The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-22

on the subject In former message.
This law imposes heavy penalties
for taking more than six per cent
interest," and is thesubiect ofgreat COM
plant by the business community gem
orally. SIT is. contended that expe-
rience has proven that six per cent. is.
not at all times a sufficient considera-
| tton for the use of money, and that its
price should be left by law to the
market, as any article of merchandise.
And In support of this proposition the
facts are cited that large sums are bor-
rowed by the United States at more
than six per cent; that some of the
States have adopted a greater rate.
while others, retaining the legal rate,
allow much more to be taken on special
contract. 1t is also claimed, and be-
neve correctly, that persons engaged In
active business are often willing, and
can Well afford to pay more than six
per cent for money; that this being al
Io~ed py other States, not only prevents
capital from coming into our State. but
actually draws it from us: that men
desiring to invest their means or enter
into business, seek locations where a
more liberal policy prevails; and thus
we are deprived of the use OF much
capltal, and OF the enterprise of many
useful citizens, the result of which is
necessarily to retard our prosperity.
And finally, it is affirmed that this law
Is dtsregarded and eVaded by the un-
scrupulous, and that 1t is only opera
tiveto the prejudice OF the law abiding
citizens"
1t is now asked, ifthe Legislature Will
not amend the law SO as to allow a
greater ratio OF interest, that it be so
modified as to subject the lender to "A
forfeiture OF only the excess OF interest
over the legal rate which he may take
or contract for from the borrower. I
submit this proposition for your consid-
Grafton.
STATE CAPITAL.
The permanent location of the capital
of the State is subject which will. no
doubt, be considered by you at the pres
ent session. In my message TO the first
Legislature of the State, In 1853, re-
commended immediate action on this
question, and my opinion ever since
mas oeen, as expressed In subsequent
messages, that its settlement would
tend to the harmony aud prosperity OF
the State. L refer to what have here
toiore said, and have nothing to add ON
this subject.
ME@BER OF, HOUSE FROM LEWIS COUNTY.
On the 18th of December, 1867, re-
ceived the resignation Of A. w. Wood
| ford, ESQ.,, as member of the House of
Delegates from Lewis county. He also
enclosed me communication address,
ed to him by James NJ. Hayden, Esq,
the only other person who had been u
candidate at the last annual election
| for, or had any claim to, the Office, in
which the latter abandoned all preteM-
sions thereto. Being thus satisfied
that the office was vacant, I, on tho
18th of Deco mber, 1867, issued q writ OF
election to I'LL the vacancy, directed TO
the sheriff of Lewis county, in which
the proper officers were required to hold
an eleGtion for that purpose on the 7th
day OF January, 1868.
IMMIGRATIoN.
AS was about concluding NV mes-
sage, received from the Commission
er OF Immigration his Fourth Annual
Report, which take pleasure IN Law
Ing before you. The delay in Its trans-
mission is satisfactorily accounted for
by the Commissioner, but It reached
me SO recently that I have not time TO
call special attnntion to the several
matters detailed in it. 1 request, how
ever, that the members will read It aud
give to its contents that consideration
which in my judgment they are enti-
Tied to. 1t Will be found to be very
interesting paper, containing. much
that is valuable in connection with this
Important subject, and showing what
has been accomplished during the past
year by tho unatded and unre0uited
labOrs of the Commissioner. It will bs
seen that he has secured considerable
number of immigrants from Europe,
who, through the insLrumentRlities
that he has been able to bring into re-
quisition, had fixed upon West Vir-
ginia as their destination, before leay-
ing their homes in the Old World; and
am now fully satisfied that he has
laid tho foundation for securing a fair
share of foreign immigration TO our
State for the future, If the Legislature
Will second his efforts to that end, He
Is most competent and faithful officer,
and has devoted much of his time and
private means to the business of hiH
"a af 4 h 81
now; with reasonable encouragement
from the Legislature, the fruits of his
laoors may soon be realized. But he
has received no more than a mere nit
tance for his services, while he has incur
red some small debts in Europe, as NAV
be seen from his report, which must 6e
paid-if not by the Stately himself.
think he should receive what ia reH-
sonable for his own services, and that
such liabilities as may be found on ex-
animation animate to be proper, should also be
to former messages that / have
been, (and still AMI of the opin-
ion that a small portion of the naeans
of the State could not be used moro
benehcially than to devote 1t to tho
further encouragement of immigration
into our midst.
RECoNsTRUCTIoN.
l propose only brief notice of one
subject connected with national affaira.
In laying before the last Legislature
resolution of Congress proposing an
amendment to the National Constitu-
ton, took occasion to express some
views on the general subject of the re-
construction of the Southern States,
Among other things, 1 then said: "It
seems 10 me that It must be apparent
to every unbiased mind that II was the
absolute duty of Congress to take con-
troll OF the reconstruction OF the rebel
lious States after the war was over.
Had it not done SO, It would have been
recreant to the trust reposed in it by
patriotic and confidinR constituency.
The position assumed-thRt the action
taken in those States under the procln-
nations and orders OF the Executive,
is conclusive on the other departments
ofthe Government, and that Cong
has no authority to go behind II and
impose additional terms, but should at
once admit their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
not be maintained, nor should 1t be as
sented to for one moment. Congress Is
the law making power OF the Govern
ment; and, according to the spirit, as
we'll as the plain provisions of the Con- q
stitution, that body has the power and
1t is its imperative duty to provide for
the general welfare oft he country.
After the war was over 1t deVolved on
Congress to examine into the condition
of the rebelliOus States, and 10 aRoeF-
tain the conduct and sentiments of the
people of those States, and then to
FtFNFNf IfNN IL