The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-30

~ The Democratic party ,arrealst-
ed csnsrol over the present .erri,rry 81
wes; Virginia in 1861 The Rrpabli-
cau party took possession Of the coup,is.
eompri'ing this State in that year, sn6
have continued to possess and hold every
branch of government legislative. er,e.
ulive and juiieiaI-up to The beginning
Of the year 1STl--during all Of which
time cruelty. oppression and injustice
have been laid wiki heavy hand BY ,his
party upon the Democrats. TeS, uaihs.
esnmhnest Of women and children, i'm
Pritoumtnt of unoffeuding citizens in
military bas,iles. death. denial of Justice.
the right TO sue 10 the courts. together
wish indictments Of our hest citizens by
grsnd juries packed and chosen for the
purpose, and for DO cause, and partissn
judsea coanseling the boards Of regi,,rs-
,ion ,hs, the meaning Of the registration
law was to strike Of snficient humber
Of Democratic voters to keep the Offices
in loya! aands. are set. Of wrong ard in
justice too fresh in the recollection Of q
people who have been eoerced to psy nil
bone Of dollars for their own sabjagatios,
to be soon forgotten. p .s.a 's
Prior to 1861 oar ,a1ss were 40 cents
On she 3l0o Of valas-- shsy sss esOr
100 cents on the Sloe
Prior TO the war good rscadaniEed
road and ,urnpikes we're pcrmeating
every portion of what is now IVES, Vir.
GINA. and thrift. population and enter.
prise marked everywhere the march Of
Improvement. Whi,ened houses, newly
felled forests. and green meadows we're to
be seen aloug ill these runds. Then We.
hicles and carriages for travel or pleasure
ran from court house to court house, and
JUDGED, all over the State.
Nov how is III It is q whole days
travel to Clarksburg. over one of the
worst roads in the world. Its weeks
journey to Gauley Bridge, the terminus
Of the only central turnpike road in the
State. connecting the two grea, railroads.
the Baltimore a. Ohio and the Chesapeake
& Ohio Two weeks or more is required
to hear from the State Capitol by letter
sen: from this place on urgent business
And all .ha. thrift and prosperity which
was to be seen ten years ago all around
Us has disappeared, and population aud
capital deni'd entrance into our State for
the wsnt Of laws which can only be pass
ed by amending our State Constitution.
The new Democratic Legislature me,
at Charleston on the l7ih inst organized
their respective bodies. and proceeded to
business. Two measures of rnomentou.
Importance we're proposed on the ftsi day
-ore in the Senate und the other in the
House--the one for the speedy enf-an-
chisemept Of the disfranchised, aud IN"
other for taking tho sense Of the people
upon the call Of convention to revise
and amend our State Constitution. What
il the Legislature should epfr,nchse the
disfranehisel. and there s,opf None Of
the much needed and desired reforms. by
which to improve our State and develope
her rich mines Of wealth, would be con-
tunma.ed. The present Constitution
provides that no monies shll be- borroetG
by the State for Internal improvements
Why tuch provision should have been
incorporated into our Constitution. when
j, must have been plain to its makers
that our state. without internal improve
menis. could never become either wealthy
or populOus. has always been to us q
mystery. Is j. no. obvious to all that our
interior counties, Of the lines Of the great
railroads. on account Of their sparse popu-
lation and poverty Of The people. could
not for years settle up and improve.
whereas by State aid, in few years the
population HOnld double, yea quadruple.
and the increased Yslus Of the lauds
would bring into the common treasury
ten times as much taxes M at present.
We have been surprised at the Repub.
licans making theis complaints because Of
The proposition to call Convention. Let
them wait and see wha, the Dtmscra,s do
before they condemn them. All lheir
bBgaboo about the destruction uf the
Free Schools is;be msrsst stuff Its one
Of the tiiu.sics. arguments which vas ever
rstsric3 TO. to frighten az intellieel,
people. What Democrat ever proposed
10 abolish Ihs Free Schools? None The
Ises Sohool1. under Democratic rule, will
continue, bu! greatly improved. The