The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-20
A Voice from the Eastern
Panhandle. -
A Series OF Strong and Stir.
ring Resolutions.
Berkeley County Mass Meeting.
From the Sfafesnnan1


the papers of the county, a mass meet
ing OF the people of Berkeley county
was held at the Court House IN Msrtins,
burg on Saturday, July 18th. inst, for
the purpose Of considering the propriety
of calling State Convention to amend
and reform the Constitution Of the
State.
The meeting being called to order at
II NJ, on motion, b. Cushwa was ap-
pointed temporary chairman, and W..
L. Logan secretary.
On motion, the chair appointed the
following committee on Permanent
Organization:
Blackburn Hughes, C. j. Faulkner,
Jr., B. F. Brady, j. L. w. Baker and
John T. Janney.
Upon motion the meeting adjourned
until 2 o'clock P. NJ. to afford the COM
mittee on Permanent Organization time
to make their report.
According to adjournment, the meet
ing was called together at 2 o'clock
P. NJ.
The committee on Permanent Organ
ization made the followingreport, which,
upon motion, was adopted without d.
vision:
For President, Col. John B. Hoge.
Vice Presidents, B. F. Brady, B.
Cushwa, A. w. McCleary, aud j. M.
Seibert.
Secretaries, w. 7. Logan, J. Lefevre,
R. S. Eichelberger and G. w. McKown.
The President, Col. Hoge, upon
taking the chair, addressed the meeting
in very forcible and appropriate terms.
Hon. c. j. Faulkner offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which, on motion,
was adopted:
Resolved, That q committee of two
from each of the seven townships Of
this county, be appointed by the Presi-
dent with instructions to report to this
meeting, whether it is expedient to hold
at this time, a Convention to reform
and remodel the Constitution of this
State, and if so to indicate such changes
and notifications in that instrument, as
may more effectually protect the rights
and liberties, and promote the prosper
ity and happiness of the people, and
also, to indicate such existing provis.
ions as the true interests Of the State
REQUIRE shall be retained, and in max
ing said report, they are expected to
notice those only which they deem
most vital and important to the inter-
ests of the State.
In accordance with the resolution the
President appointed the following COM
mittee:
Martinsburg township-Hon. c. j..
Faulkner, L. A. Luce.
Arden-W. A. Mong. j. T. Janney.
Mill Creek-Robert Lamon, Captain
Ed. Hoffman.
Gerarestown-J. L. Campbell, G. w.
McKown.
Hedgesvlle-Col. j. B. A. MAIDEN
bousch, VIM. Kilmer.
Falling Waters-Decatur Hedges,
w. r. Porterfeld.
Opequon-Jacob Miller, James D..
Miller.
The committee having retired for the
purpose of considering proper action in
the premises, returned, and through
their chairman, Hon. c. j. Faulkner,
made the following report:
The committee to whom was referred
the inquiry whether it is expedient to
hold Convention to reform and re-
model the Constitution Of this State,
and if so, to indicate such changes and
notifications of that instrument as may
more effectually protect the rights and
liberties and promote the prosperity
and happiness OF the people, and also
to indicate such existing provisions as
the true interest of the State require,
shall be retained, have according to
the order of the public meeting now in
session, had the same under consld-
Grafton, and report the following reso-
lutions as embodying their views,
which they respectfully submit for the
approval of the meeting:
Resolved LIST, That it is expedlent to
hold a Convention at an early day to
reform and remodel the present Con-
stitution OF this State.
Resolved, I'd, That the experience Of
the last nine years, during which time
this Constitution has been in operation,
has very satisfactorily shown that it
has been powerless to protect those
fundamental privileges which OF right
belong to the citizens Of every free gov
eminent In illustration OF the truth
of this proposition, we refer to the fol-
lowing facts
LIST. That within that period more
than ten thousand OF the native born
citizens of this State have, in period
of profound peace, without trial or con-
yiction of any offense by er peat .tacto
ordinances, been deprived of the right
of suffrage, and reduced to the condl-
ton of aliens upon their native soil. 1t
is true this obnoxious provision has
been recently abrogated by a decisive
expression Of the popular voice, but the
relief thus afforded is attributable ex,
clusively to the altered and improved
temper Of the public mind, not to any
inherent virtue in the Constitution; and
that such q measure Of vengeance
should for four long years have over
Swallowed the liberties of this State
shows that we are without that pro-
tectipg power in our organic Law which
it is the great purpose of written con.
stitution to guarantee to every citizen Of
free government.
ID In further illustration of said
proposition, we refer to the imposition
Of retrospective political test oath, and
through its fundamentally, to the de-
nrivation of many native born citizens
Of the right to follow the occupation
and business to which they had been
coed. IN TIE denial to them OF the