The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-15
FOURTH WARD MEETING,
a LARGE TURN OUT
THE PEOPLE AROUSED.

and most enthusiastic gathering OF
the people. There were not less than
seven hundred voters present, though
the crowd numbered not less than a
thousand.
The meeting organized by calling
John Boring, Eco, to preside. After a
tune from the Great Western band,
which was given in most excellent style,
the President introduced Dana L. Hub.
bard, ESQ, who made telling speech.
He cut the Jacobins to the raw and
showed that the Jacob movement was
only a sort Of side show to the Radical
circus. He referred to the Parkers-
burg Convention as being one Of the
largest and most intelligent bodies ever
assembled in the country and repudi-
ated the idea that they could be either
bought or sold. His remarks were
received with enthusiastic shouts OF
appreciation and applause.
The band played another tune at the
close of Mr.. Hubbards speech and at
it's close Mr.. George o. Davenport was
introduced by the President.
Mr.. Davenport said: We are not
called upon to cast vote this fall in
your ordinary capacity, fellow-citizens;
this contest is not a party contest You
are called upon to resolve yourselves
into your original elements as legisla-
tors. You are to vote for the ratification
or rejection of the new Constitution.
The act you are called upon to perform
is the highest attribute Of sovereignty,
on Thursday next, August %. You are
to regulate Judges, Governors and all
other officers and prescribe their duties.
This is not child's play; it is the high
est and most solemn duty a citizen can
be called upon to perform.
The present Constitution was adopted,
said Mr. Davenport, when no popular
expression of the popular will could be
obtained. The present Constitution is
the child of war, born amid the clash
of arms and when hate and passion
prevailed. 4 large majority Of the
people were not permitted to vote on IFS
adoption, and it never has been claimed
that it represented the views OF the
people. Bat the Constitution prepared
during a war and made to meet the
necessities OF a time of war is not fitted
for a time OF peace. A change was
needed. That change the Constitutional
Convention at Charleston made and
now offer for your ratification.
One of the advantages OF the new
Constitution, said the speaker, must
commend itself to every man who has
seen the operations Of the present or
ganic law Of the past five years. 1t
cannot be twisted or perverted so as to
deprive any citizen of his vote by re-
fusing him registration.
The Convention had but few objects
in view. 1t sought to present such a
Constitution as should give West Nir'
ginis the position she is entitled TO in
the family Of States, giving her. among
other things, the right OF regulating hel
own internal affairs and police. We
made no change in the Constitutional
Convention for the sake Of change. We
saved all the articles in the old lnstru'
ment that were worthy Of being pre-
served. Some Of the articles are pre-
served word for word.
Il ~
around the citizens the proper guaran
tees to insure them in their rights. BY
it the writ of habeaS corpus could be
suspended in time Of war, time when
its operations are most needed to secure
to the citizen his rights and liberties
1t also permits the most outrageous at
tacks by means Of registration laws
suitors' test oaths and other trammel'
on the liberties OF the people, and al
these attacks the Supreme Court has
pronounced Constitutional. The liber
ties of the people the new Constitution
secures to them, and the Convention
then adopted another measure looking
to the prosperity Of West Virginia.
mean the mode of settling the State by
allaying the land titles. 1t is admitted
even by those who oppose the Constitu'
ton that the provisions Of the proposed
Constitution are calculated to drive the
land sharks out Of the State. He allu
ded to the Senator Morrill, case in Jack
son county, by which thirty families
who had settled aud improved the
farms in that county, had been driven
from their homes, and all because the
law allowed the outrage.
He referred to the homestead exemp'
ton law and said that he Endorsed every
word Of it.. The rich man, by the right
of dover in his wife, has an exemption
of one-third of all his possessions.
Now, said Mr.. Davenport, | propose
that the poor man shall have an equal
showing in the exemptions Of the law
with the rich man.
Mr.. Davenport made a full and
thorough argument, celebrating every
point OF the Constitution and making
every one OF its provisions clear and
pain 10 tue COul'lOutst UNDERSTANDING
Many, who in ignorance Of or misun.
Outstanding its provisions, intended to
vote against it, were convinced that
their duty to themselves required them
to vote for the new Constitution and
they so declared themselves.
Mr.. Dsvenports speech was q most
effective one, and had great effect on the
audience.
He was followed by Carl Neuhausen,
who, in speech of about half an hour
in the German language, made most
powerful speech.
Although it was very late, the people
were not satisfied. They called for E
G. Cracratt, ESQ.,, who, in answer to the
demand of the people, appeared and
made one Of his ringing, stirring
speeches with most happy effect.
The meeting wss in every particular
grand success, and We look for great