Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-01-30
Speech of hon. 9. ]. Faulkner Tenn
porary President Of the Convention,

1hN hsAEN s0aithougn my occupdtlun
of this position is but temporary. and only
preliminary to the permanent organization of
this body, yet as I have been Designated to
this place by the especial action of a large
majority of the individuals who compose this
Convention, 1T has been suggested that it
would not be in violation of good taste, but
on the contrary, that it was expected of me,
to make sonse remarks touching the very in-
teresting occasion which has brought us to-
geter. DIT is an undoubfed fact that this is
the first. fnllsapd perfect representation ofthe
lfpeople of West Virginia that has occurred
within our history. i do not allude to thisin
any spirit of complaint or reproach upon the
past, but simply to call your minds to an acs
knowledged fact, that it may the more im-
press Won with the importance and the digs
nifty of the high duties which now devolve
upon Won 1t has not yet been nine years
since that people whom W shave the honor to
represent in this assembly. acquiredthe rights
of q distinct and separate political community.
On existence as q State is connected with
events of transcendant'i interest in the life of
this nation. Tracing its origin to the con-
WILSON'S of the late civil war. the close of
that remarkable struggle gave permanency
and stability to the assertion of our right to
self,
Whatever differences Of opinion may have
existed at one fine in the minds of some men.
as TO the regularity of our admission into the
sister>hood of States, no such question exists
now. West Vireininia stands at the present
day, recognized, without controversy or dis
pute, at home and beyond her limits, as one
of the free equal and sovereign members of
that great confederacy Of republics, whose as.
sociated mower commands the respect alike of
tie civilized and barbarous world.
Ga,t1aua, tb;s 1oftr ,,,;t:o. r-I:t -
State has attained, as one ofthe acknowledged
members of the Federal Union, imposes a
high and corresponding obligation upon all
her citizens, to realize the dignity of her des>
tiny, and to speed her onward in the march
of material, moral and political Advancement.
The competition for pre-eminence in all the
industrial pursuits of life throughout this
great republic, is eager, earnest aud active
Unless We shape our policy and apply our en-
ergies to the same results, we shall fail to
perform that duty which the relation which
we now bear to the political system of this
country demands of us.
In territory and population we are not
among the largest of our sister States. Meth
er arc we among the smallest. We are
blessed with advantages that NAV we'll excite
our gratitude and thanks. Our lot is cast in
a temperate latitude. We enjoy an invigo-
rating atmosphere. and our territorial surface
is grandly diversified by mountain and vale.
Such of our lands as are not adapted for TIL
laee. are suited for pasturaee. Our popula-
ton is hardy, brave, enterprising, incorrupt.
We have abundant water power. Our bound
less forests hear unon their virgin bosoms the
accnmnlated wealth. of centuries. Nature has
benefcently scattered throughout our high.
lands the most attractive resorts of health and
pleasure. Our mineral treasure in quantity
and quality is not surpassed by any area Of
equal extent upon this continent; and we are
>" happily situated between the vallies of the
Ohio and Mississippi and the Atlantic sea-
hoard. as to compel the construction through
our territory. of the great highways of com
merce. without the imposition of any burdens
upon our people. These physical advantages.
striking as they undoubtedly are, would in
themselves be %fruitless without a civil govern
ment that will give contentment to our people
and invite population and capital from abroad.
10 attain this end, the preparation of a Com
stitntion suited to this State, is the object for
which you have been called together upop
this occasion. To accomplish tEi4 result. YOU
have been selected from the great mass of
your fellow citizens by a generous and dis
eliminating constituency. No more momen-
tous, no more honorable duty could have de-
volved upon you. You are not here to pass
| utuu ANY teuINEdTy measure OF PUBIC nOIIcV.
nor upon any ordinary act of legislative relief.
You arc here to lay broad and deep the founda-
tions of the social compact to place upon an
imperishab1e basis the rights of an entire peo-
pie to provide for the contingent and ever
recurring wants of a whole community; to
assign to the different departments of. admin.
istration the functions and duties peculiar to
each. and 40 to balance and adjust the COM
plex machinery of, your State Government,
that its parts shall work in harmony. and con
tribute to the welfare and happiness of all the
people. Gentlemen, these are labors worthy
of statesmen.
And. gentlemen, when you shall have pro-
coded to make a permanent organization of
your body by the election Of upright, COM
peteut and energetic officers when you shall
have performed that task. which has been en-
trusted to you by the people. aud which | am
sure you will discharge with fidelity to those
who sent you here when you shall have
framed an organic law under which all, with
out distinction, shall he secured in those fun
damental privileges which of right belong to.
the citizens of all free governments when
every crevice shall be closed through which
the subtle spirit of prescription may hereafter
reach its victim when you have placed the
public faith OF this State upon the high and
lofty basis of integrity and honor; when YOU
have distributed the different departments of
your government SO as to secure wise laws and
a pure and faithful administration of Justice:
when your county organizations shall be SO
devised as to render cheap and easy and IA
miliar to the people the administration of
their local concerns when the blessings of
free education, like the Jews of heaven. shall
be made to descend slike upon all who are
born and reared upon your soil then VIC may
all reasonably and naturally expect to see
peace and contentmept dwell in every cottage;
foreign labor and capital seeking fresh fields
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