The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-04
WHEELING DAILY INTELGENcER WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1882

officers for courage and soldierly quail
ties, and for fidelity to the enlistment
oath. In civil life they are now the toll
ers OF their communities, making theil
4 full contribution 10 thu widening streams
OF prosperity which these communities
are serving. Their sudden withdrawal
would stop production aud bring dtsor'
der into the household as well as the
shop. Generally they do not desire to
quit their homes, and their employers
resent the interference Of the emigration
agents who seek TO stimulate such Q de-
sire, But, Notwithstanding all this, In
many parts Of our country where the
colored population Is large, the people OF
that race are, by various devices, de-
pFived OF any effective exercise Of their
political rights and OF many OF their
civil rights, The wrong does not expepd
itself upon those whose votes are sup.
pressed, Every constituency IN the
Union ia wronged,
II has been the hope Of every patriot
that sense OF Justice and Of respect for
the law would work a gradual cure Of
these hagrant evils, Surely no one sup.
poses that the present can be accepted
as q permanent condition, II II Is said
that these communities must work out
this problem for themselves We have q
right to ask whether they areatwork upon
H. Do they suggest any time when
and under what conditions Is the black
man TO have free ballot; when 10 he,
In fact, 10 have those full civil rights
which has so loug been his In lawP
Where Is that equality Of influence
which our form oil government was In
tended 10 secure to the electors OF the
restored State Governmental This gem
Grafton should courageously face these
grave questions, and not leave them as
heritage Of woe to the next, The con-
sultation should proceed with candor,
calmness and great patience; upon the
lines OF justice and humanity, not OF
prejudice aud cruelty, No question in
our country eau he at rest except upon
the firm base Of Justice and OF the law.
NATIONAL CONTROL or NATIONAL ELEc.
TI0Hs,
l earnestly invoke the attention OF
Congress to the consideration Of such
measures within its well.deGned Consti.
tutionsl powers as will secure to all our
people free exercise OF the right OF
suffrage and every other right underths
constitution and laws OF the United
States. No evil, however deplorable,
can justify the assumption either on the
part OF the executive or Of Congress, OF
powers not granted; but both will BIZ
highly bamable II all the powers granted
are not wisely but firmly used to correct
these evils. The power TO take the
whole direction and control Of the eltC.
ton III members OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives Is clearly given to the general
government, A partial and qualified
supervision OF these elections IL now
provided for by law, and In my opinion
this law may be 80 strengthened and ex-
tended as to secure, on the whole, better
results than can be attained by u law
taking all The processes Of such election
into federal control. Tho cOlored man
should be protected In all OF his rela.
tions 10 the federal government, whether
as litigant, Juror, or witness In our
courts, M an eleCtor for members OF Con.
gress, or Us a peaceful traveller upon our
interstate railways.
AMERICAN MERCHANT SHIPS.
Lamentiug the poverty Of our mer.
chant marine, aud reminding Congress
that the shipping interests OF other
are Literally iostered by the
respective Governments, the President
says:
I recommend that such appropriations
be made for ocean mail service In Amer.
lean steamships, between our ports aud
those OF Central aud South America,
China, Japan, and the important islands
In both OF the great oceans, us will be- |
remuneratiya for the service
rendered, and as will encourage the
establishment, and III some fair degree
equalize the chances OF American steam.
ship lines In tho competitions which
they must meet. That the American |
States lying south Of US will cordially
cooperate In establishing and maintain.
ing such lines Of steamships to their |
ports | do not doubt.
We should also make provision for
naval reserve to consist OF such ner.
chant ships, Of American construction
aud Of a specified tonnage and speed, as |
the owners will consent to place at the
use Of the government ID case Of need,
as armed cruisers. England has adopted
this policy, and as result can now,
upon necessity, at once place upon her
naval list some OF the fastest steamships
in the world.
Everything is not propitious for the
present Inauguration Of liberal and pro.
gressiye policy upon this subject and we
should enter upon it with promptness
and deCisiOn. The legislation which l
have suggested 1t Is sincerely believed
will promote the peace and honor oil
the country and the prosperity and se'
curity Of the people.
| involve the diligent and serious at.
tention OF Congress to tho consideration
OF these and such other measures as may
be presented having the same great end
in view.
Benz. HARRISON,
Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C.,
Dec. 3, lSS9.