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C h a p t e r 1 0 What the Redeemed and Disenthralled Do The Defining Legislature of 1871 The most enthusiastic public celebration of the West Virginia Democratic/Conservative triumph occurred in Charlestown, Jefferson County, where John Brown had met his fate. Within a week of the election, citizens had erected an eighty-fivefoot pole crowned with a crowing rooster in front of the damaged and abandoned courthouse. A large banner emblazoned with the words “redeemed, regenerated , disenthralled,” unfurled and proclaimed the electoral result. A few days later, Colonel John Thomas Gibson as grand marshal (who had presided over the Virginia militia at Brown’s hanging), led the largest parade seen in many years to a tournament (tilting) and a grand barbecue where governor-elect John Jeremiah Jacob reviewed the people’s grievances and William Hicks Travers spoke. A night torchlight procession passed illuminated houses to proceed to a band concert at Sappington’s Hotel. Banners in both processions ominously conveyed the racial as well as the political implications of the victory: “white men must rule,” “shoo fly,” “do you belong to gideon’s band,” and “we are almost free.” One flag showed a crowing rooster declaring, “while i live i crow,” and another with a human skeleton pronounced the political conclusion, “radical remains.” Both white and African American observers could not mistake what the election result meant.1 Congratulatory and celebratory correspondence among Democrats and former Confederatescomprehendedinpleasingtonesthesurprisingmagnitudeandsignificance of their election victory. A wavering westerner in the Secession Convention and Democratic operative who was less than sympathetic to the U.S. cause during the war, Benjamin Wilson of Harrison County, heartily and effusively addressed the victoriousJohnJeremiahJacob.“Hadanypeopleeversuchcauseforrejoicing?From bondagetofreedom—fromDespotismtoaStatewithrepublicanformofGovt.Now it is for you to rise to the dignified and exalted position of Govr. and not to play the part of dirty little d____d pee wee tyrants as your predecessors have done. You have 235 236 West Virginia’s Civil War–Era Constitution redeemed the State—made her good people free—‘Long may you live and may your Shadownevergrowless.’GodblessyouthefirstDemocraticGovr.OfW.Va.”Amore direct note came from former Governor John Letcher of Virginia to a Secessionist Clarksburg judge, Gideon Draper Camden. Letcher confided, “I rejoice with you over your signal victory, and the redemption of your State from Radical rule.”2 Another letter to Judge Camden came from a Fairmont politico and lawyer, James Morrow Jr., who supported former Confederates in Marion County registration cases. He whimsically expressed the Democratic mood: “We have been lifted from ‘a fearful pit and from miry clay’—Care nothing about ‘let up’ now. ‘Let up’ is nowhere; it is ‘rip up’ ‘tear up’ and ‘clean up’ with a large admixture of ‘Kick up.’” Marion County voters had elected Morrow to the House of Delegates, and he obviously relished his forthcoming legislative opportunity.3 One of the most interesting private interchanges about the October election results occurred between David Goff of Beverly, Randolph County, and Luther Haymond, cashier of the Merchants National Bank of West Virginia at Clarksburg. Goff, a nonmilitary Tygart Valley Rebel, safely maintained his account throughout the war with his Republican/Unionist relatives’ bank. He regularly deposited and drew his funds. When Goff made deposits, he often commented upon politics. Cashier Haymond would formally and dutifully acknowledge the transactions by letter and at the bottom answered with his political views. Responding to Goff’s postelection crowing, Haymond unloaded, The Democrats have the power now, and many of them would proscribe if they could, but they cannot to any great extent. It has always been a revolutionaryanddespoticparty —TheUnionpartydisplayed greatmagnamity [sic] to the rebels, and what they did in the way of proscription was self defense, and to show their disapprobation to those who had so needlessly plunged this country into Civil war. The wicked and bad must be chastised—It is supposed that even god will punish the wicked. But you will say the rebels were right. But they Commenced the war, and violated the law of the land, and therefore are responsible for all— Continuing the dialogue with Goff’s next deposit and retort, Haymond observed, “Have no time to discuss politics. But will Say that the South commenced the war, and there lies all the blame. Lincoln was opposed to interfering with Slavery where it existed, as nearly all the north were, and Just before the war Slavery was never more Secure, Nor Never did Slaves Sell So high as I believe they did about that time—The...

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