The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-05

thar rendered them traitors under the
nrnyision Of the Federal Constitution.
The moment these persons did this, they
ceased to be citizens and forfeited their
civil and political rights. They became
simply public enemies to the loyal gov.
rrnmcnts, Federal and State, and the citi'
zrns adhcring thereto. Public law
impcled this conclusion. The Old State
was recognized, and the New State
erected, in accordance with this man
date OF public law, which the Supreme
Court Of the United States has repeat
cdly sanctioned and approved. What
Fundamental rights former citizens that
thus renowned and forfeited had LEFT that
our present Constitution would have dc.
privcd them OF, | think no disinterested
iurist or person has been able to see. LII
ability to receive the penalty prescribed
by the Government rebClled against, was
about all that remained To such. The
present Constitution, which went into
operation on June 90, 1868, provided only
for those who possessed the rights and
privileges of citizens Of the United
States and not for public enemies then In
arms against the loyal Governments, MIR,
+. seems TO wish clause inserted in the
Constitution that shall restrain the Legs
lativo power from passing similar protec..
tive laws, in case another rebellion should
make II necessary. All eX.rebcls are now
restored TO full citizenship, and thepresent
Constitution forbids the Legislature pass
ing similar laws, unless like emergency
occurs, which | hope no citizen contem:.
plates. And if 1t were TO be inserted and
civil war should occur, the national au'
thority would override such provision,
during hostlIitics Mt least. A constilu'
tional clause forever GXpatriating any cltl'
zen that hereafter voluntarily becomes a
public enemy, is the change needed IN
this respect, # any, II seems to me
9rd. How the provision in the present
Constitution requiring tile Legislature to
pass generdL laws for the establishment
Of private corporations, that are equally
open to all the citizens complying with
tic terms; instead Of special acts or char
tiers obtained by II favored iew-incrGases
LEGISLATION and EXPENSE think no one
hut Mr.. +. able toComprehend. The pres
ent Constitution in express terms torblds
the Legislature granting special charters,
except for banking purposes and works oil
Internal improvement .,,
3th. annual sessions of As days will be
found necessary while the great interests
of our State are being shaped, developed
and organized.
9Th. The power Of one man, the eXecu'
tive. to veto or interfere with the legisla'
tive power, vested in the two houses Of The
Legislature, was borrowed from the Eng
lish monarchy-whcrG It served to pro
tect the prCrOgaiIves Of the CrOwn----car
have no appropriate use in our Republican
Government; and It Is fast disappearing
from the State governments Throughout
+ the Union. The mother State never lad 1t
9Th. The advantage Of the ballot over
the rira rocc mode Ot voting especially t
the poor and dependent securing thereby
II Tree and honest expression, ! have III
ready commented on. .
iii, The Township system Is not o
"croiic" origin for Mr.. Jefferson originated
II; though 1t may be said to have had it,
growth and encouragement in the grea
. free States (which we shall do well Il
n initiate. II certainly superCcdes the. nc
ccssity Of SUJtliriiiRg our counties ana in
> curing the vastly increased expense q
3. erecting new county buildings, anu main
, tanning new county organizations, courts
!, sc. The evils VIC have experienced iron
!. the System hitherto has arisen submit
y from other causes than the system ilsel
and these causes the Legislature Is CON
n petcnt to remove,
Sth. The negroby the combined opera
:, ton of Section lst, 18th amendment
u Inc Federal COnstitutiOn-by which he
y made citizen, and Art /, Sec. Of I'll
:, present State Constitution that provide
: that "CvGry citizen" shall be included Il
q the basis of representation, and DO en-
= titled 10 equal rCpresentaiOn-ls rs clear
" ly to be included among the populatio
:, in Opportioning delegates, as myself, 20
~ or any white man Is. The former bein
:, the "Suprcmc law" abrogates Sec. 9th {
= Art. 4th, which limits the appOrtiOnnler
:, to "white" population, and the latter SCI
+ 7th, Art. list takes up, and includes I'll
:. negroes the moment they become cit
n zens. The proposition | submit, Is to
- clear 10 admit Of doubt.
9th. Arrangcs that provision OF Ou
Constitution that makes II the duty Of til
Legislature bya majority Of the member
elected to remove incompetent and col
J. rupt Judges. This provision In our pre-
e ont Constitution Is copied rGrbdtim irOl
r. the Virginia Constitution Of 1850; sec Cod
, 1860, Page 80, Sec. II. Her COnstitutlo
: Of 1890, required tir0 thirds vote to n
Il move. Having tried this for iwcnty.On
le years, the leading minds Of The mothC
" State In 1850, changed 1t to what her
y. and ours Is now. No evils have been c.
" pericncCd in the old State during the las
9. len years. Has our trial been such rs
y, warrant our reversing this long praCtiC
8 Of the mother state, guided bythe highe
r. minds Of the nation2 1t is absurd.
IS 10TH Is the old cry Of tho party
Il powcrto have minority represented; whe
e Inc practice OF the same party since
& came into power, has been TO displaCe a
re officers belonging to the minority, eve
y where his pny was reCkOned by cents or
not dollars. This shows their sincerity
The plan Is altogether new and eXper
Oh mental; certainly not worth having Coz
le vention to embark orr young State !
\. this early.
70 1ltb. Opposes any change in RELATE
u to the States going In debt to aid Intern
III Improvement, while, in the Bird Dlstric
IL n change in this respect seems to lie Il
u, main object sought.
hc 18th. Gives n hearty approval Of Il
~, present provision in relation to FRI
ia Schools, and asks no change in this r
~, spcCt
m 18th Proposes to adopt some constit
,r. tional provision Of decided Characte
II. to protect the State against the "gigant
capital" that shall come here to build o.
railroads, and at the same time prove