The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-10
A BugabOO.

From the Mason Co, JonTnal-Den'
The supporters OF Convention say
that Convention is necessary 70 estab'
lish the validity OF the Flick Amend
ment. In other words that the Judges
OF the State will declare the Flick
Amendment unconstitutional and thus
deprive those enfranchised under it of the
right of franchise. Now, to our mind,
there is nothing in this argument. IL
is q bugabOo to brighten the timid into q
support Of the Convention scheme In
u private letter TO us, q lawyer OF some
reputation from another part of the Stale,
disposes OF this argument OF the Con
VentiOners in so plain and candid q
manner that VIC give IN extract from ms
letter. He says that "IhG Principe mas
been decided by our Court Of Appeals
in the Lincoln county case =,
Now, ii the Court OF Appeals can declue
the amendment unconstitutional can !
they declare IL Convention so that is called
by The votes OF those who are permitted
To vote by Mat amendment All admit,
even if the Convention is carried, 1t will
be by less majority than those that are
cnlranchised by the Flick Amendment.
| II don't believe, however, that 1t Will be
carried, and If these Judges OF the Court
of Appeals are us corrupt as they say, II
they will declare the amendment uncon-
stitutiOnal when their offices are not in
question, surely they will do 50 when
they arc in question, would they not Y
So we see that there is absolutely no TIL
ing In this absurd proposition on the
Flick Amendment and this is considered
by the Convention advOcateSas their best
card, which they play on any and every
occasion. -
The ahsurdity of these pretended appre'
tensions that the State Supreme Court
will declare the Flick Amendment inval'
| id on account of informally in its publ.
cation, has always seemed to us too gross
for argument. Surprising the Court were
foolish enough, or dishonest enough, as
the reader may please, to attempt 1t, does
anybody of sense suppose such decision
would actually lead to DISTINGUISHING
anew those to whom the ballot was re-
stored by that Amendment Would the
Democratic Legislature rcenact the laws
necessary to re.impose the disability And
il it did, would Gov. JACOB, or any othel
Democratic Governor enforce them
We think the Democracy, in power In
all departments of the State government
might be trusted to sec that any such de
CisiOn, if made would be dead letter
+ How could anybody he DISTINGUISHED iOI
participation in the rebellion under thu
election laws rs they now stand? Ant
we don't know ANYBODY who supposes
Democratic legislature would make thost
laws any more favorable to the distran
chisement OF such persons than they nov
are. Nor do we know any Democrat
, who doubt that our Legislature will b.
Democratic much longer than the term
OF the present Judges Of the Supreme
Court, even if they be allowed to serv
them out.
The simple fact is that there is not
man of ordinary intelligence in the Stat
who has any more fear that the Cour
would decide the amendment invalid, II
case were made, than he has that tn
Angel GABRIEL will blow his trump; AM
not one who does not know that If such
decision were pronounced 1t would be
practical nullity, no matter what part.
, mightbe in power, for an enforcement o
= It would DO SO unpopular that no party
would undertake 1t. We have been sur
prised that the advocates Of Convention
who are ordinarily wise rs serpent
should employ IN argument so unworth,
of serious consideration.