Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-08-05
Tho Mass Meeting at Wheeling.


We observe from the Register that the pop
ular enthusiasm in favor Of Unconstitutional
Convention has been aroused in the pan-han-
de. \ great meeting was held in Wheeling
on Tuesday last, which was addressed by Hon.
C. J. Faulkner, Hon. 0key johnson, Hon. w.
II. Trayers and Hon. Mr. Boggess. We re-
greet that we have not space for at least synop-
sis Of the remarks Of these gentlemen.
In giving brief report Of the speech Of
Mr.. Travers, which We take pleasure in put
ting before our readers, the Register says:
Hon. w. II. Travers, Of Jefferson county,
was introduced. We regret that our space
viii not permit the publication of a rerjGiim
report Of his remarks lie is a gentleman of
rare eloquencc aud the following brief synOp-
sis conveys no idea Of the smoothness and ele-
gauce Of his style Of speaking;
Dir. Travers' speech.
am fellow citizens, in the condition Of the
alderman who was appointed to make
speech after Edmund Burke, who had Just fin
ishcd one Of those great oratorical flights that
placed him among the great orators Of the
world. Burke had Just concluded, and with
the brilliant sentences still ringing in his ears
the alderman arose and said, Gentlemen,
You have heard what Mr. Burke has said;
say ditto, gentlemen" That, said Mr.. Tray
ers, is my case. You have heard the eloquent
gentlemen who have preceded me- To all
they have said | say ditto" They had COW
cred the entire ground, he said, and there was
but little for him TO do but to reiterate the ar
guments Of those gentlemen.
lie came from the Shenandoah Valley and
although separated from the Ohio by the mag
nifcent AlleghenieS, our interests are identical.
! fear that our history is not known TO you.
Would you believe it, that in the county Of
jefferson, with POO voters, there have been
occasions when we had but 500 persons per-
mitted to vote VIII it be believed that in
Grant township, in that county, with COO free
men who were entitled to all the privileges
Of such, but eight voters held twelve Offices
not enough to 60 round. In that county were
men who had borne arms not only in our car
Eer wars with foreign foes, but who also in the
late terrible struggle bore the flag of the coun-
try and were marked with honorable scars.
who were disfranchised because they would
not vote the Radical ticket, and to whom the
question was put, Viii you vote the Republ-
can ticket, or will you take your place among
the DISTINGUISHED?
In Jefferson county we are making no can
vaSs. There is no one to argue the question
with. When the Oath day Of August comes
thar county will give majority of 1000 to
1900 in favor of the Constitutional Convention.
There are many things in the present Consti-
tuition that should be changed. BY our Con-
stitutiou as now amended large number of
colOred citizens in my county are not repre-
seuted, and Jefferson county will therefore
lose a delegate, and will the Republicans who
have taken the colOred men under epecial pro-
lection, and made them citizens, deny them
the right Of representation And not only
does this effect our local representation, but
under the Fourteenth Amendment it affects
the representation in Congress for that amend
ment, it will be remembered, looks of this
very matter Of nou-repreSented citizens.
There are many things in the Constitution
that need reforming The present township
system should be changed It's costly without
producing adequate results for the great out
lay. / am not prepared TO say | would favor
a change in the ballot, for though | am more
accustomed to the RIA roce plan, am salts
fed that the redemption Of the people of my
country is due to these silent missiyes that fell
so heavily upon those in power then.
From the feeling in my part Of the State,
said Mr. Travers, I am satisfied that the people
WILL on the 24sh day Of August, order Consti-
tutioual Convention to DC held, by majority
50 decided that there shall be no cayiI about
It. When the Constitution is formed, when
the greatly needed changes shall be made,
when the abuses under which some Of our cit-
zens have groaned are so far removed out Of
the way that there can be no chance Of their
ever being repeated under the shadow of a
constitutional enactment then will West Vir-
sinia start forward on q career Of prosperity.
Only one price for goods, and that is cheaper