Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-08-05

Porlionment OF approximation In the
Legislature shall be based upon the en-
tire population, not exclusively upon the
'ch'te population, as the present Consti-
tuition prescribes
RESOLVED, TX. The power given by
the Constitution to a majority of the
Legislature to remove the Judges from
office is repugnant to every sound prin-
ciple of Government Every Judge in
this State now holds his office at the
will and caprice of the Legislature
From the partizan or improper exercise
of this power, there is no appeal or re-
dress. Popular elections and short
terms sufficiently impair the independ-
ence of the Judiciary; this provision ut
terly destroys it. 1t may be doubtful
if any instance can be found under the
present Constitution where a Circuit
Court Judge has declared any act of the
Legislature unconstitutional and we
believe it has been done but in a single
case by the Supreme Court of Appeals,
and that one where no interest or feel
ing could be excited by the decision.
Rssoired, Y We believe the princi-
pie of Minority Representation one of
the most practical and valuable discOve-
ries which in modern times has been
made in the Science of Popular Govern
ment eminently calculated to allay the
asperities of Party; to remove tempta-
tons to fraud, violence and corruption
to secure fair representation of every
interest in the State, and to give perma-
nency and vitality to our Republican
institutions. 1t has been adopted, to
some extent, with success in England
and in some of the States of this Union,
and we should be pleased to see it in
corporated into the Constitution Of West
Virginia.
Resoived, NJ We are unaIieraby
opposed to any change or modification
of that article of our existing Constitu-
ton which forbids the Legislature to
contract PUBLIC DEBT for pur-
poses of Internal Improvement, or to
guarantee the liabilities of counties,
cities and corporations. We believe
that the history of the country has in
contestably shown for the last half cen
tuI, that, this is power which cannot
safely be lodged in any State Legisla-
ture. Fortunately the exercise OF such
a power is at this time, as unnecessary
as it would be fraught with evil for
such is the accumulation Of surplus cap
ital now in this country, that if any
scheme of internal improvement wor-
thy of State enterprise can be presented
exhibiting fair and profitable results it
can without difficulty be accomplished
by means of private capital; as, indeed,
every important road already made, and
now making i'll this State, is being done
through private capital.
Resotutd, Nil We are opposed to
any material modification or change Of
the 10th article Of the present Constitu-
ton providing for a system Of FREE
SCHOOLS. We believe that proyi-
sion Of our Constitution to be eminent
" wise, Just and beneficial; and if there
have been errors or annoyances in car
rving the system into practice, they have
been the result of imperfect Legislation
which may be remcdied by the action
of the same department.
Resoircd, NH. Occupying the high
" favorable position which West Nr-
einia does between the great valleys Of
the Ohio and Mississippi, and the sea
board, we may naturally expect in add
ton to those great works already I'm
ished and in progress, to see our State
penetrated bv numerous Railroad lines,
the owners of which, will feel them
selves sufficiently indebted to us for the
mere right to pass through our terrific
~. These Railroad Companies, with
their gigantic capital and army of en-
ployees, are already exercising a per
ceptible influence upon the legislation
and political sentiments of this State.
1t is expedient that the Convention shall
by general provisions Of decisive char
acter, protect the interests Of this State
against the cupidity and eXtortion Of
these associations and also adopt etll-
cient measures to deter our Pubhcagents
from Welding to the Establishments and
seeming harmless briberies which are be
ginning to form part of a regular sys-
; TEN OF lIleSe SoI 'old'lolIs, " IihuCH''
the actions Of our public agents in every
department Of the government
Resoiusd, NV. There are many 9th
er changes in the Constitution which
we think might be benefcially made,
some that would tend to elevate the
character and influence of the Judiciary;
others to give greater efficiency to the
Executive department, but we shall
leave these provisions withou: further
comment to the wisdom Of the conven-
ton, believing that every suggestion
will there undergo thorough and care
full examination, and that every i'm
provement in the science Of govern
mem which time and experience have
; made manifest, will be incorporated in
to the new Constitution.
An Eccentric GoBLER.-A turky
gobler belonging to Mr. Il. d. Mon