Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-12
FROM MARSHALL COUNTY.
West Virginia and II. organic Law

West Virginia and ITS Organic Law.
MoCSpsvILLE, VA, March stb, 1862.
Editors LnteliigeReer s'lI5 y
The design of every Government is, or
ought to be, to promote in the highest de-
gree, the general happiness and welfare of
its citizens. The Constitution is the de-
ltberate expression of the will of the whole
people, as to the mode. Of their government
and the manner in which the public au-
thOrity is to be executed. If the founda
tion is radically wrong tho legal super.
structure reared upon it must ofnecessity
partake Of its defects.
Geographical disseverence, a total alb
sence of community of feeling and interest
between West Virginia and the Eastern
portion Of the State, aud more especially
the secession OF Virginia from its constitu.
tioual relations to the Government of the
United States, aud its subsequent affilia.
ton with the simulated government of the
Confederate States, in the opinion ofmost
people, justified aud rendered necessary n
division Of the State and the Organization
ofH new State. Experience had demon
straied to tue people that in the accom-.
plishment of this object certain reforms
were needed and were essential to their
welfare. These reforms may be briefly
enumerated thus: First, the establish.
ment Of taxation upon all species ofpro.
peTtyi second, representation in both Houses
of the Legislature upon the suffrage basis;
third, so TO provide that tue character
which the State has heretofore maintained
and exercised, Of great internal improve
ment company for tho construction Of all
railroads and mud turnpikes at the ex-
Pcnse aud grfeyous taxation of the people
should DC avoided, and any such power Of
appropriation blythe legislature prohibited;
fourthi that some reasonable and ADEQUATE
provision should ne made upon the sub.
ject of educatiOni fifth, that the county
court sys em should be amended; sixth,
that property existing in states at the time
Of the adoption of the Constitution should
be secured and protected, but that door
should be opened by express constitutional
provision, for the prospective gradual Cx-
tinctton OF the institution of slavery.
Four of the objects above specified have
been accomplished, the remaining one, the
nth and sixth have not. Tie fifth, the
County Court system constitutes part oF
and is identified with the whole history of
the State; aud the only revision ever asked
Tor or desired by any considerable number
of the people was in the matter of tue ex-
peuse ofits operations. This has mot been
done; but the entire system itseIfhas been
abolished, aud in its place has been substi.
tuted "A multiplicity of new, crude, undi.
gested, untricd, uncalled for, aud expensive
offices aud otiicerstO augment expense and
taxation, and to prOducc confusion.
All the revision needed Was the continue
ance Ofthe system, providing that one Jus.
tice from each MaGisterisli district, and not
all as formerly, should constitute the Lii
cense and also the Levy Courts, aud that
In ~
the trial of all civil and criminal causes,
aud also an Examiners Court, at two dol
lars compensation, per diem. This pro-
vision would reduce the working expenses
of the system fully three fourths, preserve
Examining Courts, and continue the sys-
ten inits accustomed forms, acknowledged
usefulnessand integrity, aud time honorcd
associations.
The Court system proposed, will, If
practically tested, prove a delay of, and
indirectly denial Of, justice. No one, !
apprehend, familiar With our Court system
and their operations land most are SOY can
fail to anticipate correctly that If all the
business, civil and criminal, is transferred
and confined to ons judicial forum, that
most, or all, the time will be occupied with
criminal prosecutions aud appeals, without
| scarcely possibility ofreaching and dis
posing of contested cases on the civil dock
ct, even it jurors were to remain for an iu-
definite period, which they will not gener-
ally do, even tnler compulsory process.
The Sixth, the emancipation provision,
was virtually rejected, and an imperative
substitute adopted, to mock the demands,
the hopes and the just expectations OF the
people. a century had passed in the his.
tory of West Virginia, and with its salubri-
GUS climate, rich mountains and plains,
navigible rivers and ine1haustable resour-
ces, it was under the blighting and paraliz-
ing influence of its institutions, bat upon
the threshold ofimprovement and advance
ment, with the great tide OF. emigration,
with skill, enterprise aud capital pass
ing by; and in too many instances from
its borders to rear homes, villages and cit
les on the green, free labor prairie of the
West; and yet, by the judgment of this
Convention, the cause (slavery) must con-
| dnue, aud the effect viii follow. Ilff
It must continue, too, at time when ii
has kiudled the flames OfciviI war through
out the lard, and is making war upon, aud
seeking the overthrow and destruction oi
theCOnstitutionAl government. That sla.
| very is the cause of this war is proven by
the existence of aggressive war to-day in
livery slave State. - s.,sfyf r,.,.
That it is inimiCRl to, aud seeking th
destruction OF the Constitutional Govern
ment of the land, is demonstrated by the
whole record of the rebellion, from It's
initial point till now. But still the people
have not suffered enough from it, iu,treas-
ure and blood but by the fat Of the junId
it is TO be everlasting. They must con.
time for all time, with their generations
like the Assyrian sun god-worshipper, tC
watch for il and amer Il, to gaze upon il
and fear il, and to worship it aud sacrifice