Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-10-10

themselves SO T6COBulAeusr TUT OuS VI tuS
other of these reasons they stopped their
per diem. We care not which reason il
chosen, the conclusion from either is.the
same, and it is that there WAS an implicit
agreement that the adjournment from the
5thIof August to the I'd OF September was
of such character that it was not to take
place at the public expense.
The letter of the agreement was observ-.
ed, but the spirit of II was not. a motion
made after the re assemblage-viz on
the 18th of September, 10 repeal the agree.
ment made before adjournment, was refus.
ed by the House of Delegates, ns was also
substitute resolving.
"That members are entitled to mileage
for the recess" rg.. i
But on the 2sth of September the House
receded from its refusal to entertain this
question, aud passed resolution instruct
ing the Sergeant, alarms to issue mileage,
to the members "for going to and return-
ing from their homes during the late re-.
cess" OF course those VIII, a did 4, not go
home, or who, could not get there, were
entitled under this repeal resolution, aswe
rightfully. call it, to the. mileage, just the
same as if they had gone, home, and the
mileage in some instances at least would
have amounted to more than the per diem
ofsome members. -,l .nst D. ,.si.4H
The amount of money thus taken from
the treasury is not a part of the considers
ton at all, Notwithstanding the Clerk Of
the House in his article seeks'to make a
point ont of it by contrasting the figures
for mileage aud the still larger figures for.
per diem. The members had agreed to
take ''no pay" for thezreces and therefore
it is ilItgitimate to show that + they had
taken il it would have exceeded the mile
age which they did: take. The point we
make is that they took mileage for going
and coming from their homes, where they
had been taking a recess for their conYen-
fence and pleasure, and for the taking of
which they bad felt, or, at all events, had
agreed, that they would not charge the
State. Now if they could draw their mile.
age they could draw their per diem. The
right in the case is exactly the same in
both drawings If the adjournment was
OF sneh character that the members felt
they could take ''no pay" for it, it was of
such a character that they could not
rfghtfully take mileage for it. On this
single argument we. would be willing TO
rest the whole merits OF the case. 'a :asI
The fact that the Senate has not entered
into this repeal movement is a strong fea.
ture against it, as is also the additional!
fact that some members of4the. House of
Delegates have taken certificates from the
Sergeant-at: Arms that they did not draw
this mileage, The Clerk of the Senate
wrote to JUS in yesterday's paper saying
thatihe felt it to DO his '.duty to state that
no number or officer of the Senate had
drawn either mileage or per diem for the
recess" What does such language mean
ON the part of the Senate2 What does the
taking of certificates, on the part of some
of the members of the House of Delegates,
mean2 Wight means, in terms not to be
mistaken, that the drawing of mileage, un.
der the circumstances, was not such a
transaction, as, in the estimation of those
refusing it, they. wished to be identified
with.s They did not feel as it it could be
justified before the people. This is the
import of the Sennte's non-sclion ia the
matter, and the still more emphatic import
of the certificates referred to. !. ~ ~,
We are sorry tocbe compelled by the ar
ticle of the Clerk of the House to refer to
this matter again, and especially at such
length as we have We certainly had not
nor have we now, any desire to say one
word in the slightest degree rejecting upon
the Integrity of any member of the Honss
of Delegates. q We believe that many mem
bers took the mileage without thought oil
examination, and took it cGuscientiously
believing themselves justified in doing SO
1t would besyery nugracious in US, and
certainly not beneficial to the cause Of 10y
atty, to be instrumental in needIessly stir
ring up distrust of the Legislature in the
minds of the people. Notwithstanding
however, the jeopardy ofthe thiug,in times
like the present, we have felt compelled
as journalists protesting to have, aud de-
string to hold, a large measure of the
public confidence in this our young, State,
to put on record our decided reprobatiOu
of any such proceeding as the taking of the
I mileage in question. Asa matter either OF
precedent or original device, it is an ub jus
tifable proceeding, and no member, we
care not who he is, when he comes to re-
feet upon it, can think we'll of it. 1t has
no authority in law and it is not right OF
itself sac. s9,ss .s-i,al = " ~
What the Rebellion Prouais.s La
II boring Mem. llslilli =