The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-29
ADDRES@
OF the Democratic State Executive
Committee Of West Virginia.

importance, not merely to the contin.
ued organization Of the Democratic aud
Conservative party Of the State, but to
the peFPotuution Of the true principles
Of constitutional government.
A new Constitution, the careful work
of some Of tho ablcst men Of West Vir-
ginia, will be presented for adoption or
rejection by the people, and, at the
same time, all the State, county and
Judicial officers for which it provides
arc to be elected
The Convention by which this Con-
stitution was framed was OF Democratic
suggestion aud assembled under the
auspicc, of that party. I, accepts the
full responsibility of all the provisions
of tina. Constitution, aud claims that in
the changes aud reforms in tho organic
law which the present, the safety of
tho State, they liberty Of tho citizen and
the prosperity Of the people have been
guarded with an anxious care, not only
inspired by the time.h onorcd principles
Of constitutional government, but sug.
gcsted BY history Of wrongs perpetra-
ted md ou,rages too recent to need
special repetition,
1t is not practicable within the lin.
its of this address to discuss the various
changes which careful examination
Of tue text ofthe nav Constitution will
discover Ii may be enough to say
that economy in tho expenditure Of tho
public money, and purity in the ad-
uinistrnIion Of Office is secured By the
strongest provisions; that absolute in-
dependence Is guaranteed to tho ju.
dietary, aud the courts ofthe State are
rescued from the Interference or cou.
troll Of partisan mojorities; that the dl.
ties of the Legislature are simplifcd
and disconnected from the mass OF per-
sohal aud special Legislation which has
overloaded the statute books that a
system of popular education has been
made perpetual aud placed under the
jealous guardianship Of the State; aud
that great impeachment to immigra.
ton is overcome by a system Of land
laws, which will in due time remove
the mixed and tangled titles which
have so long embarrassed the State
In addition to these, and by no means
the least important of the changes of.
fected by the new Constitution, is its
pcremptory forbidding Of the political
test oaths und acknowledgements which
oppressed our people aud disgraced the
State during the continuance of nadi-
cal asceudency, To this enumeration
of certain distinctive characteristics of
the proposed Constitution, ii is not
necessary to add discussion of others
which will end their best explanation
by contrasting them directly with the
provisions of .he existing Constitution
they are designed to replace. TO that
contrast We invite the Democrats uuG
Conservatives of the State. 10 that
contrast We challenge the allied fac.
lions which oppose US.
The Patkersburg Convention as.
scmblOd upon the 30Ih Of May last, in
obedience tie the call of the Executive
Committee, and in accordance with
well established party usagcs. II was
the largest, fullest aud most thorough.
ly representative assemblagc Of dcl0.
gates ever heidi tho State. Its Dc.
liberatiOns worO marked by calmncss, !
fraternity, impurtiality and an earnest
desire to adopt such expressions Of
principle and nominate such candidates
as would commend themselves to the
people Of the State. Nothing could DO
lairer or freer than its action. One
thousand representative West Virgin.
ians were in council. Every county,
save one, was represented, most of
them by unusually large delegations
In fact in many instances, not merely |
delegates specially selected, hut the en-
t'rc Democratic aud Conservative party !
Of the counties were accredited to :hat
body
Thus constituted, tho delegates from
every section and locality proceeded to
the performance of tho duties tor which
they bad come together The re'olu-
tlon' adopted without dissent, nFc ia
mIIinr to you The candidates Sc.
lec'cd are oil well known They need
no words Of euIogy or commentator.
for tho Office of GOYOrnnr lint n Einglo