Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-05
Cog. Pierpoint's Speech to the General
Assembly on the Late Action of Con-

4C6SI
An Internal meeting of the members of
the General Assembly was held in the Senate
chamber on Saturday, which was addressed
by Governor Pierpoint. who was invited to
be present. He said he did not intend to
make speech, but that he had his views ON
the subject of the late act of Congress. and
was wIllin. to express them He did not
consider thata public man had u right to con-
ceal his opinions from the public. They had
rii seen the act spoken of. 1t carefully alb
stained from intimatiug any mode by which
convention should be organized TO make a
constitution, 1t gave the military no authori.
ty to organize one. This was logical, because
the complaint was that the governments in
other States South were organized under mil
itary surveillance. 1t did not entrust the
movement to the provisional governments
now existing, because they might fold their
arms and refuse to act and thereby defeat the
object of the bill. The military we're clothed
with ample power to keep the peace, aid even
suppress the existing civil governments.
Some parties were relying on the Supreme
!, Court to declare the act unconstitutional
This was ilusory. The Supreme Court had,
some forty days ago, delivered an opinion in
the Miligan case. and had gone out of the
record and declare that Congress had no au-
" duluOIlLG lllll1Ey comm SSlOnS TO
try supposed offenders. Congress had never
authorized military commission by law, but
now, while the words of this decision were
fresh in the mouths of the judges, the Con-
gress has passed the act authorizing the com
missions, which was much us to say, now
we have authorized what you have said is I'M
constitutional; set it aside, il you dare and
the Supreme Court has considered discretion
the better part of valof, and has passed reso-
luton for the present not to interfere with
political questions
ID said there were two ways to make the
constitution under this act of Congress The
trst IS for all who desire to enter irto the
movement to hold their primary meetings in
each county, and elect delegates to II central
convention where they will fix the number
Of delegates and appoint their commissioners
to super intend the election of delegates to
the convention to make a constitution under
the provisions Ofthe act
The other mode was for this Legislature to
promptly pass an act providing for holding
convention under the restrictions of this act
OF Congress. This course was opposed BY
some, and 1t was proposed for them to fold
their arms in indifference, and take no action
III the premises. He was in favor of calling
the convention in the mode last indicated be-
cause 1t would be done under the forms of
law, and he thought would be more likely to
secure an acceptable constitution with this
new element in the body polite who were to
participate in the elections aud government
OF the State. If the constitution was left to
be made under the mode first indicated thes
might get good constitution, or they might
get very unacceptable one. He supposed
under the act OF Congress there was not more
than five per cent of the white voters excIu-
ded perhaps less. The great body of the peo-
pie had their lands, families and debts, which
they could not leave; and it was not, in his
opinion. wise TO say, because some of us can
not participate, none of us will he had de.
termined long since, when he could not get
all The wanted, to get the next best he could
In conclusion he assured them if they did
not provide for making constitution, Que
would be made for thcm.-Richn,0l,d Eranp-
liner.