The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-31
LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.
Slow Progress of: Legisiation-----
memorable PrOmises----POlitic
Intrigues.
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA,
January %, 1871. .


Dear Register:
Legislation moves on slowly for two
reasons: First, the reports OF the Audi
tor and other State officers have not yet
been printed and laid before the
members; and, second, the Public
Printer, Mr.. Frew, of the IntelHgencer,
has neglected his duty in most shame
full manner in having made no arrange
ments by which the bills of the Legis-
lature can be printed in any reasonable
time.
No measures Of general public interest
have yet been perfected, though | be-
believe the various committees are pre-
pairing several such measures. A. bill
calling Constitutional Convention has
been reported TO the House, and bills
repeating all test oaths and the regis
tration law will soon be introduced and
passed. An election law, under which
pretty much everybody can vote, will be
passed.
should be glad if no political legis-
lation were necessary, and still more
glad il the Legislature and the party
had no offices or positions to bestow. |
imagine that it would be very pleasant
to be legislator, if legislators only
duty was to assist, to the best of his
ability, in perfecting a just code.of laws
for the people; but | have no taste for
legislation where everything appears to
be subject to bargain and combination.
| have often said that | was willing to
work in any position in the party that |
might be placed until it came into
power-and after that was accom-
plished, desired to retire, permitting
anv buzzard who pleased to pick the
official bones. And the more | learn OF
the intrigues Of party in power, and Of
the rule or ruin" action of its various
factions, the more firmly am con-
WINGED of the good sense Of my original
impressions.
The Democratic party came into
power upon promises of Retrenchment
in the expenses OF the government
State, county and township; upon rom-
ises of Reform-not political reform
alone, but financial, also, and upon prom
Uses of building up the States waste
places, developing her hidden resources,
and checkering her surface with turn
pixies and railroads. Shall these prom
ises be redeemed? Ifthey are not, have
no hesitation in saying that the party
which proves false to them deserves to
be hurled from power-ani | hope,
and have no donbt. it will be. With
Convention and liberal Constitution,
these promises can all be fulfilled; I'M
der the present bungled and illiberal
Constitution, we can do but little better
than our opponents have done. We
can do better than they did in one direc-
tion-that is, what is known as political
legislation; all these malignant and
blighting statutes can and will be
eternally expunged.
A few of our political friends declined
going into caucus on the political meas
ures proposed for legislation, during the
first few days Of the session. This was
unfortunate for the good Of the party
and the welfare Of the State. They
seemed to think the Endorsement Of
their theories and the vindication of
their records, Of more importance than
the harmony and future success OF the
party. This action on their part had
the effect to estrange others of opposite
views, and they claim that these men
having declined to caucus on measures
of infinite importance to the whole
party and the people Of the State, they
do not feel called upon to caucus
upon the official positions, which
more nearly interests individual mem
bers of the party. Hence, | shall
not be surprised if the caucus
called for tomorrow night for
the nomination OF Senator, Superin-
tendent of Public Schools and Printer,
shall not be well attended. This is in
tended to inure to the benefit Of dis
tinguished citizen Of your down-the-river
neishbor. | have what | deem
pretty good authority for saying that a
proposition has been made, by intuen-
tial parties, not members Of the Legis-
lature, that if your down-the-river
neighbors will permit the capital of the
State to remain undisturbed, a sufficient
number of Democrats can be induced to
remain out of caucus tomorrow night,
which, added to the solid Republican
vote, will make the distinguished citizen
aforesaid, United States Senator. |
have no idea the plan will succeed; but
before this is printed you will have
learned by telegraph the result. B.