South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-08-18
A Strong Argument.


aadresse to the Committee Of Invitation OF the
Wheeling Convention Mass Nseling, held recent
", thus calmly but poniedIy refers 20 some oE
the defects OF our present Constitution
Our presen; Cnn ,iiuio vas framed in
1862, and It wen u,o effect in the spring
following Turin he terrible excitement
Of the war, ana When the passions Of men
were fired TO the 6erccst burning. Some of
the delegates who assisted in framing it
were literally without constituencies, and
the instrument itself was declared adopted
after having received an affirmative vote Of
but little more than one third OF the LEGAL
voters Of the S,ate-opposition to its adop-
ton having been silerced by military aid.
The Constitution is less applicable to our
present situation than it was to the situation
when adopted. For instance, section I Of
Article | |, authorizes the holding of slaves
IN this State, yet the Federal Constitution.
as amended, prohibits involuntary scrviiude
10 any OF the States. Section 9, Article
requires apportionment for representative
purposes t. be made on the white basis on
", notwithstanding negroes now vote and
may hold Office Section = Of Article s, re-
qures capitation tax upon white male in
habitants only, although the negroes assist
in making the laws and exponding the mo-
ncy raised by taxation.
From the present Constitution the boun-
daries Of the State cannot be asccrtuined,
por can the number OF counties or the names
thereof, nor the number of Senator's or Del
egates in the Legislature.
Notwithstanding it is the apparent iuten-
ton Of the Constitution that all Circuit
Judges shall be elected by the people, nei-
ther Of the Judges in this end Of the State
were so elected, and believe the same to
be the case in your Districtaud several 9th
ers in the State.
From an official report of the late State
superintendent of Public Schools, | learn
that the number of township officers in the
State, apparently made necessary under sec
lion one of article seven of the Constitution.
is S,T56 Add to this astounding number
OF petty officers, the State, Legislative and
county officers, with all Of their deputies
and assistants, aud you have probably fully
10000 officers to govern the people aud
consume their substance.
In view Of this, and the fact that the en-
tire expeuses chargeable to elections aud
Convention should not exceed S37, 800, Caud
It's believed 10y many wi'lnot BE- more than
twO-thirds of that amount, or S25 600, Cthis
is about forty cents to each voter, OF less
than ten cents to each inhabitnnt, or thirty
cents to each 81 900 worth of property; it
may be 4 serious question not whether the
people of the State can afford to call Con-
vention, but rather whehcr Hey can ATARI
not 10 call one, for the purpose of dispensing
with large proportion of the immense
swarm Of cflicers
What sesms to be a serious defect in the
present Constitution, is the vast amount of
special and private Legislation that is pos
sble under 1t. Dat Of about five hundred
(5O0) bills introduced into tho two branch
es of any given Legislature, i, is fair to c>
innate that four hundred (l00) of them viii
nat be Of a general nature. With special
Legislation made as nearly impossible Us
may be, sessions of the Legislature need not
be held oftcner than once in two years, thus
making saving to the tax payers in this
way alone, Of as much money each alternate
year, as this Convention will cost
Our entire judicial system needs a care
tul, guarded and limited power, aud the ac
c1uutability of officers increased Neither
oilicers nor their securities shout be relicv-
cd by he Legislature.
In Presidential election years, the OK
p2nses Of an election might DO saved bg
holding State and county elections az the
same time, iustead of IN October as now.
The term Of all State officers and the
session Of the Legislature, should commence
simultaneously about the first of January.
instead If commencing tt different times *
tending overl space Of nearly months
have taken time 10 merely hint at "a
few Of the defects Of The present Constitu
ton and to suggest few reforms that are
demanded. Others viii occur to every in
telligont citizen
viii merely observe in conclusion that
the party and persons who oppose a Con
vcntlon Of thes1vcreigu poopl. Of this State
to consult about matters Of the deepest con
Germ 90 them arc the same who u.o every
effort 20 rob the State and The people there.
Of Of their Justly reserved rights
All should keep this on great fact In
mind The work Of this Convention viii
have 70 be- passed upon by the people IF
The new Constitution shall be- delmci bv
them 80 Improvement upon the prcscpt one
they will adopt IT,; it not, they will reject
it 10 part or in whole, MS % them shall seem
best. Those who oppose Dis measure of
reform announce by this opposition their
lack ot conf leuco in the people 90 deter.
mine tho character Of their own organic
aw. Yours, with great respect,
II. O. DAVIS
r. Democrats and liberal Republicans
90 the polls next Thursday and vote for