Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-02-13
THE CONVENTION


ing Register, under date of the LIST instant,
gives the following. in which is embodied a
well.merited compliment to our Senatorial
Delegate to the Convention, the Hon. Vim.
n. Travers -
The work of the Convention is getting
pretty well formed, and to-day Mr.. Woods,
from the committee on Bill of Rights aud
Elections, made a report. The paper is
lengthy and bears the marks of a good deal
of care and study, and in its main features
meets with general appreciation. There is a
minority report, signed by two members of
the committee, as to the method of voting.
The majority favor the secret, s~tealti.y, ballot
system, while the minority prefer the open,
manly 0ica Uoce system. If the motto of our
State is not a u onstrous falsehood why.should
not freemen stand up in the broad light of
day before God and in the presence of their
fellows. execute that privilege which is theirs
in this particular, n" necessity of incorpora-
ting imported New Englandisms in the or.
ganic laws.
Mr.. johnson. of Wood, from the commit
tee on the Executive Department, &C., also
laid before the Convention the result of their
labors.' The plan adopted by the committee
provides for a Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
Aud tor. Treasurer and Attorney General, to
hold their Offices for four years. and to be
ineligible for four years thereafter. It pro-
vides for the appointment of all officers not
made elective, by the Governor, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, and
gives to the Governor both an absolute and a
discriminating veto power. The salary of
the officers above named is fixed at $4,000,
$1,000, Sl40G, $500 and $1,000. the Lieu
fnnnut .
sation than his per diem. The Governor.
however, is allowed $1,000 per year house
rent, until an Executive Mansion is built for
his use. This report seems to meet with but
little opposition as yet. although I eau hardly
tell what will develop itself when the matter
has been discussed.
The same gentleman made an additional re.
port on a resolution as to the expediency of
prohibiting the Governor from becoming a
candidate for United States Senator while in
office, but as the gentleman believes like n
distinguished gentleman of your city, who
has no hump on his back, in being a candidate
first, last and all the time, lie reported it in
eXpedient to act upon it.
The report of the committee on Taxation.
&c, which was submitted: yesterday, was
made the special order for Monday next at
lo O'Clock, when it will be taken up and dis
cussed seriat'n. Mr.. Travers will open the
DEBATE IN favor OF the article as reported. and
to whatever subject he chooses to discuss he.
brings a clear. strong intellect, large ex.
nerience, profound research and a pleasing
flow or language, almost classic in it's purity.
The discussion on this proposition will not
last long. [ think, as it meets with general an.
probation in all its main features. and after
that Is disposed of the report on Election and
hi'i OF flights Will come up then [ fear nv
prediction as to the talking talent will he
made good, Tor not less than twenty gentle-
men with a hankering after notorietv and dc.
sire to convince "all the world and the rest of
mankind of their pre-eminent ability are
proposing to inflic. themselves upon the Con-
v%ent'on, and we can only pray from such evils
good Lord deliver US.
The same correspondent, under date of the
Sd Instant, says:-
No business of interest was transacted in
the Convention other than the report from
the on the Legislative Department
w"lch, through their chairman, Mr.. uay-
mond, was submitted tn the House Ttisa
very lengthy document, and willie I do not
endorse all the provisions which it contains
1t is likely to be adopted in all its main nr,n.
oslf1"ns. 1t provides for a Senate TO consist
OF twenty four members, whose term of office
Is four years, and a House of Delegates to
consist OF sixty>fve members to hold their
ofhce for two years. The State is divided
INTO twelve Senatorial Districts as follows =
f'rst District Hancock, Brooks and Ohio
counties; Second Marshall, Wetzel and
Marion Third-Ritchie, Doddridge. H,rr;
son, Gilmer and Calhoun Fou,th-Tvler.
Peasants, Wood and Writ ; = son
Mason. Putnam and Roane; Sixth-Kano.
VIVA. Clay. Nicholas and Braxton Seventh
-'abell, Wayne, Lincoln. Boone. Lo.ap
Wyoming, Mcdowell aud Mercer: Eighth
Monroe, Hrecnbrier, Summers. Pncahortas
Webster, Faye'te and Raleigh; Ninth
Lewis, Randolph, Upshur, Barbour. TAYLOR
and Tucker; Tenth-Preston. and Monon>
gala; Eleventh-Hampshire, Mineral, HARDY.
Grant and Pendleton; Twelfth
Morgan and Jefferson:
The Delegates are appointed MS follow
First delegate District-Wood and Pleasants
-. Second-Ritrhie and Calannn-2-
Barbour and Taylor-1. Fourth
X nawha and CLAW 8. Fihh-Randolph
and lucker-l. Sixth-Pocahontas and
Webster-l. Seventh-McDowell and Wv.
"ln'ne-l: The COMMITTEES of berkeley, Har..
rlson, Jefferson, Marion, Marshall. Mason
Mononsalia and Preston, two each. Ohio
county, four, and all other counties in the
State one each, making sixty five, an increase
of nine.
The members are to receive four dollars rer
diem and mileage at ten cents per mile, an
increase OF one dollar per dav.
1t provides for biennial sessions, to com.
'nencc on the Third Tuesday of November.
and last forty. five days, as now, with similar
provisions TOR extending the session by a two
thirds vote and for calling special sessions.
1t further provides that no person who is an
officer OF the United States or of any FOREIGN
Government, or who holds a place or Office of
trust or e%moInment under the State, or who
Is a satarled officer of auy railroad corporation.
or sheriff constable, recorder or clerk of a
court OF record, or who is a minister or nriest