Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-08-05
THE CONVENTION QUESTION.
Election Day, 4M Thursday, pain Ill.,
gust.
JEFFERSON COUNTY MASS
MEETING.

Nee[tng was nelu de I-eo
Charlestown, on Saturday, July 10Th,
for the purpose of expressing the sense
of the people upon the propriety OF call
inc a State Convention, with view to
changing the present Constitution OF
West Virginia a.
The meeting was organized by the
election of Col. THos. VI. IsBELL 10 me
Chair, upon motion Of Mr.. Andrew E.
Kennedy, and of Mr. ST. GEO, L.
Brooke as Secretary upon the nomina-
ton of f. Willis Wilson, Esq, OF the
w. Va. House of Delegates from this
county. The meeting being called to
order by the Chairman, Mr.. Andrew +.
Kennedy moved to adjourn for fifteen
minutes that time might be given to
prepare the proper RESOLUTIONS. The
motion was carried, and upon the reas-
semblinc of the meeting at the expira-
ton of the fifteen minutes, the follow
ino Resolutions-which were unanl-
mously adopted-were reported;
Be it resolved by the citizens OF Jet
ferson county, here in mass meeting as
sembled:
l. That in our opinion the general
welfare of the State demands Constl-
tutional Convention to effect salutary
and necessary reforms in regard to Sui
fraee, Representation, Taxation, Corpo-
ration, the Judiciary, and other subjects
of general interest. :
IL intp M
County, which is one of the largest tax
PAYERS in the State, demands that oH Of
her citizens should unite in the call for
a Convention, in order to secure repre-
sentation based upon the entire popula-
ton because unless this necessary re-
form is secured, this County, under the
new apportionment, will lose one dele
gate in the legislature, and be thus de-
prived Of her legitimate weight and IN
tuence.
3rd. That A. II. Sponseller, Washing
ton Cox, J. J. Kern, T. II. Percival,
John II. Strider, O. ID. McGlincy, ThOs.
Wvsong, b. +. Harrison, II. st. John
Shepherd, J. j. Ramsburg, A. j. John
son, Jno. G.. Shirley, Geo. ii. Flagg,
Mai Jas. Law. Hootf, VIM. II. Moore,
Richard b. Washington, Logan Os-
borne, Mai VIM. b. Lewis, Joseph
Starry, Col. Robt w. Baylor, John
Selden, b. w. Cook, Col Jno. T. Glib
son, Col. John J, Grantham, 5. 5.
Moore, Maj. Seth. NJ. Timberlake, Thad-
deus Baney, f, J. Manning, John A.
Thomson, David Fry. John T. Henkle,
S. V. Yantis, be committee to make
arrangements for a BARBACUE to be
held at FLOWING SPRING, on SATURDAY,
1911 .4ugust; and to take any other
steps which they may deem proper IN
order to bring out full attendance OF
voters on the day OF election.
4th. That the committee of arrange
ments be requested to convene at
Charlestown, in Lee Hall on Friday,
the 4th of August, at o'clock, to make
the necessary arrangements for the Bar
bacue
9Th That Edward f. Cook, Thos. {.
Green, Andrew f. Kennedy, Danl. b.
Lucas, and +. Willis Wilson, be a com
mittee to invite Speakers to attend the
Barbecue and address the people on the
propriety Of calling a State Convention.
After the Resolutions had been read
by the chairman of the meeting, Mr.. E.
Willis Wilson spoke upon the proprle-
ty of their adoption giving it as his
opinion that unless a Constitutional
Convention were called. an effort would
be made by the Radical party to have
the Flick Amendment declared null and
void by the Court of Appeals on the
ground that constitutional notice OF said
amendment had not been given, and
consequently if the Court Of Appeals un-
dertakes to 90 behind The act, as the
Judge of our Circuit in another case has
done, many of our recently entranchised
citizens may be again distranchlsed.
Mr.. A. Kennedy seconded Mr.. Will
sons remarks in his usual energetic and
effective manner; but thought oil,
whether originally in favor of, or oppos-
ed to, the Flick Amendment, should
cast their votes for a Convention, as
there were many defects in the present
Constitution that were not cured by that
Amendment.
Mr.. Green approved especially Of that
part of the first Resolution relating to
the Judiciary. He thought we could
never have an honest judiciary so long
as it is at the mercy, rs 1t now Is, OF the
Legislature. Our Court of Appeals has
never pronounced any act Of the Legis-
laturc unconstitutional There have
been cases in which the Supreme Court
of the L. S. decided certain acts uncon-
stitutional. that were afterwards decided
constitutional by the Court of Appeals
of West Virginia, because of their fear,
it is believed, to decide otherwise. He
mentioned, as an instance of this sort,
the act by the West Virginia Legisla-
ture subiecting lawyers to test oaths
with a view to excluding them from
practice in this State. The Court of
Appeals of West Virginia declared this
act to be constitutional, Notwithstanding
the Supreme Court of the [. ). declar-
ed this test-oath to be unconstitutional.
The Reporter is aware that for want Of
both time and space he has not done
Justice TO the admirable speeches made
bv the gentlemen. on the occasion. He
has endeavored to give the gist of their
remarks as concisely as possible, and
hopes they will excuse him, under the
circumstances, for mutilating speeches
that were really far better as heard than
they will probably seem from our very