The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-25
CHARLESTON.
Death OF Col. Jenes-Saiary OF Cen.
eral superintendent or Free
Scholastic More Railroads Want
ed-An Amiable GrOwl.

yesterday and to-day have not been
marked by much matter OF general IN
terest. They have not been lacking in
importance, but have touched few sub,
jects upon which the readers of the
REGISTER care to be at this time in.
formed. ...
On Monday the Convention COM
pleted its consideration of the article
relating to the Executive Department
and sent it to the Revisory Committee
for engrossment, as has been heretofore
stated.
On Tuesday morning the report O.
the Committee Of the Whole on Taxa
ton and Finance was taken up, and
about one hour spent in its consIdera
ton, when Governor Price, Mr.. Hoge
being temporarily in the chair an
nounced the death OF Colonel B. ii
Jones, one OF the Assistant Secretaries
of the Convention. He followed the
announcement by some very approprl
ate remarks eulogistic of the virtues O.
the deceased, who had long been hi:
neighbor and friend, and offered a serie;
of obituary resolutions for adoption
Brief addresses paying handsome
tributes to the memory Of Colonel Jones
were made by Mr.. Matthews, of Green
brier, Mr.. Moffett, of Pocahontas, Mr.
Ward, Of Cabell, and Mr. johnson, o
Wood. The resolutions were unanl
mously adopted, and Mr.. Byrneside, O.
Monroe, moved that, as an additional
mark of respect, the Convention adjourn
until Wednesday morning, which was
also agreed to.
This "wednesday morning the con.
sideration of the report on Taxation anc
Finance was resumed, and in the after
noon, several amendments having beer
made, the report was passed tol en-
grossnent by the Revisory Committee
The report on the Judiciary Depart
ment was then taken up and was still
under consideration at the hour of al
iournment this evening. You may
see from this brief mention that The
Convention is at last moving with some
degree of rapidlty and, if it only has
1.-The gift of continuance" in its present
mode of dispatching business, it may
vet adjourn before moving time.
Eated by this sudden squirt OF energy
some of the members think that the
hour of adjournment is near at hand
and few bets are offered on a longe;
session than until the middle of April
So mote it be.
1t is one of the misfortunes OF the
Hardness of communication between
Charleston and the State at large that
by the time information from here
reaches the people of the State and
their comments AMI instructions return
to Charleston, the subject commented
upon has been finally passed and the
instructions come too late. 1t is one Of
the disagreeable facts of the present
system Of things and no amount o.
grumbling will alter it, but ! am well
convinced that the action of the Con
vention would be materially modified
in several important particulars, If the
sentiment of the people OF the State
could be brought to bear upon it before
final determination. The juries in oul
courts are sworn that they will 60 true
verdict give according to the evidence,
and after hearing the testimony and the
arguments OF attorneys, are kept in seclu'
sion until they agree upon a verdict
This Convention is as effectuaIly
secluded as the best guarded jury in the
State, but it has not had the advantage
Of hearing all the testimony or all the
arguments that may be adduced tha
bear upon the case submitted for decl
sion. | believe it is related of one
of the earliest lawgivers of anclen
Rome, Numa Pompiius, that be was
wont to retire from public gaze at Ger
tain times for the purpose, as some o
the historians affirm, OF medltating upor
matters connected with the public wea
and holding conversations with thu
Goddess Egeria touching the necessities
of the State. Our Convention is Ger
tainly secluded enough to initiate thu
example OF the ancient King, but the
fair Goddess who, in Democratic
government, should represent the poPu
lar voice, is unable to offer her counse
or make her wishes known. The
postmasters, mail contractors, steam
boats, telegraph companies, and all the
agents Tor the communication of InteIli
eeuce seem to have entered into league
against Charleston and against the
Constitutional Convention. We art
destitute of a mail from the northern
portion of the State two or three days
at time, and when letters and papers
from the outside world do penetrate the
Businesses that guard "the permanent
seat" OF the State Government, they are
50 old as to be entitled to consideration
as relics of the pas rather than as living
chroniclers Of facts and opinions Of the
present time.
Were it not for these disadvantages,
would like to invoke public opinior
concerning several matters lately con
sidered in Convention, aud, having in
formed the public of the facts, would
feel sure that the representatives of the
people would be the recipients Of i'm
mediate and wholesome instruction.
For instance, in fixing the salaries o
the executive officers few days ago
the State Superintendent Of free shool'
was limited to fifteen hundred dollar:
and absolutely forbidden any allowance
for travelling expenses or for fees Of an!
kind. He is required to reside at the
State capital and is also, by the present
law, required to travel throughout the
State. Now it is foolish to suppose
that any competent State Superintend
ent can afford to comply with these
conditions. Fifteen hundred dollars i:
too small salary in the first place fol