Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-08

the history Of West Virginia during the
reconstruction period differs little from
the other border States, there being the
same display of reyengeful legislation
the same struggle Of a minority TO re-
tain power that marked the transition
In MARYLAND. Missouri and elsewhere.
The state government being entirely in
the control Of the Republican party, and
a fun delegation Of Republicans being
present in both Houses OF Congress,
West Virginia was exempted from the
operation Of the reconstruction laws,
and her people were left TO deal with
the problem Of pacifcation in their
own way. After speaking Of the strong
Union sentiment that existed at the
opening of the war. at the decided ma
jority against the ordlnanceo Of secession
Mr.. LoNG goes on TO speak of the war
and the results which followed. These
fact, give the reader an idea of the reia-
tive strength Of the parties at the close
OF the conflict, and when the era Of re-
construction began. Mr.. Lone speaks
Of the Constitution OF 1863 as, in the
main. a fair, prudent and equitable IN
strument. True, it was afterwards
warped by construction 50 as TO tolerate
the proscriptive and unjust enactments'
but that was the fault Of legislation and
the courts: the Constitution was right,
but the courts were wrong. The first
Legislature held under the new
Constitution adopted a number
OF "war measures such as
acts for the forfeiture OF the prop
erty OF persons engaged in rebellion and
various other sanguinary resolutions,
but it did not attempt to restrict the
suffrage further than is provided in the
Constitution. After speaking Of the
famous test oaths Mr.. Long goes on TO
say that the government OF Virginia was
reorganized az Wheeling for the pur-
pose OF giving its consent 10 the forma-
ton OF the new State. and thus tech
nicauy complying with one Of the re-
quirements Of the Federal Constition'
and when that consent was given. the
reorganized government took itself
away % Alexandria. Whether any
buman being ever bore arms against I
the rcorganized government Of Virginia .
who did not az the same time bear arms /
against the United States, to say /
nothing Of the State Of West Virginia,
would have puzzled even the trainers
Of the law to find out.
Referring 20 the unjust election laws
enacted by the first series Of legiSla-
lures. Mr.. LoNG says the legislature of
1867 was more bitter and vindictive than
any OF its predecessors. The acts OF
the legislatures Of West Virginia, to
which attention is directed in several
pages, are mainly those re-
lating TO the right to vote, but the acts
the property rights Of ex-cOn-
federateS were, perhaps, most severely
felt. and the author shows TO which ex-
tent.
The student OF these legislative acts
may inQuire:-What were the courts
doing all this period, and why We're
they not invoked TO protect the people?
The answer is found in the first five
volumes Of West Virginia reports. The
courts were hand in hand with the legis-
lature; whatever one did the other pro-
nounced good There is not single
instance during an the period between
1868 and $50 in which an act or see
tion OF an act passed by the legislature,
was pronounced unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court of Appeals. Many such
cases are cited.
The action of the Circuit and District
Court OF the United States in West Nir-
ginia was i'm honorable contrast with
that OF the State judiciary. \ great
many indictments for treason were
found by the grand iurieS, but not one
Of them ever came to trial. No history
OF the reconstruction period in West
Virginia is complete without some refer
cnce to the part played by NArHANIAL
HARRISON, Judge of the Seventh Jul
dicial Court. and much space is given
10 this interesting feature. In the fall
Of 1870 the Democrats elected the State
officers, and a majority of the members
Of each branch Of the Legislature. A
convention was called .
which met I'm 1S79. and the new consti-
tuition framed by it was ratified by the
people in October of that year. The
era Of prescription having passed, an
era OF prosperity began.
The articles entire present true aud /
faithful account OF the Southern QueS-
ton. and were written by men who have |
the interest Of the county at heart. |
For the library it is invaluable as a book
Of reference, particularly To all citizens
OF West Virginia.