The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-18


will be found about equally divided be-
tween the two great political parties
Thecost6f holding 3 convention is
an item that should beyery deliberately |
considered, especially in view Of the
fact that our citizens have been neces-
sarily. taxed heavily, to meet obligations
growing out of the war, 70 erect public
buildings, to pay current expenses, and
to inaugurate our system Of free school
education.
Z Three special elections become neces-
sary, if a convention is held at an early
dav the first to determine whether 1t
shall be held; the next-should the
people decide to hold one-to elect dele
gates thereto: and the third to ratliy or
reject the work Of the convention
An ordinary State election, including
the amount expended in each county,
costs about $4,000; the aggregate ex-
pense, therefore, OF these three cleo,
lions would be $4,000. The cost OF
the convention itself could not be less
than $4,000. which, added to the cost
of the three elections, makes 100000.
But the outlay could not stop here.
An extra session of the Legislature
would become indispensable TO enact
laws-to conform to the new or amended
constitution, and another session to sue
coed this one would be necessary to
codify the laws thus enacted; and then
must follow the publication Of a new
code of laws, before the present one,
prepared at great expense, is fairly
placed in the hands Of our citizens. 1t
is apparent from this, that the cost of
a. convention, and subsequent leglsla-
ton made necessary by it, could not be
less than $4,000, and is much more
likely to exceed than fall short of this
amount. 1t will require considerations
of the most conclusive and overwhelm-
ing character to satisfy the taxpayers
that the expenditure of this large sum
of money is necessary for the purpose
indicated, especially in the face Of the
fact that many Of our public buildings
are vet unfinished, and that our unfor-
.tunate deaf, dumb, blind and insane
are but partially provided for; and with
the still more formidable fact confront
ing us that within a short time our
State must assume and provide for the
payment of her just proportion Of the
Virginia debt 1t is very certain, too,
that the holding of convention will
necessitate an increase in the rate Of
taxation; and this, in view Of the heavy
local taxes heretofore levied, and the
straitened condition of our finances,
would be little less than a public ca
lamity.
The pretext that a convention is
necessary to amend the constitution 30
as to provide more ample salaries for
public officers, is not, in my opinion,
well founded 1t is perhaps true that
the compensation fixed by that instru-
ment was too low Tor the prices of liv-
ing which prevailed during the war
and for time succeeding it. But the
fact must not be overlooked that val
ues are gradually dropping to the peace
standard; that they will reach it in a
briet time cannot be doubted and when
they do, the present salaries will be a
fair compensation for the service to be
rendered.
Equally groundless is the demand for
a change in the fundamental law so ast 10
dispense with what are termed unneces-
sary offices, whose incumbents, it is al
legged, eat out the substance OF the peo'
ple. The truth is, there are but few,
ifiany, offices that can be wisely dis
pensed with; besides no pay is attached
10 many of these positions. Then,
again nearly all OF them, except the
State offices, are created by legislative
action, and may be abolished by it if
found desirable.
!; But even where modification ofthe
Constitution becomes necessary, it may
be made quite as speedily as the public
interest re luires by passing the propos-
ed amendment through the Legislature
and submitting it to the people ior>rati-
fication or rejection, in the manner
prescribed in the instrument itselt. This
mode has the advantage of avoiding
sudden and violent changes, too apt to
be made under the heat Of party excite
ment, as well as the immense cost Of
convention.
The only proposed alteration in the
Constitution, about which public in
terest has been in any considerable de-
gree manifested, is that inaugurated at
the last session Of the Legislature, for
thepurpose Of amending the first sec
ton of Article III thereof, so as to re-
invest with political privileges the pres
ent disfranchised citizens Of the State
who gave voluntary aid to the rebellion,
and to change the language Of the same
section so as to make it conform to Arti-
Gle XIV of the amendments to the Con-
stitution of the United States. But this
proposed amendment has been already
passed at one session Of the Legislature,
and only needs to be sanctioned by the
present one and ratified by the people to
have full force as a part Of the Constr
tuition
This proposed change, or, indeed, any
other, can only be consummated in this
way or by a convention; these are the
only legitimate modes by which the or
ganic law of the State can be amended.
Any attempt to carry out the policy
proposed in some quarters, Of multiplying
certain provisions of the Constitution
by mere legislative action, will be found
a perilous experiment, fraught with
mischief and replete with danger. It's
designating effects would be as swift
ashley would be fatal. 1t would be
precedent that would be seized and en-
,iarged upon in the future, until law
would be without restraint, and the
Constitution itself would cease to COM
mand respect: Whatever course may
be agreed upon to remove either real
or, imaginary evils, this one, in my judg-