Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-08-01
The Cost of a Convention.

The late Governor Of West Virginia C5a7s
the Martinsburg Nc,o Era) is entitled TO tile
distinction of having originated this objection
TO the proposed Convention. It has been &C.
cePted from his hands by his partfsaus, of
course but by none others save that class Of
political 9WiJ naHcs who reduce every public
question to fractional currency aud discover
in an imaginary array Of'fgures ample excise
for opposing important public measures on the
grOGEd OF mistaken and ill.timcd economy
Itso happens, however, that the ez. G overnor,
ike Orator Pub, has two tones in his voice.
In 1871, when his own exodus from office
had 'bccn .decteed and power had passed from
the Radicals 10 West Virginia, he proclaimed
that the cost of q Convention, under Demo
cratic and Conservative auspices. would
amount to the enormous sur, of $500, 292 %.
In 1861, when q Convention was actually in
session, aud when tho question of its cost was
referred to the Committee on Printing and
Expenditures, his estimate was different to the
extent OF S300, 292 %. But on this point let
US have the record
Extract from the ''JOurnal Of tho Corstit:,toEaI
Convention OF West VIrginia.")
MONDAT, December I6, 1851
On motion OF Mr.. Van Wrinkle, The following
resolution Was adopted:
EsS"FUrd, That the committee on Printing and
Expenditure report tsIU ate Of the cum HIGH
will probably be required pay the IneIUbeTs and
officers aud detray all other expenses Of this Con-
HsntiUn based npOn probable session Of sixty. five
days in order that the may laid be lore the
Legislature for their government
TuE"pAv, December u, ISGI
"Mr StevenScn." of Wood. NlHte loyal" Gov.
of the State Oi West NmCinia,N chairman Of
the committee "n Printing and Tx ,,endIurcs GuL.
The committee or Printing and Expenditure.
having been inBITuC:6d {" 'Icport an estimate UT
the which vii! probAtIy nc required 10 nav the
members aud ofFiccIs nd deiray all other penECs
OF the COnvt ntur, based On = probable Gession OF
sixty five days in order tbs" the msy be laid
before the Legislature for Iheir government would
respectfully TeT"Tt that they have Inode such a n
esumste and hnd that the PronsbIe CEP'm'.s # the
Convention far sriy fire days lrU be sixteen Ihuisa
Gro hnnd'Cd dollars. All Of which IL respectfully
subnittta. We. s1EvE+.o
- Chairman.
Tho public have here an unusual cxempIi.
fcation of the different mathematical effects
produced by different periods aud crcumstan.
ces. The sum of 6l6,5OO was the fact re.
ported ny HtevcnsOn at time when, with
him, Otice was the substance Of things hoped
fori that Of S326.292 % was the eccentricity
OF his mathematical lamentatiOn when Office
was 20 him aud his parIzans the substance of
things lost forever. Our readers can make
the comparison for themselves
Bat, fnFtGnarsly, We are not !eft to coniec-
ture on thE point. The expenses of an an
nual session of the Legislature are we'll known.
a Convention will consist Of the same ntm.
Der Is the aggregate Of both branches Of the
Legislature, BAT, bciog single body, need
not involve all the expenditure incident to
two Houses. We have at hand the accurate
calculations o: Judge Ferguson. and We here
present them in full:
THE Convention Is to be composcd Of seventy.
the cost Of the Convention per Jay including tie