Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-10-21
Hon. CHARLES JAS. FAULKNER
At Hedgesville, Berkeley Co.

at o'clock on Saturday evening last, to ad-
dress the voters on the Convention issues. A
large and respectable crowd awaited his arriv-
al, which was soon increased by some Of our
farmers from the northern and eastern end of
the county. In a short time the large Acade-
my room on the east of the town was filled to
its utmost capacity, whilst many stood at the
door and at the windows. Mr. Faulkner COM
menced his speech about half past o'clock
and spoke for about two hours. We can only
give brief and meager sketch of some of the
most prominent points of his speech, and such
as may interest those who are to cast their
votes on the Goth Of this month.-lkartins-
burg Statesman.
He began by saying, that he understood
there was some feeling against him In that
| townsh ip growing out Of bis active agency in
procuring the subscription by the county to the
Martinsburg and Potomac Railroad. lie was
aware that the township Of Hedgesvile had
given a solid vote against that subscription,
but he had hoped that the opposition of that
township had ceased with that VOTE He had
nothing to regret or recant in his course on that
subject be believed the road would prove a
great blessing to the county that the subscrip-
ton was wise and judicious on the part of the
people, and that the farmers about IIedgesville
would partake of its benefits as fully as the
farmers about Martinsburg or any other por-
ton of the county. He presented in some
detail several Interesting views Of the progress
and advantages Of the road
He alluded to his nomination for seat in
the Convention; announced himself demo-
crat, but repelled strongly aud sternly the idea
that party could exercise any influence over
him as a member Of that body. If elected he
would go into the Convention with the single
idea Of framing Constitution of Government
best calculated to protect the rights, aud adj
vance the interests of every citizen of West
Virginia, without regard to age, sex, condition.
color or party a constitution that would alike
guard the rights of minorities as we'll as ma
iorties, and he would despise himself, and hold
himself unworthy of a seat in that body, if in
| framing a single provision of that instrument,
he could be controlled by any considerations Of
a party character.
He then proceeded to indicate the changes
that he wished to see engrafted on the new
Constitution; these had been so often referred
to, That it was only necessary to state that no
was in. favor of provision that would forever
forbid the Legislature from authorizing retro
spectre political test oath; provision that
would limit the powers of special Legislation.
He favored biennial sessions and strongly
urged the Importance of rendering the Judi
ciary less dependent upon the Legislature.
He declared himself in favor Of the open
system of voting to which he had been accus-
toned all his life. lie regarded suffrage as a
pubic trust to be exercised by the voter under
a due responsibility to the community of
which he is a member. He had never SO far
cast q secret ballot in his life. He had never
known a single fraud perpetrated under the
open system Of voting, whilst he referred to
many striking instances of the most startling
frauds practiced in the cities under the secret
ballot. He denied that the independence Of
the voter in this State was better assured I'M
der the secret ballot than the open ticket, yet
DO believed from a careful survey Of public
opinion in this State, that very large num-
Der Of the voters, both Democratic and Repub-
lican, preferred the secret ballot to the open
ticket, probably a majority. In many Of the
counties there were large bodies of operatives
in the mining and manufacturing business
who regarded their independence as voters,
threatened by the open ticket He could not
comprehend how this could be. He thought
capital was more dependent upon labor in this
State. than labor was dependent upon capital.
He did not believe that any capitalists would
dare to interfere with the free exercise Of the
elective franchise among those in their employ
ment. But it seems they think otherwise,
and many agree with them. Under such cir
cumstauces he was not disposed to press his
individual views upon the Convention. In an
agricultural region like ours few resorted to
the secret ballot TO conceal their votes. Men
were open and above board in the frank avow-
al Of their opinions upon all political questions
aud unlike crowded cities, as it was in our
power so readily to detect and guard against
frauds in the ballut-box, he deemed any par
ticular mode of voting comparatively too I'M
important reform, to imperil by its adoption,
the Constitution that will be submitted to the
People.
He looked with entire confidence to the
Convention to frame a system Of COUNTY Or
GANIzATIoN suitable to the wants of the peo-
pie. lie was not for blindly borrowing the
systems Of New York and Pennsylvania, Ohio
or even Virginia. He expected to see the
statesmen Of West Virginia combine their in-
tellectual power to devise a system adapted to
the peculiarIties Of our condition one that
would provide the people with Efficient local
governments without subjecting them to the
burdens and annoyances Of imported institu-
tons, unsuitable to the condition Of our coun-
try ana the wants of our population.
He referred to the vast powers which RAIL
ROAD CORPORATIONS were exercising over the
Legislation of the States in which they were
located, and to the necessity of guarding the
people against the combined and consolidated
influences which they were exerting over the |
affairs Of those States. West Virginia had al
ready two of these great corporations passing
through her entire territory from cast to west |
and soon destined from her favorable posi- |
ton between the valleys of the Ohio aud Mis-
sissippi and the Seaboard &c have one or two |
more 1t was in her power to enjoy the adj !
vantages Of these great thoroughfareS, without |
being subjected to their extortious or arbitra-
ry aud deSpotic mastery. He indicated a va
riety of provisions which he thought ought to
be inserted in the Constitution to guard and
protect the purity of the Legislature, and the
interests of the people.
He declared himself opposed to comforting
upon the Legislature, any power to contract a
PUBLIC DEBT for purposes ofIuternal Improve
ment, and referred to the system of limitations
which he had submitted in the Virginia Con-
vention Of 1850, and which if then adopted.
would have left Virginia with debt of but
fifteen millions of dollars then already con-
tmcted, and have saved her from her threat
ened Insolvency, and alarming tendency to
Reputation