The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-22
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

probably, command the same right TO
offer suggestions to the Constitutional
Convention that the Hon. c. j. Faulkner
does, whose synopsis Of proposed Con,
stitution was read with much interest in
your paper. Yet, as it is said 'in a
multitude of counsel there is safety"
it would therefore seem not only proper
but the duty of every citizen to put IN
proposals." and, as bred and born to
the manor, L ask an appearance in your
columns. 80
Allow first criticism on a recent
correspondent. Speaking Of marrow
minded men" does not bring about the
era of good feeling, or build up broken
or imperfect constitutions, especially
when some OF those who are thus char
acterized are now laboring with him.
Nor will it attain the desired end to
speak disparagingly of some Of our
present forms Of government, as WAS OF
our Board OF Supervisors, who are as
important a body as We have. and
possess as much power and influence,
probably, and use it Ito speak person
ally) as judiciously and work for as
little compensation as any other officers
or body of men iutrusted with the same
duties we have ever had; and we OF
West Virginia have had some expert
ence-in forms Of government, OF which
it is said, "for forms OF government let
fools contend, what is best governed is
best"
l should prefer going forward, not
backward into some of the old forms,
of which we have had many. and
flourished under all. But there Is
something better. Let us sif: every
scheme or form, and make our little
State a model for other and future
States. Let US crowd down our preJu'
dices, live above them, and disdaln not
plan OF government because South
Carolina or Massachusetts or New
Yotk city may have something similar.
Mr.. Faulkner proposes three Com.
missioners in place of our Board OF
Supervisors, one to be elected every
year. Why could not the Board OF
Supervisors be elected the same way,
one third every year2 Yet that is not
deemed necessary. AS the system now
is they come fresh from the people every
year, and would seem in this way to
better represent them. Their powers
might be extended to embrace the old
Board of Justices, SO favored 10y some.
Extensive, YOU say? Not at all. The
work could mostly be done 10y COM
mittees. The fact, il carried out prop
erly, which my space prevents me from
explaining, would be less expensive to
our county; than any other system
we have had. Intrust them with
nearly all the affairs of the county,
viz: judicial, clerical, educational, con-
stabulatory, financial, taxing, collect
ing aud internal Improvements. Let
such duties as require the attention Of
but one person, such as recorder, clerk
or sheriff, be given to the lowest COM
petent, responsible bidder, and avoiding
in great measure the miserable strug-
Cling for office now seen all over the
country. OF course, it is presumed
such a thing is impossible, because
Office seekers rule us and frame our
laws, and they would oppose the cur
failing of fat Offices.
There is a prejudice among the peo-
ple against the appointment OF Judges.
We desire to elect them; yet experience
everywhere seems to prove that judicial
elections by the people are not attended
with the best results. We have no
need to look further than our own dis.
trict lie who owed his place to the
intriguing of a political caucus gave
less satisfaction than he present incum-
bent, who owes his place to a guberna-
torial appointment. Yet itwould seem
that such an appointment had best be
made by body Of men rather than
one man-say the Board OF Supervisors
or body OF lawyers, who are most in
terested.
The opinion of the writer is that the
present court system does not answer
the ends of justice, and is complex and
expensive; besides the victims OF the
law" know not when justice is to be
melted out to them. And more: under
it citizen, when summoned as juror,
seems to have no rights which Judge
or Sheriff is bound to respect. Other
States have it not so-Pennsylvania,
for instance, and New York-a citizen
serves his term and chooses his time.
| read with much interest Senator
Buckalew's letter, and your editorial on
proportional representation, which l
have filed away with other articles on
the same subject for future reference.
Yet simpler plan, because fairer,
suggests itself fer the representation OF
minorities, and majorities for some Of
the proposed plans give minorities un.
due power-than any plan / have seen
proposed. Something similar to that
used in our nominating conventions.
Such a system of representation
could be carried into all or nearly every
part of our Government, especially in
the law-making and tax-paying parts,
giving each representative just the
power he gets from the people; if
! one DunlTeu NOles, o. mum, oho
thousand he is certainly delegated with
ten times the power. But explanation
is unnecessary further. Your CORE
spondent, having given the subject some
attention, is prepared to explain or an
swer any objections if it be deemed Of
sufficient importance.
In assessing, radical change is de-
manded, the valuation Of property being
a constant source Of complaint In
some OF the States system is adopted
which works like charm, is selt.regu-
lating, perfectly fair and OF trifing ex-
pense Improve in any, improve in all.
Two things we desire to be always clear
of: Corrupt administrations and heavy
or unequal taxation, which are insep-
| Qua H., oonpnota1 tha formar pro1u ~ N ~