The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-10

tionary in their character; that 1t will be
expensive; that there is no public demand
or necessity tor 1t; that all defects Of the
present constitution can bc removed by
amendment as provided for in tho Consti.
tuition without convention, and almost
without cost to tho State; that the ratil.
cation Of the cnfranchising amendment,
soon to be submitted TO the people, re-
moves the only preteXt the friends oI
convention could have for its call
ReSOlred, That the sO-called Democrat
ic members. of the Legislature have not
kept the solemn pledges made by them
to the people, and in support ofwhich the
following facts are submitted 10 candid,
honest and thinking people for their con.
sideration and verdict
Whenever political party assumes the
government OF State 1t subjects itself TO
the fair criticism Of all citizens and makes
itself liable to public Censure, and cspc.
cially so if Its strongest plea for power
was based OH lis assumed peculiar fitness
for government ForY-fve days ago, u
now party organized the Legislature OF
this State, and commenced 10 write its
record. 1t came into power under pCCu.
liar obligations and solemn pledges. 1t
assumed the expressive name Demo.
cratic. Conservative" II declared that
the rights Of the people had been usurped,
and 1t would restore them. 1t declared
that the constitution and laws had been
assaulted, and II would defend them. 1t
declared that legislation lad been tho
fruit OF passion, and that II should now be
shaped In calmcst wisdom. II declared
that inferior men Ind been placed In high
positions, and that 1t would select the
purest and wiscSt men for It's trust.
II promise Il 10 diminish taxation. 1t
promised to restore tho elective franchise
10 all the people. 1t promised TO lnau.
gurate reforms, to give new stability to
government, encouragement TO immigra-
ton, confidence to investors, added value
to real estate, to encourage kindly rela.
tions, to hold in careful regard the rights
Of every man, 10 GxNlt the rank Of the
State In The nation. 1t promised to pro.
teCt the purity Ofthe bNllOt.boX. 1tbOast.
cd that il would make the judiciary more
independent. 1t has proved itself neither
Democratic nor Conservative. 1t has
taken many offices from the people and
given them 70 the executive, but has not
restored single one.
1t has asSalled the constitution, and has
cried out to the people to destroy it. 1t
has done violence to every law and GUS
tom that barred its ambition or Its greed.
1t has known no calm deliberatlOn, but
its argument has been party cry, its ap'
peal to the passions.
1t has not placed its purest and wisest
men in high positions.
1t has not diminished taxation, but has
made larger appropriations than were ever
made before.
It has not diminished the number Of
offices.
1t has violently opposed the most
speedy and cheapest mode Of re.enfran.
chisement, and sought q preteXt to avoid
it.
1t has forgotten reform, and inspired
causes that must unsettle values, alarm
investors and immigrants, and make the
prosperity Of the State contingent on the
brevity or length Of revolutions.
1t has degraded the State and would
place 1t before the nation pttiablc object
Of violent discord, and its first thought
seems not TO upbuild but to destroy. 1t
has invited frauds at the ballot box by
placing It in the absolute control Of one
man, and removing penalties for bribery
and fraudulent voting.
1t has already avowed a purpose to
make judges dependent, not only upon the
caprice Of popular will but for their very
tenure Of office upon the changes of party.
1t has establisheda dangerous preced.
ent of expenditures, and applied, for the
first time, large sums Of money to private
and local uses.
1t has published to the world II false
statement Of finances, and admitted 1t
false by passing no law to meet the alleged
deficit; it has purpOSely fixed o day for
the vote on convention at Il time when
it is almost impossible for the people to
attend the polls, in order that they may
not he heard; 1t has attempted an un.
worthy deception in inserting in their bill
u clause assuming to fix the pay Of mem.
bers of the convention ut three dollars a
day; when they knew that such members
have absolute power to change 1t to fifty
dollars ifthey please. ....
There were many thousands Of Repub.
liCans in this State, who honestly hoped
that the: new party would redeem its
pledges before the people. They had or.
ganized q new government in the midst Of
doubt and peril, had tried the difficult Gx-
pertinent Of establishing firmly lState,
born in the throes Of civil war; they had
built colleges and two thousand school
houses; had erected costly public build.
ings. and had seen population and wealth
steadily increase. For what they deemed
the public good they had framed laws that
bore hardly upon individuals and were
painfully aware that they sometimes re-
Elected the passion or the fear OF the times,
but they had hastened TO wipe out the
last yesIge of class legislation, and sub.
mitted the amendment 10 the constitution
that n. re.eniranchisd all. WearyOf the long
struggle, they hoped that no emergency
would recall them to partisan action. And
vet an emergency has suddenly arisen
that demands the united action Of all who
consider the welfare and safety OF the
State. There will be submitted 70 the
people OF the State for final endorsement
on the fourth Thursday in April next, an
amendment 70 the constitution reenfran'
chising the "disfranchised citizens" Of the
State. Until recently It was supposed that
every voter would endorse 1t, but violent
| OnnORition hAa anFnnO I'M and threatens