Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-21
Against NJ. NJ. Dent,
HIS v1NDIcATIoN.


[coNcLUDED.1
And now, Fellow Citizens, since this in.
dicment has been found against me, have
determined to let you try the cause.
think have worked too hard for the little
reputation have gained, especially in the
cause in which we are all engaged, for me
to remain silent and permit to pass away
without an effort to sustain it. l do not
claim to be perfect-I know that / have
many faults; but feel innocent of these
charged against me. ] have concluded
that if the charges against me are correct,
you have been repOsing confidence in a
man totally unworthy of that confidence,
and have determined to test the question.
IL have deceived you in any way, if any
man in the county can truthfully say that
have ever wrOnged him to the value of one
cent, if any of you believe that the fore
going letter TO Mr.. Oldham is sufficient
cause for an indictment against me for dis
loyalty. desire to knnIO it. On the other
hand, if you believe that have been mis-
represented, aud still have confidence in
my integrity, want you 10 say it. have
therefore changed my minland determined
to be candidate for the Wheeling Con-
vention, in order to test the views of my
fellow citizens of this county on this sub
jeCt. have lived among you from my boy
hood 10 the present time, and since 1852
have beef public officer, and you have lihd
| full opportunity To become acquainted with
me. Since August, 1856, bnye been the
editor of Democratic paper here, aud
though it has been my lot, during that time
to differ with many of you on various SUBJ
jects. think you will dome the credit to
say that was always bold and indcpend-
ent in my views, and never permitted my
self to be swayed from what conceived TO
be my duty, either by fear or favor to any
man. II was my unpleasant duty to differ
with many of my own party last year on
the election OF President. / think snbse-
quent events have proved that was cor
rect; any now you certainly cannot con-
demn me for acting from anything but pa
triotic motives, as have exhibited u desire
to seek my reward only in an approving
conscience and not through the emolu-
ments of Office Iknowit will be an unfair
test of the merits of this question for me
to be a candidate for the Convention at
this late hour, and when several very re-
spectful gentlemen have been cauyassing
for the office for weeks; but still ] feel il
my duty to those who will live after me, to
repel any charge against my character in
the most speedy manner and am willing to
risk the test. am aware that there are
some men, very few hope, who have re-
| ceived numerous favors from me aud who
have never been Wronged by me in any way,
that have Joined in this cry against me-
Such persons seem to think that because |
| permit them to owe me .pecuniary faVOri
without requiring payment, that will also
permit them to slander me without redress
They do not understand my character. TIC
all such would say that he
swho steals my purse steals trash; tits something
Twas NINE tshis aud has been slaves to thOus
But he that alehes from me my good name, H
And makes me POorin
i'll should be elected to the Convention
| l shall favor in the Constitution of the new
State the following changes upon the old
Constitution
LIST. shall advocate changing the quail
ifcation of voters SO as to require one year
residence in the State, and one months res
idence in the county to entitle person Il
become legal voter. Our moving day ii
the lst of April, and this will give all per
sons removing from county to county
chance to vote at the next general cleo
ton, which occurs in Nay.
I'd. am in favor of making taxation
equal and uniform on all kinds of proper
ty, accorcing, TO value, and without any eX-
emptious except for churches and schools
Sd. l am In favor of representation il
the Senate and Honse of Delegates beiul
based upon the legal voters. This is wha
lis known as the 'swhite basis.
4th. Experience proves that annual are
preferable to biennial sessions of the Legis-
iature. am in favor of that change. ]
will be especially necessary in inaugur
ating new State.
9th. / am in favor of restricting the
!. power Of the Legislature in some way oil
other so as to put stop to extrayagan'
Appropriations for internal improvement
9Th. l am in favor of abolishing tht
County Court system, and of paying Jus
tices for their services by proper fees fol
the duty performed -
7Ih. There are many reforms that an
in favor of--changing our banking system
so as 10 have one State bank and branches
and consequently uaiform system of pa
per money-of changing our land system
SO as to put stop to the endless chain o
titles-of free school system-Of the lay
ing of county levies, SO as to limit the
head taH-and many others but they
are not necessarily part of the organic
Ilaw.
sth. am opposed to changing the stGtu
of slavery in the formation Of the Consti-
tuition for the new State; but am desirou:
that it shall remain as it now is subject
only to the mutations of time, climate, &c
There has been too much agitation on this
subject already. Its agitation has been
one of the causes of all our woes, and We
are already sufficiently divided in Western
Virginia without getting up new subjects
for agitation This of all other subjects
should not be agitated at Ais timr