Year: 1869

10 the Editor OF lie 1utcIuRouSoA'


Having been requested last Summer
by the editor of the Parkersburg Times
to give my views on the subject of let.
ting the rebels up, gave synopsis OF
my views, requesting that the IHtett'
gencer would copy. But never having
heard anything or seen anything on the
subject since, / presume the manuscript
never reached the Office of the Times.
Or if so, they did not see cause to pub
lish them. Now by your permission, l
will answer the many letters upon that
subject l have received. First, in my
Judgment and experience, the Suitors'
Test Oath has worked more harm than
good, and never should have been en-
acted; but sheuld be repealed. Let the
courts decide as to the justice and in
Justice of claims of indebtedness.


We should have nothing to fear from
the rebels on this subject, .as there is
OF a rebel or even Democratic Judge in
the State, and will not be for five years
at least; and before that time it will be
out of the power of rebel Judge to
harm any party financially. AS to the
Teachers Test Oath, / believe that rebel
teachers have it in their power to do
the rising generation irreparable dam
age, by teaching them to despise the
liberal views of the great American re-
formers; but experience teaches US that
test saths do not hinder rebels from
teaching school, so the oath is farce
and may as we'll be repealed. The Law
yers Test Oath is another farce, and
does not secure the end designed, as it
is well known that all the rebel law.
yers are practicing behind the backs OF
those who do take the oath.


As to our Registry law, it is good II
rightly exercised. / believe it would
be wise and right to register many par
ties who aided the rebellion in the rank
and file of their army, part of whom
were conscripts and were compelled to
aid the rebellion, while others were
young and inexperienced, but who now
see their error and would aid US in car
rying ona righteous, liberal and civil
government. And yet there are others
Of their leaders who never can be
trustsd. Their very nature is barbarous
and brutal. A more perfidous, hypo-
critical, and treacherous set of savages
are not to be found on earth than those
of many of the leading rebels. So that
if we were to let them up they would
at once begin to work mischief. l
am ready to see the rank and file of
the rebels let up and tried. l be-
lieve large majority of them will act
right. / am willing to do more to let
up even their leaders and officers, who
have been quiet and harmless since the
rebellion, and especially those who
have aided in establishing civil liberty.
But when all the vindictive leading
rebels, bushwhackers, thieves and MUIR
derers of West Virginia are let up at one
time, farewell to the new State, free
sch ools, good government, peace, pro-
lection of property and. life, and every
thing that is great and good; while
drunkenness, ignorance, poverty, taxa
tion, ruin, and desolation would over
take US in the days OF rebellion as what
now promises fair to be an intelligent,
sober, industrious, onterprising, educat-
ed and prosperous state of people.


But if we can have universal suffrage
thereby the rebels will be rendered
harmless, and in that event would be
willing to let them up, that they might
see their weakness, as Sampson, shorn
Of their strength forever.


SAMUEL YOUNG.


Inland, IoUa, Nor. 10, 1869.