The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-06
cprFGH OF COL. B. G.. SMITH.

W. Give as promised the substance of
,.-,eeeh of Col. j. q. Smith to the
~ ,at state Convention at Parkersburg,
y, mon accepting the nomination for Gov
ernor;
..bnlned with emotion at greeting so
Nm Nm and so unexpected. He knew
W. sincerity would not be doubted when
,ll' a,.ssprted that he had no desire for
,,;t;eal promotion. But, said he, |
Eo,. felt a deep and abiding interest in
H.. nnr eanse of the Union; | have ever la
t l, 10 restore our country to the po-
l9ia II occupied before the war, and
,.h;le neither desire nor seek any office
IN your Gift, yet | may not decline "a
mutation which may enable me to
aid YOU in furthering the WORKS of ma
tiooal restoration, and assist in rescuing
Vest Virginia from the thraldom under
which she now groans. Having made
M preparation for a speech, | shall be
conpeiled to present, extemporaneous-
h. A few of the important political top
,s of the day-topics which are so nu-
merous, one scarcely knows where to
hpoin or where to end. | shall briefly
revert to the reckless policy of the now
dominant party-a party whose enor-
mites are so many and so appalling
Tint no man can detail them in single
address. 1t has often appeared to me
that on the part of our State authorities,
there has been a constant and studiOuS
effort to find pretexts and opportunities
for violating and trampling under foot
our National and State Constitutions.
have declared before and now repeat
that in this country, governments are
derived from and rest upon certain con-
stitutional principles. If those princi-
pies be violated government must per-
sh; if government Is to be preserved,
those principles must be observed and
defended. Under no circumstances, in
no exigency, should the saneity OF the
Constitution be assailed. Every such
act prostrates and Weakens the instru-
ment and is fruitful OF destruction to the
liberties of the people. So essential are
the observance of constitutional princi
pies to the existence of our government,
that believe all our people should be
taught to uphold and defend this bond
of our life as Il nation. Teach your chill
dren to revere the Constitution, let their
lisping infancy talk of it AID their ma
turing childhood imbibe its purity and
truth. Youth is the period at which the
most lasting impressions are produced,
and the man whose early thoughts
We're directed to a consideration of the
sacred nature of his country's constitu-
ton will ever invest it with holiness,
and cherish and defend it as precious
legacy, From its sacredness, its digni-
~ and its necessity to our national eX-
lstence the Constitution becomes to us
what ruling potentates are to the people
OF other lands. Having neither King
nor Emperor, the Constitution becomes
monarch, and violation of the Consti-
luton is treason to the King. In this
view the party to which l have re ferred,
Is by its gross transgression of cOnstitu-
lional principles. guilty of treason to
lhe nation and the government, no less
cu'pable than that armed and warning
treason which assailed the life OF the re-
public upon the field of battle.
IN support of his position Col. Smith
lhen proceeded with an examination OF
N" aetS OF oar state government, n 'ts
legislative and Executive Departments
ana derived thereirom ample evidence
70 establish the justice of his charge that
hadlcallsm is treason. ''The act to pre-
vent the obstruction of public Justice"
", was the first to receive his attention.
ne alluded with telling effect to that
section OF the law which requires all
legislative acts to be deemed COnstitu-
elollal until otherwise decided by the
o'ate Courts, and showed the folly OF
%ilich the Legislature Was guilty in at
selhpting to set aside the legal princi-
Pc, That unconstitutional laws are void
10 a no and command no mans respect
re discussed the section ofthe same act
when provides for indemnifying such
ulcers as may incur legal penalties BY
9e,AAeeutlng laws which transgress Che
and declare that while
idlaerlng a defense of the Constitution
and penal, the Legislature
is.: offered premium for fragrant vio-
,a'iolis OF that instrument. Col. Smiths
iie''larks upon the provision of same
e." Which imposes restrictions upon
laee speech and denounces penalties up
~ ~ 'iie discussion OF Legislative corrl'p-
~, We're forcibie and telling. He asser-
tl'l 'hat the action Of the Convention,
~ tHe conversation ol the delegates, AID
, ,.S own exposition 81 public iniquitles
,'s contrary to the spirit of "the act TO
Invent the obstruction of public jus
,,pn, and 50 was the conduct OF every