The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-22
r,r NETTING LAST NIGHT.

r. NAV surprise some Of our citizens,
,,,;t ia q fact that a little public meet.
:rss held at the Court House, in this
S ,'y last night to hear speech from Hon.
WINNIE. Brown, Of Preston county,
,,rositlon to the call Of a Constitu-
:,,sl Convention. The attendance was
Inn and enthusiasm was at the zero
.,.Dt OF those present, at least one
liza were men who are in favor of the
Invention but who were attracted by
,-io.;tv to hear what can be said in
.,ros;,ion TO a measure which is so
ms,ifestlv desirable and advantageous
;, the State. 1t would hardly be cor
-, 10 saw that this curiosity was graf
:s.3 by Mr.. Brown. Apparently con-
,;ops that he was laboripg in a bad
,,r.e he did as little as possible, dis
o,-.ed considerable portion Of his au-
,ispce and concluded by saying that he
a NOT know but that the most Of those
bs was addressing differed from him in
Union. a conclusion that was well war
-s,,ed by the apparent disposition of
,bs few who listened in solemn silence
:, vha, he had to say. Judging from
l.s effort last night, we cannot think
that Mr. BRows's opposition is doing
any serious injury to the Convention
,,gse and we cannot find it in our
asarr to criticise him unkiudly. He is
,o,sessei Of a mistaken notion that a
ropyen,ion ought not to be held, but it is
impossible for him to say ,ohy not, and
accordingly he never does give any sub
:,antial or appreciatle reason for his
opposition.
Alter Mr.. BROWN had finished
,reaking, few calls were made for
Governor STANTON, of this city. Mr..
STANTON spoke in his usual pleasant
and plausible manner about half an
hour His speech was a sort of re-
hash Of the IntslEgencsr editorials, and
suggested the inquiry whether that
paper gets its ideas from Mr.. STANTON
or Mr. STANTON is inspired by the paper.
He asserted that all the amendments
that are needed might be made by the
legislature that the railroads would
control the Convention and also that
these corporations controlled the Legls-
lature. According to his and the Intel
HgsncerS showing, the people Of the
State are powerless to prevent the con-
summation of any scheme that either
the internal improvement men or the
railroads may desire. If they want a
Convention it will be held, or, if they
prefer the legislative method of amend
ing the Constitution, that way is open
for their adoption. The argument thus
destroys itself by proving too much.
lithese men can, by means Of the Con-
yention, shape the Constitution to suit
their purpose, they can accomplish the
same end through the Legislature.
Thus the Convention has really nothing
TO do with the matter and may neither
assist nor prevent the consummation OF
the plan. If the people will that the
credit Of the State shall be given in aid
Of Internal improvements or that the
property of railroad companies shall be
exempt from taxation, what power is
there in Governor STANTON aud the
lq.slligsncer to forbid? Even the de-
eat Of the Convention will not avail to
prevent the accomplishment Of what
majority Of the people desire. And if,
ss we are well satisfied is the case, a
majority OF the people do not favor
:hese schemes, there is no power on
earth that can force them upon US,
either by controlling the Constitutional
Convention or the Legislature. The
Convention will be held for the pur-
pose Of making such amendments and
only such as the people desire, and none
other can be made.
These facts are self-evident. We
nave heretofore presented them in reply
10 the Ints!iigencer when it first pub
Hshed Governor SrANToN's speech. and
We mention them again in reply to
Governor SrANroN's repetition Of the
htel'iysncsr's editorial.
After Mr.. STANTON had closed his edit
ORAL remarks, calls were made for GEO.
D. DAVENPORT, Esq, who spoke very ear
nestIy during about twenty minutes in
reply to the two gentlemen who had
preceded him and in favor Of calling a
Constitutional Convention. He was
listened to very courteously and atten-
lively by those present and gave several
very good reasons why the Convention
should be held. Having made no spe-
ca preparation for a speech and hav-
ing been somewhat surprised by the
call, his arguments lacked arrangement
and connection, but the effort was, under
'ae circumstances, creditable one, and
We hope to have the pleasure Of hear