The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-31
An Impartial Estimate of the New
Constitution.

An lmputtlul EsLlulhte OI inc NEW
Constitution.
NJ. F. NJ. CnALFGNT, Democrat and
an estimable gentleman, who has never
had anything to do with public life, has
written and circulated among his Demo.
cratic friends in Lewis the following let
ter, assigning reasons why he thinks it
would be misfortune to have the new
constitution ratified:
10 the td14pGying gOterS Of LelOis and ad.
joining countless.
AS one Of your number, neither seeking
nor desiring office at your hands, but feel.
ing an interest in the welfare Of our coun-
iy and State, looking with interest to the
welfare Of all, irrespective OF past preju.
dices, / send forth this circular. In so
doing,I am aware that my honest motives
will be impugned by various members Of
political factions Of the day; but my only
object Is self:intereSt, and your interest
being so closely identified with that OF
mine, calm reflection and good native
sense is oil that I ask you to bring into
requisition to judge Of what ! have to
say. .fs sol
The question is, "StaH zoe adopt tie
proposed ConStituti0lS" or, may ask, is
it our duty 10 dose? In speaking for my
self l say mo" for reasons plain and pal.
pable II think) TO every unbiased mind.
Our present Constitution, am free to ad.
init, is not perfect in every particular; but
wise provisions were left to amend with
out destroying the whole. But the pro.
posed Constitution destroys the whole,
and proposes new one, carrying with it
all that is detrimental to the best interests
Of the laborlng taxpayer, be. he in what
position in life he may. We live in an
age OF progression and liberal education;
but sad to the rejecting and progressive
mind, to various articles Of the proposed
Constitution, he finds that its projectors
have been slumbering-hke Rip Van
Winkle-wAile the world has been advan-
cling. IA
My reader, it is only necessary that you
read carefully the proposed judiciary sys.
tenn. ToadQpt 1t is only to carry you
baCkstO antediluvian times, when Clerks
Of Courts, Shcriffs and Attorneys grew fat
on your ignorance
Contrast, my fellow.citizens, our present
Judicial system with that previous TO the
formation Of the new State. l have no
opinion oil my own; but my object, as
stated being TO save myself from the
clutches Of the County Court Rings, l
appeal t0you TO read and reflect.
Then again, our much cherished School
System is greatly endangered by the
adoption oil the proposed Constitution
1t being at the mercy of the County
Courts, is it not seriously endangered? l
defy any man TO deny that the Free
School System is G.good one.. Like all
that is good, 1t 10 perverted-olten by de.
sign, and more frequently by the igno'
rance of its officers.
Citizens Of Lewis, rs your neighbor, as
one who feels deep interest in your wei.
fare, / ask you to calmly, soberly and
carefully read this projected instrument
OF torture and then vote as your honest
Judgment indicates. Party ties are bro
ken. We arc one people, struggling for
our best interests. So mark well your
duty, and act thereupon.
You, as farmers, mechanics and labor.
ing men, hayesn0t the time to give the
proposed Constitution your careful study.
But let me direct your minds simply to
the County Court system proposed by this
tOrturinEinslrument OF retrenchment and
REFORM lsO-callcd) Your present Board
OF Supervisors costs you 81 per day-the
County Court system 1874. The number
OF days are limited for the sessions OF the
Boards of, Supervisors-the proposed
County Court system places no limit upon
the length Of their sessions. But 1t is use
less to say more Many oil my readers
have passed through the harrassing ordeaI
Of the inquisitorial County Courts. Tt
them ] have only 10 say contrast the pres
ent with theipast / will not detail facts
and figures to show you why this proposed
Constitution should be rejected, but this
say, VOTE IT DOWN! Save to yourselves
$4,000 per annum. Add to this as 9
saving by its rejection the cost Of a new
code of laws and extra sessions of the
Legislature, making in all a saving 10 YOU
State, in ten years, the enormous sum oil
$275,000. These are matters for your
personal consideration, as you must pay II
or leave your native State.
II you desire your State to prosper il
tho future, vote down the Constitution.
II you want honest poor men to have
credit, vote down the Constitution, with
its 81 200 Homestead law.
1pray you, reflect before acting. Read
your present Constitution. Compare it
withthe oneiproposed.
This is q question Of vital Importance
to you, audit is wholly separate and dis
tinct from party issues and ties feel
confdant, my fellow. citizens, that you
will act wisely, judiciously and safely in
this matter. Reelection aud careful anal.
ysis Of the two Constitutions will deter.
mine and guideyou Alright on this lmpor.
tant question.
. My only object, Us before stated, is to
direct your minds to sober reflection be-
fore acting. Court House Cliques, Rings.
and the Party Lash, have ceased 10 rule
hemind Eof our people is progressive
and assumes its proper standard-self re-
lance. = Having confidence in Its own
strength, 1t lays out It's own course, and
pursues II with the honest purpose OF do
ing alone that which is rigt.
Your Fellow ax.Payer,
IL F. NJ CHALFANT.
WesIon, July II, 1872 .
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