The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-01
From the Charleston Courier.l
An ADDRESS.

| To the Democratic and Conservative
Voters OF the Third Congressional
District.
We desire to call your attention to q
few OF the leading issues and interests
involved in the present canvass for q
Convention to amend the Constitution
Of the United States. ~
In common with yourselves we wish
to see the Democratic party fulfill to the
utmost the pledges upon which it came
into power. To this end, and for the
further purpose of promoting the har-
mony of the people and the best inter.
ests Of the State, we believe it our duty
to vote for the proposed Constitutional
Convention.
The present Constitution was made
by but small minority Of the people.
In the Convention which formed it, this
portion of the State had, at best, but a
nominal representation. 1t is certainly
unfair TO require the people OF the State
to be governed perpetually by Consti
tuition which but an Insignificant part OF
them had any voice in making. Had
those who favor a Convention on this
ground deliberately refused to partici.
pate in the formation OF the present
Constitution, the propriety Of their de-
mand might be called in question. But
when we remember that in the adop-
ton Of the present Constitution, force
and intimidation enabled a small ma
jority to prevail against the will of the
masses, we are compelled to admit that
the continuance of this minority Con
stitution would be bnt another form OF
Acknowledgement
We ask a Constitutional Convention
for the abolition Of the township system
aud the establishment Of cheaper gov
eminent. Under this system our own
taxes have increased tenfold in ten
years. In the year 1860 the local taxes
of Kanawha county amounted to $41S9.
In 1870 they reached the startling sum
Of S57 1853. Our experience is the ex-
perience of every county in the State.
We ask a Convention TO reform the
basis of representation. Under the
present system none but whites are rep.
resented. Kanawha county, with five
hundred negro voters to encounter, has
not the right to represent them in the
Legislature. Had she such right her
representation in the House of Dele
gates would be increased by one mem
Der. Other counties Of the District are
similarly situated Ii the negroes must
vote, is it right that we should lose our
power in the Legislature in conse-
quence?
We ask a Convention to equaiize tax
alton. Under our present Constitution
none but whites are required to pay a
capitation tax. 1t is proper that the
provision Of the Code requiring a CAPT
tation tax to be levied upon blacks,
which is null and void under the pres
ent Constitution, be given full force and
effect under a Constitution which shall
recognize the right Of the races to
equality in the matter Of taxation.
We ask Convention to make final
and effectual provision against the en-
actment Of "test oaths' and registra-
ton laws. The recent years of our
history are black with prescription.
The denial of civil and political rights
for partisan reasons, has been held con-
stitutional by reason Of the absence of
prohibitory clauses from the organic
law. Surely, there can be no time more
fitting than the present for providing
against the recurrence Of the evils
which, in the recent past, test oath leg
islation brought upon us. With the
memory of the iniquities Of proscrip-
ton fresh in our minds, let us call a
Convention, and through it prohibit
them finally and forever.
1t is urged that the Legislature can
make these amendments. We answer
that it cannot without resolving itself
into Convention. Its present sessions
give it scarcely time enough to attend
to its ordinary business. Let 1t under
take the reconstruction Of our present
Constitution and an extra session, cost
ing more than a Convention, will be
required. This consideration gains
force from the fact that the Legislature
is made up Of two bodies, has two sets
of officers, and must submit its work Of
constitutional amendment to its success
sor for ratification, thus doubling at
once the delay and the cost.
We are told that the cost Of the pro-
posed Convention will be great. His
Excellency, Governor Stevenson, estl-
mated the cost Of the Convention which
formed the present Constitution at
$4,000. After that estimate, the Con-
vention held second session. Its en-
tire cost, and that Of three accompany
ing elections was but $25 ,52S. True 1t
had not so many members as the pro
posed Convention will have if called
but it's members received 81 each per
day, while those Of the proposed body
will get but So each; lite President re-
ceived IS per day, while the President
of the proposed Convention will receive
but S.. That Convention necessitated
three extra elections. This will require
but one more than is now provided for
by law. In brief the cost in our Juds-
m ent will be saved to the State many
times over in the reduced taxation OF a
single year.
We cannot disguise the fact that this
Convention is q Democratic measure.
The act proyidipp for the call was