The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-10-03


credit, when it was reflected that they had
given these monster corporations some
$64,OOO,00O in United States bonds, and
land enough for an empire, thus perpc-
trating gigantic swindle on the labor Of
the country and robbing the poor man and
bis children of their heritage in the pub
lie domain. As for their local railroad
policy, they had embarrassed the pro-
gress of ,he Chesapeake d Ohio road by
giving man named Aver, carpot-bag-
ger from the New Hampshire peniten-
tiary, control Of the West Virginia Cen
trail To induce capitalists to complete
the Chesapeake & Ohio it was necessary
to grant them certain privileges, which
Aver claimed to hold and which he would
not surrender without bonus. He
blackmailed the road to the amount Of
$4,000 before he would abandon his
pretensions. Now if granting important
railroad charters to iail-birds and thieves
entitle the republican party to credit, then
let them receive it. Cheers. The 100
school houses of which Governor Steven
son boasts were paid for by the people, not
by the republican party. South of the
Little Kanawha, the greater portion of
the taxes were paid by Democrats and
rebels, and in some counties, We have the
authority Of the Inteuigencer for saying,
seren-eighths of the taxes were paid by men
who had no voica in their disbursement.
The teachers test oath has driven from the
school houses the sons of men whose money
built them, and to add absurdity to petty
despotism, had required some of their
daughters to swear that they had never
borne arms in aid Of the rebellion. In re-
membering those facts, and that Colonel
Milton Wells, of Brooke county, had de-
clared the republican candidate for secre-
tary Of State unfit to discharge the duties
devolved upon him by the law, was it not
time for Governor Stevenson and other
republicans to lower their pretcnsions
about their free school system. APP
plauso.
Since the republisans challenged inves-
tigation of their record upon internal i'm
ptovement and kindred questions, Mr..
Walker called attention to the fact that it
had enacted no legislation for the dcvol-
opment Of the State. Its measures were
proscriptivc in their character, calculated
to drive men away from the State rather
than invite them in. This character were
the test oaths for teachers, lawyers, sena-
tors, jurors, officers anil voters, which
oaths the speaker discussed at length.
The failure Of some election officers to en-
force the voters oath in 1865, an oath af-
terward declared unconstitutional, had
been made by Governor Foreman the OK.
cuse for bringing troops into the State, and
the military had been a standing adver-
tisement to capitalists and immigrants that
the people of West Virginia were a law
less gang among whom it was unsafe 10
loaate. Governor Stevenson had said be-
foro and would probably say again, tina,
there was more salt made more coal mined
and more lumber exported now than few
years ago. The existence of the war had
paralyzed these industries, and their ro-
viral was due to the cessation of hostilities.
not to the fostering care of the republican
party. So with our increase Of population,
it was due to natural causes, it had not
come from immigration, the InteLigcnccr
had declared "that more men are each
year leaving the State for the West than
are coming into it from abroad" This
was authority that could not be ques-
toned.
And now, said the speaker, approach
that part Of the discussion which relates
directly to the Official conduct Of the State
Executive. When upon a recent occasion
it became my duty to discuss the acts Of
Governor Stevenson and his uDderlngs,
his Excellency, infatuated at the idea that
bis record was not beyond the reach Of
criticism, was pleased to respond in style
which, in my humble judgment, reflected
no credit upon the taste ofthe speaker, and
did small honor to the station which he
fills. Taking an editor along for the pur-
pose, he had his vituperative assault, to
which he would not permit reply, heral-
ded abroad as grand personal triumph,
as if the Governor Of the State had any
glory to gain by personally raking person
in private position. For the benefit of
,boso of our ronubl;ooD fr;ands ubo oro ol-