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

Die 10 strict obedience to their will.
But they should never 90 beyond this
pbere,they should never lay bands upon
the foundations Of the government,
thew should always be subject to the
fundamental law. The Constitution Of
a State should protect all the citizens Of
that State without distinction Of party,
color, sex or condition it should secure
the rights OF minorities as carefully and
completely as those Of the majority,
and should stand as barrier to shield
all the people from legislative wrong.
But, for the fact that to a great extent
throughout this State. party lines are
drawn between the supporters and the
opponents OF the call of q Constitutional
Convention, hold the leaders Of the
Republican party responsible. In the
Legislature last winter they array
ed party hostility against the bill for
taking the sense OF the people upon
this question, and the Legislature
had no sooner adjourned than
they issued to their followers a
manifesto against the Convention.
These gentlemen seem to have forgotten
the result Of the election held last fall
and the significance OF the lesson it
taught. That was not simply victory
Of the Democratic party, twas grand
upheaval and uprising of the people Of
the State in favor of popular govern
ment and popular rights. The people
own this country and have a right to
govern it; they have a right to make
the Constitution under which they are
to live; they have a right to assemble in
sovereign convention and declare what
the organic law shall be. Mr.. William
G. Brown has been represented as a
lifelong Democrat. He may be a
Democrat in name, but he certainly
lacks that saving faith OF genuine De-
mocracy, a firm and abiding confidence
in and trust of the people. The ability
OF the people to govern themselves Is
the very foundation Of our govern,
mental structure. We are embarked
upon the seal may almost say the
turbulent sea-of popular sovereignty.
The people must be trusted. lhey
have shown themselves worthy OF trust
in the past and will do so in the future !;
if not, our government is a sham ana
the nation will suffer shipwreck. l
have confidence in the people, and am
firmly convinced that when assembled
in Convention they will frame such a
Constitution as will preserve the hoer,
ties of all classes OF our citizens and
promote the best interests OF the state
was asked by a gentleman to-day
whether did not consider this an In
suspicious time for calling such a Con
vention as we contemplate. Even the
opponents of q Convention admit that
the Constitution should be amended,
but thew say mot now; wait awhile:
But why not now? There is certainly
nothing now agitating the public mind
in West Virginia that would make II
expedient to delay the call. Inc civil
war is now long since past, and, as L
fondlv trust, all the bitterness and AMI
mostly which it occasioned in our midst
are ain the deep bosom Of the ocean
buried" There is now no Presidential,
contest pending and nothing that should
excite party violence is now before the
people. The Republican party has
gracefully surrendered the occupancy OF
many of the offices it held, and, by the
will of the people as expressed at the
polls last fall, the Democratic party has
assumed control OF and is responsible
for the future management Of State
affairs. The Republican party looks to
the past with pride; the Democratic
party looks to the future with hope.
There never was time when a deeper
or more general spirit of masnanlnlty
prevailed among our people than now
There is no desire or disposition TO
crafty revenge or any evil propensity
but deep and well settled wish per-
vades the people that our State may be
moved forward in a career Of prosperity
and honor. What better time can
there be than now for the adoption OF
such measures as will free her from her
shackles and make the Constitution
conform to the popular will 7
The present Constitution OF West
Virginia was adopted in 1864, nine
years ago, amid the commissions and
confusion of civil war. The Convention
which framed it was composed OF men
many of whom were informally chosen
and some OF whom had 40 constituent
cies. Its adoption was voted upon by
only about 1900 Of the 6O,OOO voters
then in the State. Now is it not right,
is it not just, is it not expedient, that
the $4,000 legal voters who are at this
time invested with the ballot in West
Virginia should have q voice in framing
the Constitution under which they are
10 live? 81:
have no fault to find with. the men
who composed the first Convention and
framed the present Constitution. l say
now, as | said few days ago in this
Court Room, while speaking before the
Supreme Court of Appeals in reference
to the Jefferson county case, that they
were earnest, sincere and patriotic men.
feel lasting gratitude to them for the
limitations upon the power Of the Leg
islature which they have embodied in
this Constitution. Their errors were
the fault of the times in which they as
sembled and of the circumstances by
which they were surrounded, rather
than their own. The war was in pro-
gress, and no man knew what a day
might bring forth. Added to this, they
were confronted by an opinion Of the
Attorney General Of the United States
declaring their whole movement
illegal. They had to frame such
Constitution as would be &C
ceptable to the Congress then con-
vened. Throughout the whole of their
deliberations they had one eve fixed