The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-01-20
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The members of the House assembled
in the Chamber at 10 A. NJ, and wer,
called to order by the Clerk OF the las
House, at whose request Rev. Mr.
KINKAID, of Fayette county, opened
the deliberations with prayer.
The Clerk then called the roll of the
members appearing to be elected, il
corresponding with the list elsewhere
published. All responded as present
except Mr.. Carpenter, of Greenbrier
Mr.. Schofeld, of Writ, and Mr.. Wright
of Cabell, and those present came for
ward and took the oath.
On motion of Mr.. HEERMANS, tbs
rules of the last House were adopted
and under those rules the Clerk stated
that the first business in order would be
the election of Speaker.
Mr.. HEERMANS then moved recess
till 2 o'clock, stating that Immediately
upon the recess a consultation of the
Republican members would be held in
the Chamber of the House concerning
the organization.
The motion was agreed to, and tn,
House took recess till 2 O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House reassembled at the h0u
appointed, and proceeded at once TO OF
ganize. -
For Speaker, Mr.. HEERMANS nomi
mated SOLOMON S. FLEMING, of Har'
risOn.
There being no other nominations,
on motion of Mr.. PINNELL, the elec-
tion of Mr.. FLEMING was made unan-
imOus.
Messrs. PINNELL and MANN were
appointed to conduct the Speaker to
the chair, whereupon that officer ad-
dressed the House as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House Of Delegates
am unable titly to express the graft
tude feel at this expression of your
confidence and kindness. 1t is the
more grateful to my feelings as 1t APP
pears 20 be in consideration of the many
years which have labored among you
as delegate upon this floor. And now
NAV | ask the further favor of you 70
assist me by your couusels and your
forbearauee in the discharge of the re-
sponsible duties which you have as
signed met
We have met together for the purpose
of organizing another session OF the
I Legislature in accordance with the pro-
visions of the Constitution of our State.
There are some few measures of vital
importance that will be before you for
your consideration at this session; but
i trust with spirit of harmony and
Cancellation and good Judgment we will
be able to decide them harmOniOusly y
and wisely.
| have tlattered myself that the bulk
of the legislation needed for our State,
has probably been completed, rs it re-
CARDS laws of general character; and
at the present time | think there is
more danger TO be apprehended from
too much legislation than from too lit
tie. At the recent extra session of the
with great labor, research
and care, q code of laws was prepared
for our State. An honest effort was
made to make them a terror TO evil
doers and TO promote the ends of JUS
tice. They were revised By the first
talent Of the State; passed through the
hands of the committee on Revision,
were read line by line, and section by
section in both branches of the Legsla-
ture, were unanimously amended, dis.
cusseG, and finally the differences of
opinion we're adjusted through commit
tees of Conference, and confirmed as q
whole by a majority of both houses. 1t
would seem to be prudence in this Leg
is lature to allow this code of laws to 20
before the people, be tried by them, and
have their defects pointed out, if any
were found to exist, before they should
be materially altered or amended. The
laws heretofore enacted by our Legisla-
ture have been very imperfectly under
stood by the people, in consequence of
the numerous changes they have under
gone from time to time at each succeed.
ing session. At the last extra session
which was called for the purpose of pro-
viding q code of laws for the State, over
two hundred bills were introduced and
considered by the two branches of the
Legislature, and represented to be meas
ures Of vital Importance. This is alarm
ing. Upon an examination of those
bills it will be found that probably
more than half of them related to sub
jeots proper for the consideration of the
Boards of Supervisors of the appropri-
ate counties, and should not be enter
tanned in q legislative body at such
enormous expense.
We are shortly, with the introduction
of this Code, which trust will be sat.
isfactory to the people, to turn over a
new leaf in the history of our country,
and open upon, as / trust, brighter
page, with the Inauguration of a new
President and Vice President of the
United States, a new Cabinet and a
very radical change in all the officials
of our General as we'll as State Govern.
ment. May we not trust that good will
result from the change, that peace and
prosperity, so long a stranger to many
portions of our country, may be restored
throughout the extent of our Borders
and that the bitter lessons of expericnc,
that haze been taught may be as endur
ing as they have been disastrous an,
expensive?
7 am one of those that believe IN tn
great law ofretribution, of rewards AM
punishmeuts; that Righteousness eS
alteth a nation" and that our tinancla
prosperity, commercial growth ahd dc
mestic happiness are appsrtioned to u
as we hopor God, deal uprightly and d
Justice towards our fellow-men.
promised, my friends, that l: woul
not detain yen with long speech; bu
before taking my seat permit me to asl
the assistance and forbearance of eacI
to aid in the discharge of the duties yo)
have assigned me, and to thank yo
kindly, gentlemen, for the honor yo
have conferred upon me.
Mr.. SCHOFIELD, of Writ, appeare,
in his seat, came forward and was quail
flied.
The House then proceeded to tn
choice of Clerk, and Mr.. William T
Hubbard, of Wheeling, was nominate
by Mr.. PINNELL, and upon motion
Mr.. MANN, reelected by reclamation