Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-07-01
the con VENIlON.
MORE COOP DEMOCRATIC Reasons FOR
OPPOSING A CONVENTION.


On behalf of all true Democrats we
vehemently protest against the calumny
that the convention business is party
measure This is necessary, to save the
party from the odium that may be
brought upon it by the hateful inhuen-
ces now seeking to control the State
councils. The mouth-piece of those in
tuences insist that all who venture to
discuss the propriety of convention,
with themselves as managers, are radl-
Gals in effect, if not in name. We are
Democrats; on principle, not for inter
est, and while we shall freely discuss
that measure, we do not propose to he
driven out of the Democratic temple by
the Pharisees and money-changers that
are struggling for possession, and whom,
with the help of God and the people,
we shall certainly drive out. Demo
Gratis and Republicans alike, wish for a
convention, Democrats and Republ-
cans alike oppose convention. Our
present Constitution was framed by
Democrats and Republicans alike, and
there is nothing therefore partisan in
the question. If, on reading the Con
stitution, it can be shown to need
complete renovation, we are for con
vention but if otherwise, we are
against it. The dead body Of Old
Eogyism clings now, like barnacle to
ships bottom, to the ship Of Democ-
racy Of West Virginia and imperils her
safety. We shall not be ridden by
corpse, neither shall the people.
Not content with the equality restor
ed to them by the Flick Amendment,
the old masters want to flourish again
over the heads of their former subjects,
the worm-eaten ante-bellum whip Of
Privilege, and lash them into the old
crazy harness which has rottcd In the
dust of a Revolutionary decade " hlle
crawling up stealthily TO the poop es
necks, for another long ride, they IL
dulge in the rose-colored delusion that
the people are submissive; but let them
wait till the fourth Thursday in August,
and try the first touch OF the spur
they will be hoisted so high i'll Monroe,
ut least, that life will be extinct before
they touch the ground. We only hope
they may 60 on pushing themselves up
on the people, whom they once before
ruined, that we may enjoy the pleasure
of their utter humiliation. In discus
sing a convention now, for which no
reason drawn from the present Consti-
tuition is advanced, and Witnessing the
intrusive conduct ofpatrOns Of the meas
ure, people begin to inquire, what is to
be the fate of our school system are
we to have the ballot banished ale we
to have a property qualification OF sui
trage is the country levy to be raised
entirely by poll-tax, compelling the
poor to educate and support the poor
and foot family expenses is the State
and road tax TO be raised mainly by
capitation, as before the war ; Is the
government TO be administered again
By aprivileged few, who place the bulk
OF the public burdens on the shoulders
Of the people, legislate for their own
exemption forget the interests OF the
masses, and render the outlook for the
industrious poor SO dcSolate here, that
they must, like thousands who have
gone before and scattered over the
Western Wilderness, turn their faces
in despair, to the exile Of the West, be
cause there is no hope to make living
in the beautiful country OF their birth
1t is the return of this that the people
now suspect when they observe the
Bourbons so eager for a convention and
a constitution of Bourbon manufacture.
But the people will smite them, and
will. so fix the political conditions, that
any man may live, free and prosper
Gus citizen Of the county, who is willing
to work for his living. As for us, call
us by whatever name YOU please, we are
opposed to an alistocracy of power
whether open or disguised You may
curse us and say we should be kicked
into the middle of - that the streets
should be paved with our type ard the
fragments Of our press, we shall stllI,and
forever, say the people m"H rule
Monroe County Registers Dtmocroiir.)
GES. ROBERT L. LEE.-Bishop Johns
in his annual address, TO the Episcopal
Council, which convened at Petersburg,
some weeks ago said: Gen. Il. L.
Lee was vestrvman Of Grace Church,
Lexington. After the Mexican war, in
which he achieved so much glory, he
Joined Christ Church in Alexandria,
with his two daughters, advancing up
the aisle with one hanging on each arm.
The scene was memorable and affecting,
and the Bishop who then confirmed
them, remarked that if he served his
God as bravely and faithfully as he had
served his country there was i'll store
for him a great reward and honor. His
patriotism was equalled only by his pie
ty and in his retirement he was so
distinguished by his virtues that there
was no place for the thought of his re-
nown His heart was sorrowed by the
sorrows of others-those who now con
soled in their grief for his loss by the
faith that he rests from his labors in
heaven.
THE CHINESE have great faith in the
power of devils, among whom they In
clude all foreigners. n line of tele-
graph. about fifteen miles long, was
lately constructed near Shanghai, and
after pulling their brains over the man
/ fnI