Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-08-20
"REASONS;WH

We wish we had the time and space to
answer, line by line, a little pamphlet that was
handed us last week from the Post Office, en-
titled "Reasons why the new Constitution
should not be adopted" The writer starts
out with acknowledging that s'some time ago
there was dissatisfaction in some portions of
the State with the constitutional restriction on
the right of suffrage, prohibiting persons who
had been engaged in the late rebellion O
from voting;" but declares that this restric-
tion had been removed by what was called the
"Flick Amendment" We all know that Gov.
Stevenson, either Intentionally or unintention-
ally, failed to publish that amendment in some
of the newspapers of the State, as long as re-
quired by our present Constitution and con-
sequently there is some doubt as to whether
that amendment was constitutionally adopted.
If we fail to ratify our new Constitution and
the Supreme Court of the State should decide
that the "Flick Amendment" was not adopted
according to constitutional provision, away
would go the right of all who participated in
the rebellion" tovote. The writer then says
that COLLECTIONS also formerly existed to GER
tain test-oaths" declaring that these were not
required by the present Constitution that
they were the 'creatures of statute law and
had all been repealed several years ago.
Truethey were NOT commanded by the present
Constitution, and they have all been repealed
by a Democratic Legislature. But il 10 just
because they were permitted by our existing
Constitution, that all liberal minded men wish
to place it beyond the power Of any future
Legislature to say that, unless We can swear
that we never sympathised with the "rebel-
lion," we shall not recover our just debts in an
action at law, or bring suit in equity we
shall not practice the profession Of a lawyer;
we shall not have the privilege Of teaching
free school; we shall not qualify as executors
or administrators, and so on, almost adj in>
tinitun.. As the Constitution now stands the
very first Legislature that thinks proper so to
do, may re-enact all of those odious test. oaths
We do not wish to live with some Of our
dearest rights as citizens at the mercy of any,
and every Legislature. The writer of the
pamphlet then says that tho registration laws
have all been repealed. True enough, but
unless we ratify our new Constitution the
very next Legislature, if it should think
proper to do so, may re>enact them. We are
next told that at the time of calling the Con-
stitutional Convention we "were contented,
happy and prosperous" If that be true, it
was in consequence of Democratic Conserv-
alive Legislature having swept away the test
osths permitted by our present Constitution
We are next told that not single petition for
Convention had been presented by the peo
pie to the Legislature, and that nine>tenths of
them were not aware that the Legislature in>
tended to call Convention. Admitting i. to
be true, what odds does it make? In strict
accordance with the provisions of our present
Constitution, the Legislature asked the peo-
pie if they desired a Convention to change
our present Constitution. The people an
swered in the affirmative. That was suficient>
ly indicative Of their desire on the subject
We are further told that "the question had
never been discussed before them" When
the Legislature passed the law providing that
polls should be held throughout the State for
the purpose of taking the sense of the voters
on tho question of calling a Convention,
speakers were appointed by the Executive
Committees of the several counties, to dis
cuss the propriety of changing the present
Constitution and the demeriss and merits of
that instrument were thoroughly ventilated
before tho people. The people were thorough.
ly disguised with the present Constitution, be-
cause they voted to call Convention to frame
an entirely new one. But we have not the
space to show up further the inaccuracies in
the statements, and the unfairness and incon-
clusiveness of the argument-where argus
ment is attempted-of the pamphlet entitled,
"Reasons why the new Constitution should not
be adopted" Lest some one should be mis-.
led by the false estimate made at the end of
this pamphlet, of the comparative expense Of
the two Constitutions, We give below fair es.
timato of the annual saving by the new Con-
Cost of continuing 1850 causes ono year SIS $780, 90
Difference between cost of County Court
and Board ofSupervisors, one year, 1880 90
Difference in judges salary and mile
age....-.: ....:.........---...-. 800 90
Dinsrenoo OF Executive ofnees.....-... s7l.43
Difference OF Loeissturs each year..... 7.Ol6.77
Postage to members Of Legislaturs....- $500
Amount saved by BIENNIAL instead ofan.
nual elections, which 10 one-haH Of
- S!o'eoo........ -.'....:......-..->-- 100000