The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-11
ADDRESS
OF the Democratic County Executive
COmmftte TO the Democratic and

Conservative Voters OF Lewis
County.
lmpelled by an intense sense Of duty,
we call upon the Democracy to rally
again in their united strength to guard
and assert their traditional devotion to
the principles Of Constitutional safe
guards in their fundament law.
The Democratic members Of the last
Legislature, impressed with the neces.
sity that the good people Of this State
should have afforded to them an oppor-
tunity to revise and amend our State
Constitution, unanimously passed law
referring to the people proposition for
a call for Convention for this purpose,
to be voted on on the Oath day Of Au-
gust, 1871.
The present Constitution was adopted
in 1868, during the excitement Of fla
grant war, and has, from that time to
the present, been regarded as the work
Of the then dominant partizanship OF
its trainers. And from that period to
the period of the Legislative action re.
ferred to, it was conceded by all men,
that whenever profound peace should
be attained, that another Constitution,
adapted to the peace, harmony and
prosperity of our people, should replace
that which was the work and result Of
war and its incidents. But Immediately
following the advent of Democratic as
cendancy in the Legislative and Exec
utive departments Of the State, the Radl-
cal party, to impede and prevent the
fulfllment of the pledges and promises
upon which the asceudancy was attain
ed, and in the hope OF the restoration OF
their party to power, at once organ
lied and compacted their forces
in opposition to this Constitu-
tional reformation; and, from that day
to this, they have, by persistent misrep.
representation, sought to mislead and
alarm the people-to divert the public
mind from a fair, just and impartial
consideration OF this vital and most es.
sential reform; and we find their parti.
Fan leaders-their reserves in office
and their press, united in active combi
nation against a simple proposition,
which, stripped of political perversion,
is no more than proposition to pre-
sent to the people, now, in a period Of
profound peace, an opportunity to pass
upon a new Constitution, more effectu-
ally to guard against invasions upon
their rights, liberties and property for
whatever may be done by the Conven.
ton, must be submitted to the popular
Judgment, and will have no effect until
and unless it is ratified by the people at
the polls.
TO whom can we appeal with more
confidence of favorable response in
behalf OF the call for a Convention than
to the Democracy Certainly to none.
For their practices in the past-the
teachings OF the fathers and their abid-
ing faith, has worked a conviction upon
their minds, that no Free Government,
or the blessings of liberty, can be pre-
served to any people, but by firm ad'
berence to justice, moderation and vir-
tue, and By a frequent recurrence to Jun'
damentat principles !
That the present Constitution Of the
State is inadequate to, and has failed to
preserve and maintain individual rights
and fundamental principles, none who
will look back over the past seven years
can pretend to deny.
1t mas failed to guarantee and protect
the voter, during and preceding the year
| 1866, and before the DISTINGUISHING
amendment OF that year was adopted,
in his right of suffrage, and by mere
legislative prohibition, this most sacred
privilege was destroyed, and this de-
struction has been judicially held to be
in consonance with the Constitution.
1t has failed to protect citizens, how
ever exalted by ability or moral worth
bower rich or however poor, against a
legislative mandate to close the doors
of the halls of public justice against
righteous causes of action, for the pro-
lection OF character or property, or for
the enforcement of the obligations OF
contracts. And this, too, has been held
by the Radical judiciary to have had
the sanction Of the Constitution!
1t has failed to allow persons, how
ever upright or responsible, to admins
ter upon the estates of deceased friends
to become guardians Of the orphans.
TO teach in the common schools-to SIT
upon juries of the country-to practice,
their professions-unless they would
take an expurgatory Test Oath, which
ia the common resort OF tyranny and
AGAINST the genius of free institutions;
And all these denominations were held
10 be authorized by the Constitution.
All these and other infractions OIL
rights have occurred and have been en-,
to1ced. and it will not do in the face OF
the recent past for the Radical party Of
this State to maintain that the present
Constitution is adequate for the protec
ton of all these rights, for they have
insisted and successfully upheld THESE
arrangements, backed and supported by
their Judiciary. 49,.
We again warn the Democracy thar
IL il was lawful and constitutional, be
fore the adoption of the amendment q. o
1866. and where is the Radical who vii
denv that it was to disfranchise theil
fellow citizens by mere legislative en-
actment, il is equally so noUl For thu
Constitution of 1871, Invested as it has
bsen of the DISTINGUISHING amendment
referred to, is exactly the same as 1t 'od'
,cIsn these disfranchisig enactments yer
nosssd and enforced! Whether rlgh'
Pooos" shat has been done may b.
repeated, and We give the Rad \, a.
narty the same power that the!