Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-01-28
BoREMAN's MESSAGE.

| lSlature on TUESDAY last, anOA wv -
portunity for the windy Governor to show
| forth his knowledge of the condition OF the
State. The document which he sends to the
two Houses, and which by custom is desig-
mated message, is not distinguished either
for the soundness Of its views, the accuracy
of its statements, or the appropriateness of
its recommendations. Our space will not
permit us to publish the message, and we
therefore content ourselves with the follow
ing just criticism of its contents from the
Wheeling Register:
Its main design is to defend Governor Bore
man and his party from the charges Of bad
government that have been brought against
them The weight of these charges is con-
fessed by the abored effort at their refuta-
ton, while their force is in no way broken by
anything that is said.
The partisan policy that has imposed milf
tary government Oh portion Of our State is
upheld by the stale and sensecss babble about
lawlessness on the part Of the people who have
been outraged by that government. No I'M
prejudiced man will believe, in the face Of
the facts, that civil law for just purposes cam
not be executed in any portion Of West Eir-
gnia.
In Wayne and Logan counties, for exam
pie, there cannot be cited a single case of
resistance to the laws, that faithful officers
could not control. Indeed, with but single
exception the names, dates and localities have
never been given to show that any body ever
so much as meditated resistance to the laws
in that region. The exception was a case Of
Jail delivery 1t had its parallel in the similar
occurrence at Morgantown, and troops might
have been sent into Monongalia county with
the same propriety as into Wayne.
Generally, the talk about rebellion has
been of very vague and indefinite character.
1t lacks circumstantal verifcatiOn, and for
the simple reason, that it cannot be verified.
1t is very easy matter for interested parties
to convince the Governor who wants to be
convinced, and hence listens to but one side,
but it is not so easy to convince the public,
who want solid fact, not partisan assertions.
Judged by its results we contend that the
presence of troops in the locality in question
has been not only unnecessary, but shame>
full outrage. In that very region, case is
now pending in which Union soldier, with
three honorable discharges, has sued the
Board of Registration for DISTINGUISHING him.
Similar acknowledgements abound in that
county. If this is the fruit Of bayonet rule,
we should say that it encouraged, rather than
suppressed, acts of lawless violence.
The same may be said of Barbour and its
adjoining counties. The very man who Undue
cd the Governor to send troops to that county,
is now member of the Legislature, ly the
dstranchisement of several hundred men
whose names were stricken off through the
intervention Of the military. Suppose the
President of the Ohio county Board Of Regi>
traton were to desire to be elected to the
Legislature. And suppose he were to notify
five or six hundred Democrats here to appear
before him with proof Of their "loyalty," on
pain of disfranchisemcnt. The result would
occasion degree of discomfort on the part
of all parties, unequaled by anything yet
the interpositlon of the bayonct? And yet,
while the people here would hardly submit
to such wrongs, the people of Barbour did
and do submit to the injustice done them, and
that with forbearance that is the best proof
of their innocence of the Governors charge.
Were they to any extent the lawess people
he declares them, the now unprotected Regis
trars who have disgraced them could not re-
main in their midst. Nevertheless, those
officers pass to and fro throughout the county
without harm, and without hndrance in any
particular and the people have no idea of
molesting them.
The questions of taxation and corruption
are discussed by the message in thoroughly
partisan spirit. The high taxes are attributed
mainly to the Free School system, and are
claimed to have been brought about by the
people themselves. At the salnc time, it is
admitted that the State taxes due from large
portion of " est Virginia have been RENTED,
and, of course, the deficiency must have been
made good by the "loyal" portions OF the
~
been rendered unproductivc by prescription,
and their share Of the public burdens has
been imposed upon their more prosperous
neighbors
In this connection the Governor makes no
mention of the extravaganza that spent S2S,-
600 for soldiers medals, or the simplicity
that entrusted more than 900 to his
charge as "Civil Contingent Funds" destiny
unknown. lie also ignores the fact that the
Penitentiary was to have been completed, I'M
der the original estimate, for $4,000, al
though he wants SIS 600 more expended on
that institution, which will leave it but par
TALLY finished. A similar dodge is practiced
with regard to the Asylum, upon which $40
600 have been expended, and more money is
needed to complete but portion of the build
ing.
It's not through Free Schools proper that
the peoples money has been wasted. 1t is
through the numberless paid officers employed
to enforce the system, and the dishonesty of
the men charged with the keeping Of the
school funds The confessed delinquency of
Marshall county official to the extent of
several thousand dollars is too recent mat
tor to have been forgotten. The defalcation
Of Radical school officer in Harrison coun-
ty the other day, will also help to show the
direction that the public money has taken
Radicalism is rotten through and through,
and its natural results, dishonest officials, are
greatly responsible for the complaints about
taxes. 1t is not because school houses are
being built that the people are grooming. but