The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-12
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Prayer by Rev. S. B. Barnitz, of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, OF
Wheeling.
The consideration ofthe bill to amend
| the charter of the Covington and Ohio
Railroad was resumed
On motion of Mr.. Mann, the name OF
Joel Mcpherson, of Greenbrier, as one
of the Commissioners, was stricken out,
| and that of Baldwin Ballard, of Mon
roe county, was substituted. The bill
was ordered to engrossment,
The Dill to amend the charter of the
West Virginia Central Railway was
also passed to engrossment.
The bill requires the Company to
commence the construction of that part
OF its railroad between the mouth of
Sandy, in the county of Wayne, and
the town OF Charleston, in the county
OF kanawha, within six months after
| the passage Of this act, and to complete
and put the same in running Iorder be-
tween the points aforesaid within eigh-
teen months thereafter and provides
that If 1t fail to do this, its charter shall
be forfeited; and whatever, ifany, part
ofthe road may be constructed at the
time, shall vest in the State.
The bill providing that the Sheriffs
collect the road tax, which had been
reported back with the recommended
ton thatsit do not pass, was taken up,
and the report adopted land the bill
thus defeatedl.
The Senate bill to repeal the law of
1883, providing for the forfeiture of
property belonging to persons who
abandoned their homes and went into
the rebellion, was read the second time.
Mr.. Wheat moved the indefinite post
ponemeut of the bill.
Mr.. Foreman said he would like to
hear from the members of the border
counties, who were chiefly interested in
the bill.
Mr.. Hiser said he did not know of
any case where the law had been en-
forced, and it was entirely impractica-
BILE.
Mr.. Wheat said that in his county
they considered it very important
law. He referred to the Recommended
ton OF the Governor that the law be Ell
Their repealed or enforced. He was for
enforcing 1t. If its enforcement had
not been interfered with in his county.
they would have had over Sl0O, 900 in
the treasury ofthe State for school pur-
poses There was not a statute on the
books that could be more easily en-
forced; if there were not outside pres
sure when the cases were brought into
court. In his opinion it would be an
outrage to repeal this law. 1t ought to
stand forever, as a warning against
similar offences in the future. If this
law was to be repealed, and it is thus
declared that men may hereafter do
just what they please in violation of
what this law was intended to punish.
he was for restoring every rebel to eve
~ right he claimed. If he was Gov
eruor or President, and were to pardon
one, he would pardon all. Ifit was JUS
tice to restore their property, it was Just
to restore their political rights.
Mr.. Ferguson thought these rebels
had received a pretty considerable
OF punishment already. In the
hrst place they got most numerically
thrashed in the war; and in the next
place pretty effectually disfranchfsed
in regard TO voting and holding office; !
and he thought It would be Carving
measures to extremes now 10 go to |
property. BE didn't think it would be |
magnanimous- Besides in his opinion |
TINS law was clearly unconstitutional. |
ne uldnt believe any State had the 4
right TO confiscate for treason against |
the = nited States; and If it had, it would /
pc. Ts tne worst policy in the world now
tnat the war Is over. He believed il 1
right to disfranchiss these men for a
!itnlteo time at least; but it was admins
steering 100 heavy dose to sud to that 4
. Jaw 10 strip them of their property,
IN the present shape OF the law, at any
, could not be executed, but Il /
stands on the statute book and sarions-
~ interferes with the transfer of prop-
erty. some persons were afraid TO buy
property or men who had been in the
rebellion, or property once owned by
them, while this law exists; and IN
many counties this affects business.
= Tor ,9ese reasons, among others, he
should vote against the motion to most
pone, and in favor Of the bill.
Mr; foreman asked that the subject
De allowed to lie on the table for the
present. Agreed to.
Inc Dill TO prevent ranging on the
-ands OF others, without permission. in