The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-09-21
Edtors InteLtiaeneer:
eRAvENswooD, w. VA,
Sent I7th IRRR

81 ID. -
Ben Smith made speech, of two
hours and hairs length, at this place
on last Saturday night, in which he
took the ground that he had favored
the new State and was now in favor of
it, but the Legislature and Governor
had violated the constitution at every
step. He read the constitution, and
commented severely on both branches
of the government, and said the Gov
ernor had wilfully and perniciously
violated that instruments; then cited the
case of Judge Nat Harrison, and show
ed his entire side of the case to
prove it. He made the assertion
that the Governor used the government
to advance party ends, and, that alone
then made one of his "powerful ap-
peals" to know if the loyal people
would trust the power longer in the
hands of such wicked men. He claim
ed that the rebel States had the right to
send REPRESENTATIVES to Congress all the
time The lCuT t0dS going on; "und now it
was dagrent violation of the COnsti-
tuition to keep them OUT" and he be-
came SO excited that he forgot himself,
ane nearly let the cat out: we could see
the claws. He took the ground that all
which had been done, both State and
Federal, was UNCONSTITUTIONAL, land as
soon as brought before the courts, would
be declared so; - that "the amendments
to the Constitution. was unconstitu-
is not abolished; we have no State of
West Virginia, and we are guilty of
treason, and should be hung, and do
believe that if they get the control they
will do it!
Smith says that "the registration
law, the test oath, the amendment to
our State constitution, are all uncon-
stitutional and nuliity," and that
There is no authority in that instru-
ment to prevent returned Southern
men from voting" He takes the
ground, as I understood that every in
dividual has the right 70 pass upon the
constitutionaIity or nnconstifutiOnalitV
of all the laws, but this ''rGScaity LegiS-
t1ture" took that power out of the peo-
pies hands by an unconstitutional act,
and vested it in the courts.
Hon. w. p. Stevenson replied in a
neat little speech of about three quar-
ters OF AN hour; but the night was far
spent, and ne had not time to make
such "A reply as should have been done.
Smith (Ishould have said "Governor'i
SMITH refused TO wait to hear Mr.. Ste
vensOll, who answered q few of his
points very successfully; and but very
few of the " Governors" friends waited
to hear him.
One thing most forgot to tell you,
which, in my judgment, is significant.
The delegation which received Ellis
Excellency" was all returned rebels
They escorted him up town in the even
ing TO the hall, and occupied The "amen
cornern at the needing. Even his con-
federate brethren did not dare to cheer
hin. An old soldier who happened TO
make the acquaintance of John Barley
Corn that evening, was present, and
couldn't stand the ''Governor's' speech
and the whisky both. So he boiled
over, and told uncle Ben that he was a
rebel he though ght from the way bespoke,
that Is, If he understood him; which
brought the Union men down with a
perfect thunder OF applause.
Mr.. Stevenson was cheered frequent
" and when he came to the charge Of
Smith that Governor Boreman was a
rebel, thought they would take the
house down with their shouts.
JACKSON.