-
IN for gtyiug reiIrf Iu persons eugaSrd IN
h. ssr on either side and dsClsrinR tht
no citizen OF this State should bs ii7oe
either ciyilly or criminaily, nor should hls
property be seIzed or sold upon judgments,
or DEGREES heretofore rendered recanse ol
any act done according 10 the usag's oil
civilized warfare.
This provision was an oct Of the Demo.
cratic party in the interest oil peace. IL
was in accordance with the well known
principles of Democracy that State has .
right TO govern her own internal hhairs,
that che has o right TO pass any law for
the government Of her own citizens not IN
conflict with the Constitution Of the nited
States. 1t was expected thst this provision
of the Constitution would not only be
endorsed by every Democrat but that every
Republican who desired peace would en-.
dorse it as being righteous and Jost. IL
was thought right by every hight thinking
man that these prosecutions growing OUT
| of the war should cease. The Court OF Ap-
peals OF West Virginia has decided that
| this provision OF the Constitution although
| a Democratic measure, based upon Demo
cratic principles, is not in conflict with the
| Constitution Of the United States and must
| therefore be enforced.
Prosestion Needed.
Notwithstanding this We have thought,
indeed 1t has been suggested to Us, that
there were these who claimed 10 be Demo
Gratis and who sspired to be appointed to
| n, + rositions in the Democratic party who
| fsrorsd TIE prosecution OF these trespsss
| Judgments 70 the last extremity even 70
larry ing hem 10 the Supreme Court Oh the
| I',itru SaIrs We would hereby caution
| he .Jen.ocrscy of West Virginia against
! .lc sUl0iuti..sEt OF any one entertaining
| = ytsSs to a5y position within the gift
| Ire,. pqrriss .,sy be prompted by mer.
rpu.yr r,oi'vrs, owning perhaps onensli
Of iBsse trssrsss Judgments by rsasoo OF
| ,,u,, ?. i.tiOnship 10 tie original counssi
| 'sF itr u'-inrii or by reason Of haying pc
| core hi rsrFDer. butif bis thirst lot gam
| suulG pscn ii him 10 such coarse ne
| .lUl,j tsii Dui TIE Democracy NJ huy hne
! from tie same no'tTe.
wou!d respectfully ask what sort OF
| Democratic administration, either State OF
| Fsdsyal. would ne have based upon a
nIedge 10 persscntf indefinitely men who
| hopsstly believed thsy were endeayorinz q
maintain iDtsct the fundamental princi,
ples of the Democratic party, and yet y
We favor the appointment ., delegates o.
those who desire this sort Of persec1tion
xs NAV expect them to favor the ponin''
ton of those whose views correspond a
nearly a. may be with their own.
am pleased 10 know that large ma3oE
ity OF the honest thinking RspuoiicAn
tbroughoBt the State regard these trespss
suits for acts done by Confederste soldier
AZ Infamous In the extreme, and th
Democratic party should sppoint those I
bieh positions Who fsvor their furthe
nyesecution, IL will be such gros m.srsS
resentstion of the views OF all those Who,
rympstby were With the South In the In,
y,I thai they at least will beeoms 10
ersst extent Indifferent sz 20 which part
is successful. a uExccEA1.
J spzlx within bounds. sir.r said q
,,;soney in the dock, when a5drezsirg u
Il -