The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-10

!. The Speech OF Hon. III. G. Davis, o
! Mineral County, In Democratic
\ and Conservative Senatorial Con
ventfon, at Moorfield July aO,ls7'
4 Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 You that know me are aware that
am no public speaker; and as yor
have heard to-day the principles OF the
party ably expounded by our candidate
for Governor, Mr.. Jacob, who has nc
superior and few equals; also the able
arguments of Hon. j. j. Davis, of Har
rison county, and Mr. Sprigg, our can
didate for Attorney General, | will
not rehearse the points argued by these
Egentlemen, but confine myself to few
facts and figures worthy Of attention in
this campaign. My appearance before
tyou to-day is due to the fact that you
hare, unsolicited on my part, honored me
with a denomination 10 the State Sen
ate--and | as a candidate feel il my
duty TO let myself be both seen and
heard in this contest.
During my connection with the Leg:
Iature, frequent opportunities were af'
forded me to see and hear many things
in regard to extravagant expenditure,
on the part Of the State Government,
some of which | will refer to during
the course of my remarks.
The much talked-of 10Th Amendment
was forced upon the people contrary to
the principles Of our State Constitution,
which says that no amendment shall be
made until submitted to the people.
This Amendment was passed as reso-
luton by the Legislature of West Nir-
ginia, a. one of the twenty-eight States
forming the three fourths required by
the Constitution of the L. S. States, by
22 votes, when 29 constituted majority
Of the House, and by ten votes in the
Senate when twelve was legal major
iy The State Constitution saws that
no law shall be passed except q major
ity OF all the members elected 10 each
House vote for it. The Court Of APP
peals OF this State has decided that q
resolution is not law, and yet the adop-
ton OF the 18th Amendment was passed
by the Legislature, in the manner stated.
az a resolution, when it had no power
to grant additional power 10 even the
lowest public officer
Two years ago, during the Senatorial
convass, the Radical candidate denied
that negro suffrage or equality was any
part of the object of that party, and
that they had no intention to fasten. it
upon the citizens of the State That
promise has not been kept, and negro
suffrage is now the law, and negro
equality is part of the policy OF the
Radical party, and is fairly stated in
Summers Equality Bill, as presented
to Congress.
The aim OF the Radicals is to enfran-
chise and use the negro for disfranchise
ment Of white men five do not stop
this by the defeat OF the Radical candi-
dates, our State may share the fate of
the South, where negro children are
forced into the same schools with the
whites. Provision to this effect is in
corporated in the Constitution Of sever
al Southern States, and the States were
not admitted to representation in Con-
gress until these equality measures were
ratified by the people.
ask YOU, is it right that negroes
should vote and hold Office, while a
large number of intelligent and inhuen
tial men are forced to pay heavy taxes
and have no representation?
The average cost of our State Gov
ernment has been about 100000 per
wear, heretofore, but the Auditor esti-
mates that $500, 900 i E, ne ;essary for the
present year. This large sum Of
money is collected and consumed by
State officers. No old State debts have
been paid or public Improvements
made.
The Registration Law i- very eXptn-
sive, and adds TO our already heavy
taxes. For five years it has cost an
average of $4,000 per year. The Gov
ernor's Contingent Fund cost from So
900 to $4,000 per year, and is used for
political purposes, and in the interest Of
the Radical party. while all the people
are taxed TO pay it. | learned of one
instance where Governor Of this State
made contract to pay to certain par
ties specified sum per head for each
voter they could succeed in disfranchise-
ing. After the thing had been done,
the Governor did not wish TO pay the
full price agreed upon, but compromised
at the rate of $3.50 per head
The Auditors Report shows that
25,3l6 men are disfrancbised in this
State, and, ! believe, fully one-half are
wrongfully debarred from the righ, 70
vote. Heretofore there has been no
remedy, but the bill 10 enfore the 18th
Amendment, though intended for the
exclusive use Of the negro, will benefit
white man also.
The 10Th Senatorial District has
about 1900 disfranchised voters, Of
which it would not take one-half 10
give the Conservative ticket a majority.
This Congressional District has about
10000 disfranchised voters, and this
statement is not founded upon any sup
position or imagination.
Several northern States, such as Penn.
/ aylvania and Ohio, have registration
laws, but those laws require the officers
I g. IS ,.n,ors m ra MT aroI