The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-12-18
REMOVING THE CAPITAL

The numerous contingencies tnat
beset the passage of the bill for the
removal of the State Capital render the
speedy success Of the measure some
what doubtful, aud add to the public
suspense. According to its terms, the
bill is to take effect on the Goth Of De-
cember, and, if the Charleston people
find that they cannot prevent its pas
sage by fair and direct vote upon the
merits OF the case, they will probably
resort to dilatory measures. If they
can stave of the action OF the Senate
for . few days, they will thereby compfl
The friends of the bill to amend it by
naming another day than the Goth OF
De cember as the time when the seat of
the State government shall be trans
terred from Charleston to Wheeling, and
will thus secure an opportunity for re-
newing the struggle in the House OF
Delegates. Will they be able to &C.
complish this9
1t is reported that one of the Char
lesion members voted with the majority
on last Monday, in order to be In posi-
ton to move the reconsideration OF the
vote that passed the bill. The rules OF
the House permit this motion to be
made within two days after the taking
of the vote that is to be reconsidered
The Clerk of the House is not friendly
to removal and will doubtless do all
that be can legally 10 to delay the pros
ceedings, and in this he will be seconded
nv the Clerk Of the Senate who Is also
An opponent of the bill. Unless some
Of the friends of the bill insisted upon
it's prompt communication to the Senate
Immediately upon its passage by the
House last Monday, it is possible that
il NAV be withheld by the Clerk until
to-day or tomorrow. Suppose, then,
Il receives its first reading in the Senate
on tomorrow; it's second reading NAV
he had on Friday; and the bill
NAV he passed on Saturday. If
the friends Of removal have
that majority in the Senate which they
have claimed, but which remains yet to
be seen; and if every man stands
squarely up to the work and votes as
his constituents expect him to vote; the
bill may be finally passed by the Senate
next Saturday, but it is not likely that
il can be acted upon day sooner. We
must bear in mind also its liability to
amendment while being considered the
second time, and must make allowance
for the persistent effort that will be made
10 effect combination between Charles
ION and Parkersburg, or Charleston and
Grafton, to make some alteration IN
the terms Of the bill that will send it
back to the House in which it origin
ated.
Under the most favorable circum-
stances and with the most faithful and
persistent efforts that can be put forth
by the friends OF removal, we can
scarcely expect that the bill will
pass the Senate earlier than Saturday,
December q. 1t then goes to the
Governor, to whom three modes of dis
posing Of it are open. He may either
sign it at any time within FIVE days from
the time of its passage Excluding Sun
day.; or he may return it to the House
with his objections; or he may refuse
to either sign it or send it back. In
the first case, it would become a law
Immediately when signed; in the Sec
ond case, the bill would have to be
passed second time by majority Of
each branch of the Legislature in the
third case, the bill will become law
at the expiration of five days from its
massage, not counting Sunday. 1t is
hard to tell what Governor jACoR will
do in relation to the matter. He is
generally understood to be opposed to
removal. but we think it scarcely
probable that be will send the bill back
for reconsideration. From what we
know Of the character of the man, we
are inclined to think that ne is likely
to refuse to sign, but will maintain bis
favorite neutrality by doing nothing
and permitting the bill to become law
by the lapse Of time. At all events, II
is entirely within his power to prevent
the bill from becoming law for five
DAYS after its passage, and II, as We
have supposed, it is not passed by the
Senate until next Saturday, the five
DAYS will not begin to run until the iol
lowing Monday. December 23d, and
will not expire until December 9th
one day later than tie time fired in he
biz for the legal transfer OF the State
Capital.
And here an interesting question may
arise as to the validity of the law. Its
adoption IS not perfect until the expira-
ton % the five days referred to, and it
is by no means improbable that this
will he beyond the time named in the
hill itself 20 the dav when l. shall take
nh.n, We do mt think thnt his Will