The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-19
CHARLESTON.
rhe Convention--PersOnai Para
graphs Concerning Prominent
E Meu-ProSress Ofthe work.

II is seldom find time to visit the
hall and hear the debates which have
been going on in the Constitutional
Convention, but on Saturday last stole
one hour from other duties to visit a
session ofthis body. l shall not attempt
to tell you all that I saw and heard in
. that sixty minutes. for l heard some
things too wise for my plain comPre-
heusion, and others too silly to read
well in print
The first part Of the debate was on
the subject of CT post taeto and retro
spectiye laws. Some Of the members
understood perfectly what these terms
imply, and others were anxious
to find out. Among the forme-
who expressed their views with
clearness and precision in relation
to this matter, were General Wheat, OF
your city, Ma jor Matthews, Of Lewis
burgh, and Hon. A. Raymond, of
Marion; among the latter, who are
anxiously inquiring after information,
was Mr.. Pierce, Of Mineral, who is
chiefly distinguished beyond other men
by his Jonathan.like love for Hoo.
VIM. &c. Brown, of Preston. Mr.. P.
has had some experience in the er post
facto business. When he started in
search OF his rights in the territories
he knew there was no existing law that
forfeited his property, as the penalty OF
taking the excursion but after he came
back he found that by some er post
facto retrospective Operation he had
lost his rights in the States VIM:
g. Brown was an attorney who assisted
at the forfeiture; and hence VIM. &
greatly endeared himself TO and IS
heartily beloved by Mr.. P.
Having told you all | know about
Mr.. Peerce, may as well tell you some
thing OF Mr.. Brown.
HON. WI. G. BROWN
lives in the county OF Preston. He is
a man OF probably sixty-fve years Of
age, over forty years OF whose life have
been devoted to the law and politics.
By dint OF hard labor and by close at
tention to the interests OF his clients he
succeeded reasonably well as lawyer,
and by the exercise Of well developed
bump OF shrewdness and cunning,
coupled with a goodly substratum OF
common sense, he has filled-and filled
them with credit-several posts Of
honor and trust at the hands of the
people. Notwithstanding he has on
two or three occasions been chosen to
position BY the people outside Of the
Democratic organization, Mr.. Brown
has always been at heart a Democrat.
He has been regarded as tricky, by
MANY who did not know him well, but
believe he is an honest, well-meaning
mana man Of kind heart and proper
impulses. He was elected to this Con-
vention by the Radicals, and has, prob
ably unconsciously, or rather not from
his own choice, ranged himself as one
Of the twelve followers Of the lost
cause" Of prescription. In the old
Methodist Church in which the Con-
veution meets, Mr.. Brown occupies a
prominent seat in one "amen corner
facing Hon. Waitman T. Wiley, who
eloquently holds a place in the other
Mr.. B. always wears his overcoat and
scarf when in his seat, as if he hadn't
come t. stay long. When he rises TO
speak, which is about as o ten as he
can get the floor, and breaks forth in
his drawing, nasal tone, it requires an
effort to shake offan impression that YOU
are not in general class meeting" |
undertook to count the number OF times
he had the floor during the hour /
remained, and when / got up to thirteen
my attention was attracted by a dCci-
sive Mr.. President" which l at once
recognized as the well known voice Of
HON. CHARLES JAMES FAULKNER,
who occupies seat in the extreme rear
of the hall. Mr. Faulkner is seventy
years old; as sprightly, clear-headed
and with voice as firm as though he
were but forty. To say that Mr.. F. is
q gentleman Of fine ability, is but to
repeat what every intelligent man in
the country knows-for his reputation is
national; aye, it is, in a sense, world
wide, for he long represented this gov
eminent with distinguished success at
the polished Court OF St. Cloud. He is
a man Of unusual energy and industry.
I doubt if there are many men living
who have worked so many hours, and
with greater benefit to his mind and
fortune, than has Mr.. Faulkner His
mind is we'll stored; his manners are
most polished and courtly; and his
fortune all that a gentleman could
desire. He seldom speaks in this Con-
vention, but when he does it is with
precision, elegance and effect. Mr.,
Faulkner is one Of the delegates from
the Berkeley and Jefferson distric:. His
colleague is
HOY. WA. II. TRAvERs,
of Jefferson. Mr.. Travers is in the
prime and vigor of life; is lawyer OF
distinction, and man Of high char
acter. He. too, is a worker-not much
given to talk. A valuable committee.
man, he is a valuable member of the
Convention. Although his voice is not
often heard in wordy debate, yet the
good work OF his well-stored mind and
judicious labor, will be felt years after
heis gone hence. =,
/ cast my eyes over the seventy-eight
members here assembled. and select
twelve or fifteen men OF mark; few of
these are young men, but they will be
we'll known in the future. Among the
latter will mention
MAJ. HENRY MASON MATHEWS,
of Greeubrier. He Is a good thinker,
methodical reasoner, and an effective
debater. He is no "babbling brook"