The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-04-12
Clerk of,be Mu.ieip,I Csura.

"hi ht" OihCc, ppPooitc e"S s''
House, on Market street.
Clerk ofthe MnnicipsI Court
Ii will be- seen by reference to our To-
cal columns. that on Tuesday evening
Mr.. A. II. CHAPLINE was chosen by the
city Council, Clerk Of the Municipal
Court of this city. Had this been a
contest in which no other question than
that of competency was involved, it is
probable that there would not have
been any general dissatisfaction with
the result. But inasmuch as it was
very generally believed that inone but
an active. thorough and acknowledged
Democrat would he chosen by Conn
ell of the supposed political status OF
ours. the selection of Mr.. CHAPLfSE has
produced great surprise and elected
much comment. The Democracy of the
city of Wheeling expected, as they had
a right 10 expect, different result.
Their representatives in the Coun-
ell were largely in the majOri-
ty. They had been elected upon
the straight Democratic ticket. and
were morally bound, as they were i'm
pliedly pledged, not to use, at elections
like thar of Tuesday night, the power
coufdcd to them in the interests of any
gentleman not identified with the party
which gave them ther positions That
they have not discharged their obliga-
tions is the general opinion of their
constituents. We have yet TO meet the
first Democratic voter, who does not
feel deeply hurt mt the Councils failure
10 choose man OF their own party tor
the position of Municipal Clerk. Relia-
hle. competent and worthy Democrats
were anxious to obtain the position;
some of them had been specially active
in laboring for and contributing to ouI
past successes, and our voters have a
right to feel Indignant that the claims
Of such men received no higher
acknowledgment than the feeble
compliment of half dozen votes.
such gross disregard of meritorious
service is not generally characteristic of
faithful representatives. and it Is never
inst to a conhding constituency. Per-
sonal considerations. high-fown notions
of liherality, oT fears of bullying and
domineering dictation may he excusable
motives for exercising ones own au-
thority in an impropeTmanner, hut they
can never Justify the perverted use of
delegated powers. The grant of power
to representative implies duty on
his part to use it To further not his own,
but his peoples wishes, and if he will
fully and plainly thwarts the popular
purpose, he is untrue TO his solemn OBJ
legations. and deserves the hearty CEN
sure of those in whose service be has
proved faithless.
We have listened with much patience
to the various excuses that have been
offered on behalf of the Council, hut so
utterly shallow and frivolous do they
appear TO us, that we shall merely refer
10 Il single one a. specimen. Ii IS
yravely alleged that the Council were
compelled to ,.iect Mr.. CHArLINE in or
der to preycut the choice of another
candidate who was deemed incompetent
for the position. Was ever anything
more silly or ridiculous. There were
npon the list Of Democratic candidates,
gentlemen whose qualifications for the
place are undisputed, and out of these,
As we'll "a from half n hundred worthy
Democrats whose names were unpre-
sented, the Council could have made a
selection that would have satisfied their
constituents and promoted the public
interests at the same time. With this
fact before them the Democracy will be
slow to recognize any cOmpulsion in the
ease. hut will hold to q strict accounta-
bility the parties who have so clearly
forgotten their obligations to the men
who elected them. The contest never
narrowed to a choice between Radi-
ealism and incompetency," as one man
puts it. and any necessity such ss IS
plead in extenuatiOn of Tuesday
nights work. was OF the Coun-
ellis own creating. With dozens
Of good and capable Democrats from
whom to choose. the "dreaG alternative
need not have been, and IL the Council
choose To exclude the proper style of
Democrats from their consideration for
the purpose of justifying their final ac-
hon. they must. as they will, abide by
the verdict of their party. which we can
assure them will he one, ri unanimous
condemnation.