The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-22
GhtGntdliqsncer,
senator Wiley on the Proposed Con-
VentiOn.


MoROANTowE, VIVA, July 0. 1871
CLarli H. !Shina, Esq:
MY DEAR Sm-Various hindrances
have prevented me from replying to your
letter OF last month, until now. -,
| cannot suppose that any opinion oil
mine respecting the propriety, or impro'
priety, OF holding the Constitutional Con
venlion provided for in the late act OF our
General Assembly, would have tue least
influence upon any person IN the WorIl, ~
determining his action on that question:
Nevertheless, as you request it, see no
objection to giving IT, In doing so, shall
simply present recital, without any elab'
Grafton Of argument, OF some oil the rGa'
sons which, in my Judgment render the
proposed Convention not onl unnecessa-
nv, but highly unwisG and iniudicious.
Since the adoption OF the Flick
amendment, merchandising all who
were complicated in the late rebellion,
and restoring perfect equality of political
rights to all persons, l have heard no ex'
preston OF dissatisfaction with our exist
inc constitution from the masses Of the
people. The call for q convention does
not come from them, They arc satisfied
>. One Of the greatest evils OF the times,
il the constant auCtuation and instability
Of our legislation. The detriment to the
public welfare on this account is almost
incalculable. If this be SO In regard To-
ordinary legislation, how much more
mischevious must be frequent changes In
the fundamental law, defining the prinCi.
ples and prescribing the form Of govern.
mentY One Of the most perniciOus con,
sequences Of this constant TemOdeling Of
our forms Of government, Is the inevitable
tendency 1t has to lessen the reverence
and respect Of the people for the authority
Of q law, and to begeta spirit of dissatis-
faction, turbulence, and disorder.
3. Finding that the popular sentiment
did not demand q Convention, appeals
ure being made TO party spirit, and the
leaders Of the movement are declaring
that the Convention Is party necessity,
and should be regarded as party ques'
ton. Now, il there be anything in the
world which should be free from such
influences, il is the Ordaining and adapta'
ton Of the constitution Of u free people,
1t is not, in its nature, party question.
II fixes and defines, not questions Of State
policy and eXpedlenCy, but the broad
fundamental principles Of government,
alike applicable 10 all. can conceive OF
no greater public calamity than COnsti.
tI;iOnal Convention composed Of party
2ealOts and party politicians. II is i'm
pOssible for men Of that class In have en-
larged, liberal and just views Of the true
principles of government. Happily,
when our present constitution was Ordain
ed, by men belonging to both Of the great
political organizations then existing IN
this country, all party feeling was merged
and lost In the one great controlling and
absorbing desire To save tho Union.
There never was constitution made by
men less under the influence Of party
feeling.
4. Our constitution as Il isnow, pro-
yides mode for amending it, lcithOut &c.
lsnS and without the necessity of re.
sorting to a Convention, happily illustra'
ted in the adoption Of the Flick amend
ment. II, indeed, experience has demon.
straled, or, shall hereafter prove, that any
nj its provisions require modification, this
can be thus accomplished. Why, there
fore, should tho people he subjected to
the trouble, excitement, and large OK.
pense of holding a COnventlOn, when all
necessary amendments can be obtained
without Il? | do not admit that any
such amendment Is necessary; for | do
most sincerely believe that no State In
the Union has wiser or better Gunda'
mental law than the State OF West Vir'
giniA.
8. The expenses of the proposed Con.
yentiOn must not be forgotten, and surely
the people who have TO pay them will
not forget them. If they do not heed
them prior to the Convention, they, as
puredly, will have cause to remember
them when the tax collector comes arOunC
afterwards. These expenses cannot, IL
the nature Of things, DO ascerlalned he
iorehand. This fact Is ono Of the strong
eat reasons why the people should hest
tate before they involve themselves in TIN
mesbes Of an indefinite liability. II VI
could count the cost beforehand, or ever
certainly approximate 1t, we might bt
able TO act Understandings. Blu
we cannot. How long will the Con
yentiOn be in session. Who car
tellY How much stationery Hnt
printing 1t will requireY How many fa
Jobs are included in theseS Then there
are the expenses Of publishing notices o
election, blanks for poll books, clerks ant
officers at elections, postage and expres'
charges, &c, &c. Again, consider tht
loss Of time to the people In attending thu
election also the probable revisal OF thu
code and new publication thereof, which
may become necessary to conform Ou
laws to the now constitution The vehc
menCe with which the call Of Conven
ton Is urged by Its advocates, would In
dictate sweeping and radical changes II
the constitution, rendering rGvlsal Of tn
laws and new code Indispensable. lfnt
such fundamental changes are contempla
ted, then there can hardly be said 10 h
such necessity for any change ut all, n
would Justify the expense Of COnven
ton. The last Legislature adopted res
OlutiOn requesting Gov. Stevenson to fur
nish an estimate In detail of the probable
cost Of holding n Convention. Tic did so
Ills estimate amounts To upwards o
$220,000 II was assailed MS rXtrayagant
but any person Of any experience in sucl
matters, who will candidly examine III
statement made by the Governor, will h
convinced that he was, probably, not ia
from the reality. Lest you may not hav
his report at hand, send you n copy d
II. Il Is worthy Of consideration by
people already burdened with taxes
O. Until recently the general tenor q
some Of the cardinal principles Of ou
constitution were regarded, by many
our democratic fellow citizens, as repul
nant to the political doctrines and prime
pies of policy, in the respect to whic
they relate, which have heretofore dil
tnguished the democratic party Of tn