The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-09
CHARLESTON.
The Capital Bone OF Contention
Some OF the Effects OF Sectional
Irriiati0n-The Interest Question
The wheeling Railroad Bills.

CHARLkSrOS, February y, loi-.
Editors OF the Register:
telegraphed you, last Friday, the
substance Of Mr.. Bassells self-adjusting,
bsck-action, anti duplex patent, (Which
was invented BY some Nutmeg Radical
yankee genius, l should think,) for
setting the good and peaceably disposed
people OF several localities Of this State
to pulling each others ears. OF course
I refer to the resolution submitted by
the gentleman from Harrison, to drag
a local and business question (the
location of the State CapitaD into the
political arena. / once lived in county
the location Of whose Court House
was an unsettled question for a long
time. A few interested parties, COM
bined with few small demagogues Of
the minority party. succeeded in getting
the Legislature OF the State to submit
the question OF removal to vote
OF the people. They said lfthey shonld
be defeated before the people, they
would be satisfied. 1t was done; but
the agitators were not satisfied with
the result; charges OF frauds; including
ballot.box stuffing, repeating at the
polls, intimidation Of voters, corruption
in the purchase ofvotes, &c, &c, were
made; a new election was demanded; ;
and after two or three years Of quarrel
ling and turmoil, from which every
business and material interest OF the
county suffered, another vote was
granted; the vote was taken, but
through fraud and corruption, the
election was well nigh farce; the re-
suit was favorable to the agitators'
their beaten opponents contested :;
several wears OF expensive litigation
followed; the case was carried to the
Circuit Court, then TO the District
Court, Git was in Ohio) and then to the
Supreme Court where the case was
finally decided against the original
agitators ofthe question. Thus mere
handful Of unprincipled adventures
succeeded in destroying the peace, pros
perity and happiness OF the honest, in
dustrious and peace.loving inhabitants
OF a whole county for ten years and
more. The political party that was in
power at the commencement Of the
agitation was destroyed, and on its
ruins sprung up mongrel faction, the
members OF which were broug together
by their hates, spites and prejudices;
mean tricksters, petty scoundrels, and
the incompetent scum who always profit
by the calamities of the substantial
classes, rode into office and power.
As thief welcomes a conflagration
in a great city, and the cut-throat wei
comes a war Of rapne and pillage, so
your small demagogue halls with
delight the breaking down of staid
party organizations and the stirring up
of the violent passions of the masses!
l believe that in most, if not all, the
States in the Union, their constitutions
leave the questions Of removing their
respective capitals to the Legislatures
thereof. And why not? The members
Of the Legislature are elected fresh from
the people every year; and il majority
Of the people are in earnest about re-
moving the capital, they can very read
lily elect servants who will do their will.
Who asks that this question shall be
thrust into politics, to be heatedly dis
cussed upon the hastings and fought
over at the polls? Do the people, in
whose interest the move is pretended to
be made, ask it? If so, in what way
do they ask it; and how many OF them
ask it. and who are they that ask it &?
There are $4,000 voters in this State.
Have $4,000 of them petitioned the
Convention for the privilege OF pulling
each others ears, and fighting, and quar-
relling over this question, to the neglect
of their business interests? Have 49,
600 people thus petitioned Have TO-
600 thus petitioned2 Have 1000 thus
petitioned? Have 100 thus petitioned Z?
Ave, have even the number that was
required to save Sodom and Gomorrsh
from destruction, sent up their prayers
to tbis Convention for this boon?
The interest question has been kicked
out Of the Convention, very properly, as
judicious men generally agree; but it
still agitates the Legislative mind con-
siderably. 1t was discussed in the
House at considerable length last Sat
urday, and was expected to come up
again to-day, but its consideration has
been postponed by that body until to-
morrow. Mr.. West, of Harrison, and
Mr.. Grautham, a banker of Jefferson,
are. the most intelligent advocates Of
returning to the system invented in the
Dark Ages. From all the information
| can gather, business men and the in
telligent public are satisfied with our
present law, and do not ask or particu-
iarly demand a change; yet it may be
difficult assign any sound reason why
the Legislature should attempt to regu-
late the price OF money any more than
Of any product Of shop or farn-except,
possibly, to make a standard of value
that shall obtain where no value is ex-
pressed in the contract.
| do not think any change will be
made in our interest laws this session.
Even should the House pass bill for
the purpose, do not believe it can pass
the Senate.
The proceedings Of your City Council
on the subject OF city subscriptions TO