The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-02
Mr. Johnson,s speech.

Iappear before you under different
circumstances from those that
surrounded me when last ad-
dressed you. That was during the
mpaign of 1868. Then we did not
dare ask you for Cons titutional Con-
vention; we only then appealed to have
the chains stricken from our fellow
citizens. wish that the history Of the
wrongs perpetrated under our present
Constitution, during the nine years of
its existence, could be expunged, but
they must remain forever on the record,
disgrace to our civilization and to
our State.
We are told it is revolution TO ask for
Constitutional Convention. Is it
revolutionary for the people to ask to
change the organic law? Look at our
sister State Of Ohio. With Constitu-
ton but little older and much better
than our own, they propose to change
their organic law, and neither party
there dares oppose it.
What is Constitutional Conven-
ton? tits but a gathering Of the del
egates Of the people TO change the or
eanic law, who shall submit their work
to the people. What is all this outcry
about revolution and revolutionary
measures2 1t is ina lie or the purpose
OF attempting to prevent such change
in our organic law as shall forever pre-
vent the repetition Of the wrongs in
flicted upon our citizens during the
years the Radical party held sway in
this State.
Mr.. johnson referred 10 the point
touched upon by Mr. Faulkner. the
subject Of granting power to the Legis-
lature to create State debt. Did it
ever occur to YOU, he said, that it could
be done By the legislative enactment
of a constitutional amendment to be
submitted to the people, which if passed
by them would expunge the present
constitutional provision forbidding such
a State debt? But such an amendment
could never pass, for the people are OPP
posed to it. What nonsense it is then
to talk OF the delegates of the people in
Constitutional Convention assembled
doing what the delegates in the Legis-
lature would not dare do because they
know our citizens are opposed to it. We
want a Constitutional Convention be-
cause the present Constitution is not the
work OF the majority of orr citizens.
YOU have heard that 1t was carried by
about 1900 votes, and but very few
against it. And why were there so few
votes against it? Why, because when
some OF the opponents OF this Constitu'
ton had arranged to hold Convention
in Parkersburg the military WAS called
to the aid of the Radical leaders OF that
day and this and the people were given
to understand that none but those in
favor of the Constitution would he per-
mitted to vote at all
Mr.. j. relerre to the continual mes
sages sent to the Legislature Of this
State by her Governors, that West Vir,
GINA was in a "state OF instruction,
and inviting Federal bayonets to aid
them ostensih!y in suppre,sing insurrec'
tons which nc.,r had an existence,
while in fact what was needed was a
show Of power to !rishten from the polls
and from open opposition all who were
opposed to the party in power.
You have heard. continued Mr.. John.
son, from the gentleman who preceded
me how our citizens, men, some Of them,
who had borne arms in defence Of this
country against her foreign foes, were
deprived OF their right to vote because
they were in opposition to the party in
power, and the Supreme Court Of this
State said that the laws and acts which
40 wronged our citizens were in accord
ance with the Constitution. We want no
such Constitution as that!
We want a Convention to frame a
Constitution that shall have provision
in it that shall forbid forever the power
to pass test oaths, to take from men the
means of earning their bread and sup
porting their families BY their probes
sions.
We want a Convention that shall
change the power of the three co-ordl-
nate branches Of the Government to In
terfere with one another. We know
that this has been abused. We know
that when the Judges dared to give a
decision in opposition to the party then
in power, they were promptly removed,
Judge Kennedy was the first martyr to
his idea that the judiciary was an indie
pendent branch Of the State Govern
ment, and that the Legislature had no
right to interfere with it.
What is said by those opposed TO the
Constitutional Convention? asked Mr..
J. They say it will cost too much. 1t
was estimated by the Legislature last
winter and by Judge Ferguson since
that it would cost not to exceed S3',-
600. That is very small pittance to
pay for the great benefits to be derived
from a new Constitution. But 1t Is a
very poor plea to come from men who
did not hesitate to scoop out the bottom
Of the treasury when they had a pet
measure to put through.
am in favor OF Constitutional Con-
vention because it is Democratic
measure, so forced upon us by the Re
publican party. We urged upon them
to come to the support OF the Conven
ton bill when it was before the Senate,
and let the people say whether they
would have a Convention or not They
opposed it en- mdssS. The Governor
Stevenson, opposed it as a party meas,
ure, as may be seen by his reports and
by his message on the subject. They
have made it party measure, they
have forced it upon our party, and we
accept it. When l lay sick and it was
impossible to pass the bill, Mr.. Har,
mon, to his honor be it said, threw off
his party ties and voted with the De,
| mocracv in saving that the people shall