The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-25
The Agitation for n Removal OF the
Capitalists There Another Rich.
mOnd in the Fieldl

burg and Grafton began vigorous agiia
ton for the removal of the State Capital
Their simultaneous and cooperative &c
ton showed a good understanding DC
tween the papers OF tho two places. The
venerable ex.Gov. JOHNSON, OF Harrison
got TO work and ciphcrcd out formidable
table, separating the counties of the State
into two classes, those presumed to DO in
favor of retaining the capital at Charles
ton and those which were presumed tC
oppose it. lie exhibited tho population
taxable property and taxes paid in each
class, and showed that the counties which
were presumptively hostile to Charleston
constituted about twO-thirds Of tho State,
We sec NO reason u doubt the pr0Ximate
correctness of the EX.GOvERNoR's arith'
metic. liza popular expression could be
had, VIC believe Charleston could not get
vote representing more than third oil
the wealth or population Of the State, il
so much. But it Is yet TO be shown that
on the question Of permanent location
any other point could get more, or at least
get the requisite majority. Twothirds Of
the State would vote, VIC Judge, to take
the capital away from Charleston, but
when it came to fixing it at some other
point 1t might be difficult for any one to
get majority. So long, therefore, as the
removal and another permanent location
arc united, as they would have to BIO in
any bill passed by the Legislature, we do
not see that the prospects of change are
aattering, The Convention, however, has
some powers in regard to the question not
possessed by the Legislature. The Con.
vention can, of course, make new loca.
ton, that Is permanent location, If II
chooses; but we apprehend that while the
Convention, like the Legislature, might be
agreed on the proprlety Of removing from
Charleston, it might likewise be unable to
agree on another permanent location
There is, however, way in which the
Convention could Cilecta removal without
encountering this obstacle. 1t could pro.
vide, as the other Convention did, for TEN.
pOrary location until such time as perma.
ncnt one could be agreed on. Instead Of
leaving the time indefinite, 1t would be
better, perhaps, to name specific period,
say five or ten years and if at the end Of
that time no other place had been agreed
on for permanent capital, say 1t should
remain permanently where then located
Should the convention adopt this plan,
several desirable things would be accom-.
plished: LIST, removal from the present
place, which is inconvenicnt for three.
iourths of the State and without adequate
accommodations for the public; I'd, o
removal of the question wholly from the
Legislature for several years to come,
whereas II will be subject OF contention
80 long as the present unsatisfactory loCa
ton Is continued; and, 3D., n solution of
the question would be deferred TO time,
when the development Of public improve.
mcnts would have indicated where CAPT.
tai might be put so as to secure the per.
mancnt convenience oil the greater part Of
tho State, and when the State itself
would have It's finances sufficiently In
hand TO enter on the erection OF rcspccta.
bic capitol buildings.
The waves of the recent agitation have
reached Charleston, and the Journals
there show unmistakablc signs Of being
stirred by them. The Republican Is con
flrmed in Its opinion, expressed before the
Convention was called, that the chief
motive with many who were so clamor.
Gus for Convention was 10 reopen tho
question of new location for the Cap.
ital. ID
We have not, heretofore, felt much con.
fldence in any efforts in that direction.
Charleston has the great advantage of
possession, which Is several points-if not
ninG-in It's favor; and we presume the
hospitable people there know how 10 i'm.
prove this advantage to the utmost But
latterly we have had n suspicion That a
new Richmond Is in the field. The per.
mancnt location Of the State Capital on Tue
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad, If West Viz.
ginia Is ever TO become State Of any i'm.
portance, as doubtless II sometime will,
would In time be worth great deal to
that corporation. II seems strange Mr..
GARRETT has not perceived II sooner.
We suspect, however, that he does per.
Ceive 1t now, since rival line of railroad
has reached the present capital. At any
rate there are not wanting signs that Mr..
GARRETT's corporation would like TO have
the capital Of the State removed to point
on their road. Parkersburg, Clatksburg
or Grafton would do, but the latter would
no doubt be preferred on account of It's
location at the Junction Either place II
must be confessed would be an improve.
ment on Charleston, though Clarksburg
seems to us best fitted by It's location and
surroundings to DO the place, and five
years will probably make It better rail.
road point, for accessibility from the
southern part Of the State, than Grafton
Just how much Of the Baltimore Il
Ohio Railroad influence Ia behind the
agitation at Grafton and Clarksburg
can only be conjectured, but either place
must welcome the aid Of so powerful an
ally. Grafton leads the movement in The