The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-01-22
A Petty DictnIor.

bill was introduced III the llouSo VI
Delegates, yesterday, authorizing tne
Judye of the Seventh Judicial Circuit
to fill by appointment all vacancies oc-
cnrripp in the county and township
offices of the counties of Greenbrler,
Monroe, Nicholas aud Pocahontas. The
Judpe in question is the notorious NAT.
HARRISON. The people of his District,
Al the last State election, chose their
own local officers, many OF whom, IL
seems, we're Democrats. Subsequently
the Boards Of Regis ration met and dis
franchised numbers of these officers
elect. Ia order to render them ineligible
uadrr the Constitutional provision re-
ouiring all officers iu tfe State to be
qualified voters.
This is what they call creating va
cancies," and cow to prevent the peo-
pie from re-electing the same or other
Democrats to these positions, this bill
is introduced giving NAT HARRISON the
power of appointment referred to.
1t is almost useless to say that the
bill is unconstitutional, for this we fear
would be but slight obstacle to It's
passage. Nevertheless the Constitution
does say that these officers shall be
elected by the people, and to give NAT
HARRISON the power to name them
would be direct legislative usurpatlon.
Election is the only legal mode of filling
these offices: any other mode would be
unlawful, and in this instance would
be disgraceful.
\ few years ago, NAT had this same
power conferred upon him. But the
legislation which thus made him pet
~ dictator was ventilated over the
State, and all parties, save a few inter
ested persons, were disgusted with it. In
the last legislature q similarpropesltion
vas mootrd, bat found little favor. Its
authors withdrew it in utter shame
Their example is a good one.
In order that the members OF the
Legislature may know the style OF man
for whom these extraordinary powers
are sought, we copy from the Union
Rsgister the following account of ne
GRO ball, which HARRISON attended OF
last New Years Evening. He is referred
to in the article as the chief seal
awag.'
AFRICAN CELEBRATION.-Ihe annua
New Years Ball of the colOred pOpula
tion of this eighbOrhood came eft will
distinguished tclat at the "African Cap
ital" on Tuesday night. At the call o
their quasi white king Mambs Jumbo
who rivals King Solomon in the wisdom
and Justice of his judgments, the beauty
and chivalry of Ashautee, Dahomy anC
Congo, flocked to TimbuctOo on tht
Aforesaid evening to celebrate the sea
sou. We learn that the festival passe,
OFT pleasantly, the dancing and swee
dalliance inspired by the yOluptuou
notes of the violin king, Alexande,
continued until far into the wee sma
bonrs ayant the twal. A sligt
suriukling of white scallagger
and carpet .baggerie, relieved the dari
ness of the multitude, and set it o
with \ pleasing though merely appa
ent contrast. The Chief scalawag trll
ped the light fantastic hoe-down an
cut the pigeon wing, with skill an
zest that put life and metal into tn
heels of his dusky admirers, and, doubt
less, absorbed the perfume of their aG
miration. The performances at Joshua
at Bibb's, OF at that widows in PocI
hontas, were nothing to the recen
achievements of the distinguished ps
trcn of the Black Crook. We encour
tered him next day, and, Phew W
fancied ourselves waited to the shore
of Guinea, SO strongly did the odor {
his presence, derived from association
affect our sensgs and imagination.