The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-12
VOTE ron RATIFICATION.

VOTE FOR RATIFICATION.
Notwithstanding West Virginia is
neither . large nor . populous State
there are sections of the State and
classes of the population whose interests
are, to some degree, in conflict with
each other. In order to live together
in one community and under one COM
mon law, it is necessary that the people
of each section or those of each
peculisr opinion should surrender some
of their individual views for the sake Of
the general good. This is the law Of
all association, of all society, and il
cannot be disregarded i men are to live
together for the accomplishment of any
good purpose -....'.
In the Constitutional Convention last
winter, these sectional and individual
differences 81 opinion were brought
forth. Each point was tested by argu-
ment and Tire decision arrived at was
merely the voice Of the majority, the
supreme law in any popular gov
eminent. Each section of the Stats
through its representatives in the Con-
vention, vas required to surrsader some
thing in order to conform TO the will Of
the greater number.
Take, for instance, tie support Of the
Free Schools. Some we're opposed to
the eystem Of general taxation for pub
lie instruction, but q majority Of the
representatives was in is favor, and the
free school system was accordingly per-
petuated and improved Another in
stance is found in the manner Of voting
at popular elections. Some were In
favor OF the viva vocs method, but q
majority favored the ballot A com"
promise was agreed upon, allowing the
ballot to be open or secret just as the
voter may prefer. another instance is
afforded by the provision concerning
County Courts. Some of the people
desired restoration Of the "old County
Court system" a majority however
preferred County Court that should
be free from many Of the objections
urged against the old Virginia court;
but still left it optional with the people
of any particular county whether they
would adopt the system provided in
the Constitution, or not.
In fact, upon almost every important
clause Of the new Constitution there
was some difference of opinion in the
Convention and there is some division
of sentiment among the people Of the
State.
But what is now the duty of voters ?
Manifestly, if they would escape from
the present unjust aud onesided law; a
law which has been held to justify all
the test oaths, all the prescriptions, all
the villainies OF the registration act, all
the outrages which Radical politicians
have seen fit to perpetrate in the past,
they muet vote for the ratification Of
the new Consultation. No matter what
their individual opinion may have been'
no matter what they may have pre-
ferred concerning the County Courts
the Free Schools, the mode OF voting,
or any other subject that came under
discussion and was submitted to the will
of the majority. they must stand by the
universal rule Of all society and give
their influence for the greatest good.
All over the State are found men
who oppose this or that in the new
Constitution. They should reflect that
this a. we'll as all other instruments OF
the kind is merely the result OF a COM
promise and that it is quite impossible
for every individual to find all that he
wants in the Constitution ola State.
We exhort our readers therefore to
vote for the new Constitution as the
best organic la'o that can possibly be
framed in the present state Of public
sentiment, and as presenting many
features of improvement upon the
present Constitution. The events Of
the past have shown that the present
organic law is powerless to protect the
rights Of the people against the enact.
ment of test oaths and registration laws.
Whatever sins Of omission or of COM
mission the late Convention may have
been guilty OF. it certainly showed nc
favor to political prescription and fol
this, If for nothing else, it merited the
favor of the Democracy. Vote 'for
ratification" assured that the new Con.
stitution is very considerable improve
ment upon the old, and that it is the very
best organic law that could be framed
at this time.
MIR. cox NOT COMING.
A telegram was received from the