The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-02

know that ! labored earnestly for the
retention Of the counties Of Berkeley
and Jefferson within the limits Of West
Virginia. Ibid 30 because was firmly
convinced that the material and com
mercial interests of the people Of those
counties were more closely identified
with this young and growing State than
with our Mother Commonwealth"
But have no prejudice against Viz.
GINA or any of her noble sons. look
with pride upon her resplendent history,
her long line of wise statesmen and pure
patriots; upon her noble gifts TO the
people of the United States; upon her
dignity in prosperity and her unfalter-
ing courage in adversely.
But we are asked, why should a
Convention be called, what is it you
wish to reformi For answer. l beg
leave to call the attention of those
making the inquiry to q series OF reso.
lutious passed BY meeting Of the Cit.
zens of Berkeley county a short time
ago and since published 10 nearly every
county in the State. They set forth the
reasons why we OF Berkeley county de-
sire Constitution, and constitute a plat.
form upon which we are willing to
stand in this campaign. They are con.
servative of all that should be preserved
in the present Constitution, and reform.
atory only Of what should be reformed
All who hear me know that the Consti.
tuition Of West Virginia has failed to
protect the rights and liberties Of the peo-
ple and has failed to promote the pros
perity and progress Of the State. In
one single day, q few years ago, more
than ten thousand native and free born
citizens OF the State, by er post faclo
laws, without trial and without legal
form, in a time OF profound peace and
domestic tranquility, were deprived Of
the right OF suffrage and made aliens
in the land of their birth. This was
done by mere act OF the Legislature and
the Constitution was afterwards amend
ed to suit the act. Men were denied the
privilege of exercising the talents that
God and nature had given them to pro-
cure subsistence for themselves and their
families. Suitors were denied redress
in the Courts for frauds and villain
les practiced upon them. They we're
compelled to bear heavy burdens Of
taxation, but had no voice in the inpo-
sition of the taxes, or their disburse-
ment after they were collected. They
might upon any petty or malicious
suit be dragged before a Court, and
when judgment was rendered against
them by partizan Judges and Juries,
they were denied all right Of appeal,
and were entirely without redress. We
talk sometimes Of European tyranny
and monarchical oppression: Why,
even an English outlaw could not be
treated as were many citizens Of West
Virginia. When taken before an Eng.
lish Court he dare not be unjustly op-
pressed. More than ten thousand citi-
zens of West Virginia were denied the
privilege Of sitting upon juries' and
were solemnly by law excluded from
participation in the dnties and emolu-
ments Of Office.
And this was not mere legislative
usurpation. The Judges Of the high
est Court in the State have time alter
time decided that these acts were passed
in pursuance Of the Constitution OF
West virginia. Talk as you
please about the expressions of
the Old World, but where
have you ever seen outrages
like these. Is it then matter Of surprise
that we want new Constitution? ls it
strange that we desire Convention to
revise the organic law2 Is it a wonder
that the State has not prospered? Why,
gentlemen, the population Of the State
is now $4,000 less than it should be
according to the natural increase. Dur
ing the enforcement Of the oppressive
enactments Of which l have spoken,
citizens were leaving the State every
day and going elsewhere with their
families to seek the rights that were
denied them here. And the deleterlous
effect OF these laws upon our popula-
ton was two fold; they not only drove
away many of those then residing
within our limits. but they excluded the
people of eleven States from coming IN
to supply the places Of those who had
gone out The people Of eleven States
were excluded by our denial TO them oil
the rights and privileges they enjoyed
at home, while our system OF county
organization and the heavy local tax
alton it produced prevented many from
other States from settling among us. l
have known many instances of persons
coming from the North and desiring to
purchase homes in West Virginia who,
as soon as they learned the amount Of
the local taxes they would be required
to pay, abandoned all idea OF settling
here. In this way the laws under which
we lived and the Constitution under
which those laws were possible have
hindered the prosperity and checked
the growth Of the State.
But, with all it's faults, there are
some things in the present Constitution,
OF West Virginia that should be- ana
doubtless will be, preserved: Among
these may be mentioned the Limitation
it contains against the contraction Of q
public debt. We are told by the oppo-
nents of Convention that if power be
given to the people to reform the fund
anental law, they will certainly AFRO
rate this provision and plunge the state
into bankruptcy and ruin Is this pos
sible2 Is it to be conceived that the
people OF the State, in the exercise OF
q reasonable common sense, will DO this
thing? That they will resnrrect a long
exploded idea and turn back the current
of events? There is not now single
Constitution in any Of the States OF this
Union, framed during the past thirty or
IL