The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-12

delegates 10y dividing the whole white popu-
!atioa Of the State by the number Of which
nc House is 10 consist, &c. II IS found that
II Isimpossible 10 make such apportionmcnt
and arrangement as required, withou, great
injustice being worked 10 certain portions Of
tie State, and that certain localities will nee
cssarily have an increased representation at
the expense Of Others. And then, tho repre-
sentatiOn is confined to ;hewhile population
and no! 10 the total population Of whites and
blacks, and thus We have the ANOMALY ofne-
groes voting in certain counties, and TO
great extent controlling the results Of cleo
'ions In such counties, and yet bv our pres
ent Constitution they are excluded from com
pu'ation in aseer.Rining ihc ratio Of repre-
sentation to which such counties are entitled.
The bare statement Of this fact should Re
sufficient 10 convince the most skep,ical Of
the necessity OF II change in this regard, and
that this radically defective Constitution can
not be so speedily remetiea, so rs 10 give ey-
cry portion Of our people their proper repre-
ssntation, rs BY the means We propose.
AgaiR, by the provisions Of the present
Constitution, capiiaiion tax Of one dollar
SHALL he leviei;on each white male inhabi,ant
WHO has attained lineage oftwenty-ons years.
This is mandatory upon the Legislature, and
no while inhabitangof the required age can
Escape his liability to pay it. Such is not
the case with persons ofcolor, in our State a
favored class. /, is no answer to the propo-
sition 10 state that by the provisions Of cur
Code persons Of color are now required TO paw
capitation tax. This provision can be re-
pesled by the act Of any succeeding Lcsisla-
ture, but no act can relieve the white inhabi-
trsi from its payment The white inhabi-
iants Of this State are thus by this ConstItu-
ton placed urder a disability which does mt
apply 10 persons Of color, and thus m odious
distinction is made by il in favor Of the lat
ter class.
reform in the administration Of the pub
lie Justice is imperativsly demanded. Our
Judiciary has been TO considerable degree
weak aud inefficient Charges ofcorruption
have been openly made and In fact instances
OF partisan decision and personal flvoritism
Can be cited in number Of cases. BY such
means, the most sacred rights ofpersons and
property in our State have been impaired,
AMI great wrongs perpetratcd upon our
people. The decisions Of some ofour Judges
have been made the subject OF gibe and Jest,
and have greatly tended 10 tarnish the fair
fame and character OF our State, and cause
rs almost to lose our State pride. Ofcourse,
there are honorable exceptions TO these
charges now upon the bench. But these
things should not exist atall. Our judiciary
should be above all reproach-one whose de-
cisionS should command respect, the personal
character of whose Judges should be pure,
and whose honesty, faithfulness and eapa-
billity should not be questioned. In no way
can SO desirable an end be so readily attained
rs BY new Constitution reforming our ju
dietary system in toto. Again, our present
Constitution fails 10 secure judicial indepen-
dence. Judges hold their positions at the
will Of majority OF the Legislature. The
sad spectacle has been twice witnessed in
this State oijudicial impeachment by partizan
votes cast in the Legislature III obedience to
partiZan pressure from without. To secure
the judiciary sgainst the brute force sfparti-
zanship, to give independence TO the bench
and to restore confidence III the integrity Of
this last rcso:':.ofthe injured for protection
to liberty and property, the Constitution
should be so amended as 10 deprive mere
partisan majority in the Legislature Of the
power 10 drive from the bench all but the
servants Of its will.
One OF the great evils in our present form
Of government, and Of which we as q party
have right 10 complain, because Of our hav-
ing felt the full force oft, is the fact that mi
norities are denied all representation. How
far il would be prudent aud wise to so alter
the fundamental law as 10 allow minority rep
rssenation is, Of course, not our province 10
determine Bot If q Convention 10 called,
this grave question would doubtless be taken
into consideration and dealt with in the man
nsr in which It's great importance demands.
No one question OF political nature Is now
undergoing so much discussion and consider.
alton as this, nor one 10 which the public at
ten lion is more earnestly directed.
We expect that Convention, called for
the purpose Of reforming orr organic law,
would retain such portions Of our present
Constitution as are wise, and which expert
ence has proved to be good-tbat it would
not act in any partisan spirit, or with any
desire 10 undo and upturn for the mere sake
Exchange. \ Convention assembled at the
preIen, time, freed from any undue political
excitement, and imbued with desire 10 I'd
vance the best interests Of the State, would
act from patriotic purposes alone. We cannot
but believe that il would in an eminent degree
seek 10 maintain intact the integrity OF the
State, lessen taxation, secure and protect the
efficient working Of free school system, pro-
vide for retrsnchment in the expenses of gov
eminent, and furnish safeguards against leg
islatire eItravagancs in appropriations.
Wehave thus enumerated some OF the most
important matters that demand amendment
in..the fundamental law OF the land. There
are others OF vital importance which would
require 10, much space 10 comment. on in this
address, but they will readily suggest them
selves to the inquiring mind. Our great de-
sire is to have Constitution which will give
Is a cheap government, reduce the number
OF ofiice-holders, lessen the burden OF taxa
ton, cause all officers entrusted with public
money TO be made accountable for the same,
for ihe faithful discharge of their duty, and
the honest management OF the funds that may
come into their hands Constitution which
will be republican in fact as well ms in form,
and which will be for the benefit of the whole
people We desire such one a, viii! not
contain within its provisions any reference to
former troubles, cd heart burnings or diff
culties; one that will endear the people to
our State and its government, rather then
drive them from It's borders, 30 seek IL at pro-
lection among strangers that is denied them
AZ home.
= Z II