The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-02

/ WOulQ nave Deen eCOuOIny, anu huO"
| il would have been discretion, to have
permitted the previous question to be
called by a much less number than that
prescribed.
Just now we are froze up. The "per-
manent seat" is certainly permanent"
just now and go are visitors, and
Charleston is a good deal like bad
habits-mighty easy to get in but id
hard to get out. 1oRlcK.
The Cold Snap and the Mails-specu-
lations ConeerninE the New Con-
stitutton--r he House Resolution
OF Adjournment.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Jan. &C.
During the past week old rye has
been active. Hot drinks have gone
down briskly, but holders have been
unsteady. So long as the present cold
snap continues, as far as mail facilities
are concerned, we might as we'll be
wandering on "Greenland's icy noun
tains." There has been no mail for
two days, and if this reaches you before
harvest shall have reason to congratu-
late myself. The arrangements for
carrying the mail are simply abomin-
able. The contract is for daily mail
from Gallipolis. Yet am informed
that during the winter season it has
never been complied with, and we are
suffering some Of the evils resulting
from this state of things now. The
latest edition of your paper which has
reached me is that of the 18th, and as
the Kanawha is frozen up, it will prob
ably be a week before | gee another
copy.
ton to-day, the session lasting but about
an hour. The pent-up thunder of the
members seems to have exploded itself
on yesterday on the flag resolution, and
the members have not yet recovered
from the exhaustion incident to the
great mental strain which the consider
alton Of that weighty and important
subject entailed upon them.
The body ia, however, in running
order and the committees are laborlng
to adjust the immense amount of work
that has been suggested to them by
resolutions. At present all speculation
as to the character of the Constitution
which they will present to the people
is premature, but l think it is definitely
settled that the entire Judiciary system
will be recognized, the number OF
Circuit Judges reduced to not more
than eight and they compelled to hold
two terms OF court in each county
during the year. The old County Court
system has many friends and many
bitter opponents, and it is probable that
that system, modified in such respects
as it can be improved upon, will be
adopted. The Executive Department
will be modelled much after that OF
Ohio, and the Governor and State
officers will hold their positions for
four years. The Legislature will hold
biennial sessions, subject to the power
vested in the Governor to call them
together at any time he deems necessa-
ry for the public veal. The basis OF
representation bids fair to be the bone
of contention in this as it was in the
Convention Of 1850 and presents many
difficulties. No county is 80 small or
80 sparsely populated but what it
has local interests which demand an
Immediate representative and it is hardly
to be supposed that those counties hav-
ing large population, will be content to
surrender the power they now have in
the Legislature. Yet, if Delegate is
given to each county, and the same
number Of Delegates allowed for excess
of population as now, the House would
not only be very large, but it would add
very materially to the expense Of its
sessions. 1t is probable that some COM
promise of this character will be adopt
ed, and that each county will have one
Delegate, and one additional for every
ten thousand population. That pro-
vision will be made for thorough and
efficient free school system, all admit.
Indeed, I have conversed with no mem
Der who is not in favor of this; but
as to the minutiR, | can form no opln-
ion. These provisions, it is generally
conceded, will be adopted, and while it
is impossible to predict the precise
terms or manner in which they will be
incorporated, l have no hesitancy in
saying that it may be safely left to the
wisdom of the Convention. Every one
admits, who knows anything OF the
matter, that it is by far the ablest body
of men ever assembled in this State, and
as a whole, admirably calculated for
the purpose for which it was called.
The old, staid, dignifed and intellectual
members will act as checks upon the
impetuosity Of their youngers, while the
latter will stir up the former and pre-
vent the infusion of too much OF the
spirit Of past old fogyism.
In the House to-day large amount
of business was done, and the bills in
troduced already reach one hundred.
The joint resolution to adjourn sine die
on the 18th of February was reported
BY the Judiciary committee with a rec
ommendation that it pass. This created
a very spicy debate in which several
of the members participated. Mr..
Barr, in reporting it, advocated its pass
age with the same ability with which
he opposed it a day or two ago. Mr..
West, who by-the-way is one Of the
most sensible men in the House moved
to make it the special order for Feb
ruary IA. He was in favor Of an early
adjournment, but did not desire to
pledge himself to adjourn at certain
day, before he knew what legislation
would be necessary. The resolution
was finally adopted and goes to the
Senate for its action, While it is
biphly proper that the Legislature