The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-21
TfIk: CANVASS.
Tn- Camp Ign in the Second District
Hon. .MantsOmery RIafr In Pied


Hon. .M.mi.Onery RIair In Pied.
mont.
The Hon Montgomery Blair visited
Piedmont on Friday evening last and
addressed large crowd OF our citizens
Mr. D q Maupin in Introducing him
10 the audience said.
Fellow citizens, we are on the eve Of
one OF tie most important elections ever
held in this State 1t is important that
the people should thoroughly v under
.,aai the questions at issue between
the conteuiiug parties. Governor j..
!. Ia'rh l" independent candidate
10. tur uIhc.. lac now hu,d>, IN opr"-r
ION 10 the regular Democratic nominee
Johnson y. Camden This effort on
the part OF Governor Jacob aided by
the Radicals to divide and distract the
Democratic PARTY deserves the severest
insure that the people may have
nght upon the issues involved in this
canvass. distinguished speakers have
been invited to come among us and
favor IL with their views. and lay before
the people the reasons why they should,
st this particular juncture in our politi
cal at .irs, rally around the regular
-randard bear er of the party. The i'm
rnrtauce of the election about 10 take
Place and the interest felt in the success
Of the Democratic party throughout the
Union aimonish u o. the necessity OF
4, q
banner OF Democracy borne by that
true gentlemen and gallant Democrat,
Johnson y. Camden. | therefore,
fellow citizens, take pleasure in intro
ducing TO YOU this distinguished gentle
man from Maryland, Hon. Montgomery
Blair.
Mr.. Blar said;
FSliosC Citizens of West Virginia
Ii NAV seem to be presumption to
come among YOU to advise you upon
the question Of the election OF ycur
Governor and the adoption OF the new
Constitution, and it would be presump-
ton il these questions were OF local and
not universal interest. Those who look
on at q i stance, and survey the matter
ispassiouatelv, form more just appre-
r.ation OF the principles involved than
tuose most interested. AS citizens OF
MARYLAND we feel deep interest in
your welfare; but, the feeling in this
contest is not confined to my State; it Is
An interest that extends throughout ev-
rrv portion OF the Union. You noticed
the absorbing interest taken by the
people in the North Carolina eiec-
ton. Was it because OF any par
tcurar interest in the success
OF Merrimou or Caldwell? ? No. The
people al large were no more interested
IN their election tnan they are IN the
election Of Mr.. Camden or Jacob.
Why, then, has public feeling been so
aroused? 1t is because in this contest
the vital principles Of government are
called in question, and as my honorable
friend, Mr.. Maupin, who opened this
meeting, said, il is great question
which demands your consideration.
referring TO the new Constitution, he
laid it embodied the great principles
which underlie the Constitutions OF all
the States, the principles of American
liberty, and the principles we have in
heritrl from our forefathers The effect
of bad laws is TO deaien mems sense OF
Justice. Who among his auditors,
would like his house invaded, his per
son arrested, aud the Legislature have
the power TO do these things without
having his case passed upon judicicaly?
These things had been done. The new
Constitution now contains a provision
which says that the h1teas corpus cannot
Ice suspended.
The homestead law is provision
that j. found in many Of tne Consttu-
tons OF the States Of the Union. The
abest men of those States correctly be-
leved that the foundation OF States are
laid in Just laws, and among these laws
: one guaranteeing security OF property.
The homestead law was one Of the ele-
ments that had built up Missouri and
made it the fourth State in the Union.
In mineral wealth West Virginia
is excelled by 20 State on the continent.
Emigration is what it most needs to
haild it up and develop its wonderful
resources. In the Constitution every
inducemeut is held out to foreign
ers to come and purchase land
and dwell among you; yet you have
been told to vote against 1t because 1t
has been framed by Democrats. -
A great portion Of the time OF the
Legislature was consumed in special
legislation. The new Constitution
expressly prohibits this practice.
The theory Of government which
our fathers, entered upon in framing
our National Constitution was, that the
powers of government rested with the
people, ard ascended from them to their
officers. This is the grand pediment
upon which popular government rests.
The opposite theory, which they found
in existence, was, that power descended
from above % the people. The former
was the theory OF self government, the
latter the theory Of GENERALIZATION, OF
one-man power. What have we wit
messed 10 this country Men in power
prescribing who shall vote, and aiding
IN their own election by means OF the
United States army. Europe never
witnessed greater example OF absolute
government than that which has been
exhibited in this country. True, we
keep up the appearance of free govern.
ment, and the old forms of free elections