The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-09-23
Observation-Disclosures.


The Virginia Convention of lS50-5l
to amend its State Constitution was
composed of 1875 members. but by resig.
nations the number who sat in it was
increased to 1873. They were priuci-
pally men in the prime OF life, and the
ages O! tine entire body would have av-
eraged about torty-fve years, which,
according to the tables of longevity fixed
by law for ascertaining the cash value
OF life estates, would give an average
expectation OF life to the members OF
l0-ten years, and upwards OF twenty
years have elapsed and we have only
heard OF the death of forty seven Of
them, little upwards Of one-third. 1t
is perhaps the most remarkable IN,
stance OF longevity known in the history
of the world. 1t was in session nearly
a year and not death occurred among
the members during the time. More
than half of them were lawyers,
showing that the gentlemen Of
the green bag have liberal
lease OF life. 1t was said by Judge
John Y. Mason, the President OF the
body, and who had been in public life
and deliberate bodies most Of his life,
in his valendictory address, that 81
declare The opinion sincerely entertain
ed, that have never served with It de-
liberate body containing more talent,
character, and propriety ofdeportment
This was high compliment, as judge
Mason had for many years been in
! Congress and sat in the Convention OF
1929, with ex-PresideEts Madison,
Monroe, Chief Justice Marshal, Benja-
min Watkins Leigh, Chapman John
son, Philip Doddridge, Judges Lewis,
Summers and Z. S. Duncan, and many
others of Virginia's most talented sons.
Within the territory, now the State
of West Virginia, there were in the
Convention Of lSj0-5l, thirty-three
members, o! whom but nine have died,
as far as we have learned, showing
most remarkable longevity and the
healthulness OF the climate Of our
State. The survivors are: Hon. Charles
James Faulkner, Hon. VIM. Lucas
DR.. Dennis Murphy, Andrew Hunter
Jefferson I. Martin, Jno. Knote, ex
Governor Joseph Johnson, Judge Gid
con, D. Camden, Hon. Peer Il Van
Wrinkle, Hon. VIM. q. Brown, Edward
J. Armstrong, Hon. Waitman I. VIII
ley james Neeson, Hon. Samuel :
Have, Joseph Smith, Hoa. John :
Garlic, Elisha W McComas, Henry !
Fisher, Judge James II. Ferguson
Gov. Samuel Price, Benjamin II. Smith
General Augustus A. Chapman, anc
Hon. Allen TAYLOR Caperton, all @
whom are residents Of this State, eXccp
six, and all are possessed Of their iul
mental and, most OF them, their physi
cal powers. We can form no idea AZ
to the probable number OF them tina
will b. in our Convention that is L
assemble during next winter, but tee
well assured that many Of them wOulC
make able, useful and highly respecta
BILE members, and we trust that larg,
share of them may he there 49, PGrkGrS
buy Gazette.
From the above list Ia Omitted ta,
name OF one Of the Delegates in th'
Virginia Constitutional Convention o
lS50-5l, from Ohio county, viz: Hon
THOMAS SWEENEY. The delegations from
this county consisted, we believe, c
THOMAS SWEENEY, ions kHolE "nr
THOMAS GALIY. The first two are sti!
citizens Of Wheeling, OF ripe years bu
cool health, while the th.Id, NJ GALLEY
! is dead