The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-04
The Vote on a ConVention--Who Can
Best be Trusted TO. Hold the Z lec-

spectOrs Of election Throughout the State
oil chosen under the influence OF dlSiran-
chlsement and by the operations of the
registration law, would faithfully carry
ont these provisions Of the act and give us
q fair election under 1t, there would then
be no necessity for the appointment OF the
special commissioners contemplated by
the bill. The object Is to have free and
full expression Of the popular will, un'
tainted by any tinge Of illegal dlsfran'
chisement, and permitting everybody 70
vote whose right do 80 Is not leghlly dis
proved. That this would be attained by
committing the conduct of the election
TO the hands Of the same parties whose
prediction for fraud has been so often
manifested, will scarcely be contended by
any one who honestly desires to let the
people vote And much more Of the
same sort l-Rtgister, yesterday.
Our neighbor apparently iorgets him
sclI, and forgets the facts, in these severe
reflections on the present supervisors and
inspectors Of elections throughout the
State. Let us remind him that in just
about three-iOurths of the counties the
Boards Of Supervisors are in the hands Of
the Democrats, and that the inspectors in
every county arc exactly half Democrats.
Is therc any reason to apprehend that
these Democratic officers would not carry
ont faithfully whatever law Democratic
Legislature may prescribeS And will
anybody seriously pretend that the few
Republican supervisors and inspectors
could embarrass the execution of the law
irtbcy wanted to-say such II law Us the
Register printed in its columns yesterday
Now the supervisors, MS u rule, are
among the best men in theirseveral coun.
ties They are chosen for their standing
as substantial, intelligent and honest men.
The inspectors are selected by the people
OF the townships especially with reference
to their uprightness and intelligence We
doubt II better average'of men can be
found in the State In any,other class Of
equal numbers, than the inspectors and
supervisors. These officers are chosen by
tho people of their townships for the pur.
pose of holding elections; and the trust
having been placed in their hands by
their neighbors, they feel a responsibility
and regard Tor their reputation not lelt
by any mere appointees, and such as
afford the best guarantees II Is possible to
obtain for an honest and impartial per.
formance oil their duties. Why should
the holding Of our elections be TAX
en- out OF the hands Of the ofll.
GERS thus chosen by tho people for
the purpose and entrusted TO u set Of
mere creatures Of the executive, who may
or may not be as honest men, but who
cannot feel the same obligation to do their
duty? II II Is best to appoint these officers
1t is best TO appoint all officers, and take
from tho people entirely the right to
choose their own officers for the govern
ment of their own affairs II the people
cannot trust the officers Of their own cleo
tion can they trust those appointed by the
Executive, and those appointed by these
appointees in turn? The Register declares
the supervisors and inspectors cannot be
trusted. Cannot be trusted by whom?
They can be trusted by the people who
elected them; and II not by the desperate
revolutionists who arc trying to up a
Convention whether the people want 1t or
not, It Is because these schemCrs want
something more or less than an honest,
open election, and are afraid they cannot
use the supervisors and inspectors to nc.
compltsh il. q Z. a =
II our neighbor will answer us o ques-
ton, it may serve 10 simplify matters and
abbreviate this discussion We want to
be informed whether it's the intention d
the Democratic Legislature to submit to
the popular vote the proposed amendment
to the Constitution, before submitting the
question ola Conyentionp If 1t is not
we beg TO ask why ynot2
Whenit comes to a question of so much
gravity as that Of invoking the original
powers Of the State for the framing of q
new organic law, all the people should
have an opportunity to vote omit, Unless
the amendment Is first ratified, twenty
FIVE thousand citizens Che Register car
verify our fgurcs) will be denied that op
portunity by the Constitution OF tho State
evenii tho statute be repealed or emascu
latedi and would be obliged to choosl
between not voting at all and sneakinE
their votes into the ballot box in dis
honorable way and in defiance or evaslor
OF law. High.minded mon will choost
to stay away from the polls rather thar
steal a vote, in the way proposed in tht
Convention bill, in the. face of an unrc
pealed constitutional prohibition.
Its the first duty Of tho Legislature tc
submit the Flick Amendment to tho peo
pic. That amendment will DO ratified al
most without opposition. Very few mct
of either party will vote.AgainSt 1t, Ther
these disftanChlsed men can stand Orec
and look upon the stars. They will havl
then full and unQucstioned right to vote
and II the question of n convention Is Of
forwards submitted they can vote on l
openly and honorably like any other citl
Zcns.
II tho Legislature do not intend to pur
sure this course, We want the public L
know the rcasnn. and our cn,np, roror,