Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-04-09
Letter from. a Member Of the CongtituCL-E
tional Convention.
CHARLESTON, w. Va. =
March 90 1870

SaAhLEsToS,; w. Va
March 30, 1872
To lie Editor Of The ss;piyfs of .Je6sr.o,,s!.
Your issue of the 26th inst. reached sher.
this evening, and is alwaJ a welcome ,osii,or.
! We like to know what is going ,on in .Je fer
son, and what the good people of thIt county
think of our proceedings here.
observe in your paper . letter from our
friend John a. Thomson, Esq, addressed to
Col. Wilson, member of the Convention. in
which, with his characteristic vigor and elm
he attacks one of the provisions embracedsin.
the report upon the legislative Department.
All who are acquainted with Mr.. Thomson
know the frankness and integrity of his char
acter and while they may not altogether ac-
cord with him in his communists ideas, they
will do him the justice to believe that he
would not Intentionally misreprssent the ae-
tion of the Convention, or, to use one of his
own classical quotations, spargere dnsbigtds
uoces to its injury. He is too familiar with
the writings Of Plato aud Aristotle, aud with
the ethics of Seneca and Cicero, not to have
fashioned his polemics by higher and more
elevated standard
Mr.. Thomson has wholly misconceived the
purpose and character of the paragraph which
he Daispuotes. It was introduced into the bill
as an amendment by Mr.. Traver,, of your
county, and whilst have not seen him since
have read the Spirit, am sufficiently con-
versant with its history to enable me to give
true explanation of its object and purpose
had occasion, in some remarks which
made to the Convention to develop the per-
nicious character of tn. special legislation
which has marked this State for the last eight
years under our present constitution In
doing 80, among many other illustration. which
gave of the character of this special lesis>
lation, stated that there were three distinct
acts of limitation applicable to the same form
OF action in different sections of this State,
and that the rate Of interest, as prescribed by
the general law of the State, was altered and
repealed in particular counties by special acts.
Thus, in the county of Monroe, there was a
special provision made authorizing ten per
cent. interest to be given. Shortly after
taking my seat, Mr.. Travers introduced his
amendment tor bidding the Legislature, among
other similar prohibitions, to pass any local or
spcc'ot law, regulating the rate of interest
Now it occurs to e-that this was a wise
and expedient limitation of legislative power,
and L think there is nothing. in the object,
purpose, or effect of that paragraph to justify
MIR. Thomson in charactcrizng the author and
supporters of it as ssubte rascals'' who ode
sign to cheat the people" or as "cunnins ras.
Gals" who are seeking s.to humbus the pso
PIE, anu 10 NIL their own pockets"
1t would BIO difficult for Dir. Thomson IN
show how the people are to be humbugged
and cheated by the stern and inexorable pro-
visions which we have adopted to put stop
to all special legislation, which, in every State
III which it has been permitted has been the
pregnant source Of fraud, bribery and corrup-
ton.
i have been highly gratified at the fair, inst
and dignified course which has marked the
public Journals in the county of Jefferson
toward the Constitutional Convention now in
session. You have not pre- judged us upon
imperfect and mntilated information. Yon
have laid before your readers extracts from
the official Journals, authenticated documents.
and correctly reported speeches, leaving to the
people to form their judgments upon proper
evidence, and reservipg your own opinions of
our work until it shall be completed, and sub
mltted to your approval. This course. think,
is due to those to whom you have con6ded
this delicate and responsible trust.
IT our friend Thomson, instead of writing
and publishing such rabii letters impugninc
the motives and conduct of the convention,
will meet US fairly in public discussion before
the pcopfe OF tho county, think we shall be
able to satisfy even him that this constitution
will contain in it no provision which will
enable "cunniDg rascals to fill their pockets by
cheating and humbugging the people"