The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-26

THE CONVENTION.
oDpuiugAddress of the Presld'
ing Officers.
Remarks OF Hon. C. J" Faulkner LII
Temporary President and OF ;iloa'
samuel Price, Permanent rteS'-
dent.

MIR. FAULENRR's ADDRESS
The following is a correct report of the
remarks made by Hon. CHAS' D. FAuLN'
yru, on taking the chair rs temporary
rrcsiling officer, at the opening OF the
Convention;
Observation-Disclosures my occupa.
,on ot ihis posItion Is but temporary and
mi" ' preliminary to the permanent organ
il"iidn Of this body, yet as have been
Icsignatetl to this place by the special
Csil ~ A large majority Of the individuals
v compose this Convention, It has been
snrrcstci to me that it would not be In
violation of good taste, but on the con
trsry that il was expected Of Inc, TO make
snInc remarks touching the very interest.
ipg occasion which has brought MS to-
gcthcr ,n. A.
first full and perfect representation OF the
PEOPLE Of West Virginia that has occurred
within our history. l do not alIude to
This in any spirit Of complaint or rcproach
upon the past but simply to call your
minds 10 an acknowledged fact that it
may the more impress you with the I'M
portance and the dignity Of the high du'
lies which now devOlvC upon you.
II has not yet been nine years since
TINT people whom We have the honorto
represent in this assembly, acquired the
rights Of u distinct and seperate political
community. Our existence rs State is
connected with events of transCGndent in
,crcst IN the relief OF this nation. Tracing
N origin to the commissions Of the late
civil war, the close of that remarkable
struggle gave permanency and stability
to Inc assertion Of our rights to self
government.
Whatever differences Of opinion may
have existed at one time in the minds Of
some men rs 10 the regularity OF our adj
mission into the sistGrhOOd of States, no
such question exists now. West Virginia
stands at the present day recognized, with.
on, controversy or dispute at home and
beyond her limits, as one of the free equal
sovereign members of thAt great conleder-
acy OF republics whose associated power
commands the respect alike Of the civil
lied and barbarOus world. Gentlemen,
this LOFTY position which our State has al
tanned, rs one of the acknowledged men,
hers of the Federal Union, imposes high
and corresponding obligation upon all her
citizens to realize the dignity OF her desLi-
ny and to speed her onward in the march
Of material, moral and political advance
mcnt. The competition for pre.eminenCe
in all the industrial pursuits OF life
throughout this great republic is eager,
earnest and active. Unless we shape our
policy and apply our energies to the same
results we shall fail to perform that duty
which the relation which we now bear to
the political system oil this country de-
manls Of us.
In territory and population we are not
among the largest Of our sister States.
Neither are We among the smallest. We
are blessed with advantages that may well
excite our gratitude and thanks. Our lot
is cast in u temperate latitude. We enjoy
an nvigorAting atmosphere, and our ter
riloral surface is grandly diversified by
mountain and vale. Such Of our lands rs
are not adapted for tillage are suited for
pasturagc. Our population is hardy, brave,
cnlcrprising, inCorrupt. We have abun.
ant water power. Our boundless forests
bear upon their virgin bOsOms the accu.
mulatcd wealth of centuries. Nature has
beniiiccntly scattered throughout our
highlands the most attractive resorts OF
health and pleasure. Our mineral treas.
IRE in quantity and quality is not surpass-
cd by any area OF equal extent upon this
continent; and We are so happily situated
between the valleys Of the Ohio and Mis-.
sIsippi and the Atlantic sGabOard, as TO
compel the construction through our terri.
tory Of the great highways Of commerce
without the imposition Ul any burdens
upon our people,
These physical advantages, striking as
they undoubtedly IRE, would in them
selves be frutlcSs without civil govern
ment that will give Contentment to our
people and invite population and capital
from abroad. To attain this end, the pre-
paratiOn OF Constitution suited TO this
State, is the object for which You have
been called together upon this occasion.
To accomplish this result you have been
selected from tile great mass Of your fol.
IOw'CitiIens by n generous and disCrimi-
mating constituency. No more momen-
Ious, no more honorable duty could have
dcvolvCd upon you. You are not here to
pass upon any temporary measure of pub.
lcp0Iicy, nor upon any ordinary Act Of
legislative relief. You are here TO Law
broad and deep the foundations Of the
social compact; to place upon an upper
sAabIc basis the rights of an entire pcO.
pie; 10 provide for the contingent and
ever recurring wants OF u whole cOmmu.
NIFTY; to assign TO the different depart.
laenlS Of administration the functions and
duties peculiar 10 each, and so TO balance
and adjust the complex machinery of
your State Government, that lis parts
,AaIl work in harmony, and contribute
10 Tie welfare and happiness of all the
i"opIe Gentlemen, these are labOrs
worthy Of statesmen.
And, gentlemen, when yon shall have
proceeded TO make u permanent organizs-
Io4 oIyour body by the election Of IN.
mEAl, competent and energetic officers;
' SGen you shall have performed that
MS, which has been entrusted to YOU by
I Tue people, and which am sure YOU will
" "n. with fidelity 10 those who sent
you here; when you shall have framed
S H organic law under which MI, without
G1sunclIon, shall be secured in those fun.
aAMenIal privileges which Of right be.
.OOS 10 the citizens of all free govern.
genISi when every crevice shall be closed
through which the subtle spirit Of pro
%ss'P'lon may hereafter reach its victim
, %ava yon have placed the public faith q
",'s STATE upon the high and lofty basi,
W integrity and honor; when YOU have
distributed ven the different departments o
! !UG government 30 as to secure wise law
a ;no, pure and lathlM, administration o
!SSTce when your county organization.
saa.. Ne 50 devised as to render cheap ant
n.y. ,,SsS, anu familiar to thepeoplc the admin
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