Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-04-15
Tor Wc TIC IIeSS
The Flick Amendment.

opiniou that Tie removal Of the State Capital
was iutculol They were, also, Of the opinion
that IL could not be done by an Act Of the Le-
.is,aiure: the permanent seat of Government
having been established according to Section
- Art Of the State Constitution. They
knew that "a Constitutional Convention had the
rou,r 20 insert provision for the removal Of
the Capital Tie Flick Amendment was,
therefore. intended as a substitute for a Con-
stitutioual Convention. Not as 4 democratic
measure, but GS CGpftGt measure; not that
tie d,m,crais Of the 81 District were opposed,
I'm mmcipc. 10 Convention, but that 1t might
be postponed until the objections to the Capt.
tai remaining at Charleston might he removed:
/. G. until the completion Of the Chesapeake q
Ohio x. Il. in 1872.
The Flick Amendment being intended, by
some In the Legislature, us a substitute for
Convention, it viii be the same in the elections
of this month and the month Of August next.
Its adoption is either TO defeat a Convention or
materially weaken the vote therefor.
The only proper remedy for cur evils is q
Convention. Tie acknowledgement that one
Of the great principles Of State rights has legdl
IL been Wrestcd from the States-the right to
regulate the elective frauchisc-is the adoption
Of the Flick Amendment ltpropOScs, simply,
10 strike the word irhtc from the Constitution.
There is more virtue in our new, liberal, gener
al election law, than there is in all the Cousti-
tutioual amendments that ever The mind of the
carpct-lag politician, Flick, conceived.
We are Of the opinion that democrats will be
more true to their principles in rallyiug under
That and voting down this uegro-cquaity a.
merdment, than in Pursueing any other course.
ANON.
Contrary to our rule we give publicity to the
foregoing communication which camo unac-
companied by the name Of the author. Tho
not so intended, Anon has furnished, in our
opinion, an excellent argument for the adop-
ton Of The Flick Amendment If the people
cf the STd Congressional District think the
Capital question Of paramountimportauco the
adoption or rejection Of the Flick Amendment
viii not alter their determination with refer
cucc 90 Constitutional Convention, and they,
Ia conjunction with the radicals Of the State,
miytt-though We DO not think they will or
can-dcfcat the call Of Convention, and then,
tie Flick Amendment also defeated, the last
estate Of the people Of West Virginia would be
worse than The first. We prefer the "bird in
the hand to the one in the bush" The negro
already las O vote vouchsafed him, and we
want the vhitS people to enjoy the same priv
ilcsc-Call it uCgro-equality or what you like
It isn't time now to indulge in sentimental
ties OF abstract questions about uglts-we all
know what our "nglts in the territories
moan.
five can get a Convention it will cure q
great many iTs and will give us a healthy
Coustitutor-ore that viii, we hope, need no
doctoling We shah have a Constitution that
viii need no amending. But we should not,
in the meantime, throw over our shoulder an
opportunity to cufrauclisc the white people of
the State Who are under disabilities. The a.
doption Of this amcndmeut-we care not by
whom originated or conceived, be he carpet
Dagger or uot-wilI 10 more than enfranchise
by making voters it viii enable those nor dis
qualified 10 LnId etFce-
We DO not accept the Flick Amendment as
a substitute for a Convention, at on We
take It for what it is iutrisically worth-no
morc-aud we favor Constitutional Convcn-
ton. no matter what the cost.
We subioiu the FLOWING from the Wheel
ing Register.
When the Legislature assembled last VIM
ter, these Differences Of opinion which had
manifested themselves in the Legislature of the
previous winter and among the friends % liberal
legislation cycywh,rciG the State, were again
brought prominently forward. The advocates
Of tie FLiCS amendment seemed assured that
its adoption was ~ ojy piaH of cn;ranclisc-
meat that could Dc made legally successful,
aud, after thorough discussion. it was again
adopted ly the Legislature. aud is % be sub
m.tted 90 the popular vote on the twenty
scycath OF the present month
Regarding tho fact Of guirauchiscmCut as the
main thing % De secured we have not been
disposed 90 regard as a party test any particu-
hr means 20 That end. Prior TO It's adoption
by the Legislature last winter, We opposed the
FLICK amendment for yariogs reasons which
wC deemed good and sufficient; but since it
has 1ppcarcl that a majority of the Democratic
party iu the State has decided that the pro-
posed amendment offers the Specliest and most
available means of securing "a free ballot for
white men we have ceased all further discus
sion Of the question. We DO not consider sup
port Of or opposition TO the FLICK Amendment
a test Of ieal,y to the Democratic party. or of
q desire 10 restore the ballot to the late rebels
10 is not party question, but one upon whose
merits tie mcubOrso Of the same political party
may entertain widely d.ssimiar views. We
sincerely regret the apparent discorG that has
been developed by the zeal with which the
friends and the oIpoucutSo Of the measure have
urged their respective views and the DISPOSE
ton that has been manifested on each side to
d" read the other out Of the party Such con-
tests iuure only 10 the advantage Of tie COM
mon foe. aud IL tclOoycs the friends of con-
sttu,ioual liberty far more to take advantage
# the discussions of IiadicaiSm than % weaken
their oWumukS 10y diversion. So fIraS our own |
influence goes, we have therefore thought it |
best 20 counsel each Of our Democratic readers |
TO think and vote upon the FLICK Amendment !
as his own Judgment may incline him. Our !
readers are all familiar with the terms Of the /
proposed amendment, and with the arguments |
that have been adduccd pro and CON in relation |
90 IT, Let each man vote rs he thinks best. |
feeling assured that whether his ballot be cast |
for ratification or for rejection, his vote will be
IN accordance with the views OF many distin- !
suishcd members Of the Democratic party in I
this State
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