The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-15
The Next Election.

The State OF West Virginia holds an cleo
ton on the 22l OF August. 1t will be diff
cult, probably, to draw from the result any
valuable inference OF the strength OF the Re-
| publican or the Liberal and Democratic
party in that region, for the issues are en-
tirely loSa|, and neither the Grant Republi-
cans nor the Liberals have made any nomi-
nations for State officers. The principal
issue is the acceptance or rejection OF q new
constitution, proposed by the convention
which met at Charleston last January. This
instrument makes no radical change in the
organic law, and contains no provisions OF
partisan character but there is section,
to be voted OIL separately, which excludes
.colored men from Office. There is no pro-
liability OF this section being carried. The
Democrats as body favor the new consti.
tuition; the Republicans as body oppose it;
but this division will not be strictly observ-
ed, and the vote will be governed in great
measure by local and class interests. The
new constitution, however, provides for
new set of Stale officers, and changes the
time OF holding The general election from Oc-
tober to August; 80 that governor and
other functionaries will he chosen on the
22d, to take Office in case the constitution
should be adopted, while ifit be rejected the
present incumbents will hold over. Three
Congressman are likewise to he voted for
Professionally. II the constitution FAIL their
election vii! be void, and they must run
again il October Thus it will he seen that
there is prospect OF abundant local excite
| ment, though the issues have little signit-
canoe to the rest OF the Union.
| The Grant Republican Convention, which
mel at Grafton on the 23d OF May and chose
delegates to Philadelphia, passed resolu-
tion refusing to recognize the new constitu-
tion as party question, and adjourned
without making any nominations for State
| officers. The Democratic Convention as
sembled at Parkersburg, May 80, approved
the new constitution, and nominated for
Governor Mr.. johnson N. Camden. Soon
afterward the present incumbent, Governor
John J. Jacob a Democrat, and an unsuc-
cessful aspirant REORGANIZATION, organized
q bolt and entered the field as an indepen.
dent Democratic candidate Since then q
curious variety OF combinations have been
made for the purpose OF concentrating upon
Jacob the whole Republican and part OF
tho Democratic vote No fewer than four,
and we believe five, independent tickets have
been nominated, each with Jacobs. name at
the head, and all manner of names for the
bsdy and the tail. There are straight Grant
Republican tickets with Jacob; straight
Confederate Bourbon tickets with Jacob;
| eclectic tickets with Jacob; Greeley tickets
with Jacob; moderate Democratic tickets
with Jacob. Moreover, there are secret par
gains with friends and foes OF the Conven-
ton, and such dickering OF August votes
against possible October sotes that all cal
cuIations based upon the relative strength OF
parties are utterly futile. l. is certain that
Jacob will get the entire Grant Republican
vote; the Liberal Republicans will sustain
Camden; the result depends upon the ex-
tent to which Jacob may be able to divide
the Democrats. The nominations Tor Con-
gress are not complete. In respect to them