The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-15
CHARLESTON.
Debate In The COuvenfiOn-An on.
line of Some Of the constitutional
Changes PrOposed-Generai Char
acter of the Convention and Hts
Members-The Legislature Won't
Adjourn.

Adjourn.
CHARLESTON, February 10, lS12.
Editors OF the Register:
The Convention has been engaged
for several days in q discussion upon
various propositions contained in the
report of the committee on the Bill OF
Rights. The debate has at times been
able, at times lively and rather spicy,
and altogether interesting. Considerable
orthe time was spentiin considering the
section proposed, as the seventh section
of Art. II, as follows:
!. Private property shall not be taken
or damaged for public use without just
compensation, nor shall the same be
taken or damaged by any company in
corporated for the purpose OF internal
Improvement until just compensation
shall be paid to the owner; and when
private property is to be taken or dam
aged for public use or for the use OF such
corporation, the compensation to the
owner shall be ascertained by an i'm
partial jury OF twelve freeholders, in
such manner as may be prescribed 10y
law
One class, favorable TO the building Of
new railroads and anxious to see the
undeveloped sections OF our State check
cred with iron rails, favored the inser-
ton OF the simple clause found in our
present Constitution and in the ConSti
tutions of most other States, to wit {;
Private property shall not be taken
for public use without just compe"sa-
ton.
Others who avow themselves no less
friendly to railroads, who think they
love railroads none the less, but love
the people more, argued tor the adop.
ton of the report Of the committee.
The discussion was had in committee
of the Whole, andas the committee has
not, up to this writing, made a final
report to the Convention, that body has
taken no formal action upon the mat
ter. | understand, however, that the
section as printed above will probably
be in substance adopted
The proposed sixteenth section, which
quote below, elected rather a spicy
passage between Mr.. Hagans, of Mo-
nongalia, and Mr. Woods, of Barbour.
The former thought it was well known
that in times of war constitutions were
but ropes Of sand. The latter thought
that be who so taught was an enemy Of
free government, and that the party
that so acted was guilty Of Infamous
usurpation. The section is as follows:
l6. The provisions of the Constitu-
ton of the United States and OF this
State apply as well in time Of war as IN
time OF peace, and any departure there
from, or violation thereof, under the
plea of necessity or any other plea, is
su5versive of good government, and
tends TO anarchy and despotism.
| believe it is generally understood
that the time OF holding our general
elections will be changed to the second
Tuesday of October, instead Of the
fourth Thursday, as now; that the
terms of the State officers will com
mence on the 18th day Of January fol-
lowing, instead of the 4th Of March, as
at present; that the Legislature will
meet but once in two years, instead OF
every year. that the terms OF members
OF the House Of Delegates will, conse,
ouently, be extended to two years, and