The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-07-19
THE MAGMA CHARTA.
Number One.

1t is q fact no less important thai
instructive, that the struggles for ht
erty or to preserve freedom in ever.
century of the history of civilizlng o
civilized man, require a recurrence L
and re-affirmation Of Fundamental
principles. The Magma Charta o
English freedom was wrested from tn
cruel and rapacious John on the l5tt
of June, l2l5 at Runnymede. The ole
liberties had been trampled under foo
by the tyrant, rights had been taker
from the people, unlawful assessment
made, men cast into prisons by arbltra,
~ power, and the old laws were disre'
garded. This great Magma ChaHa o.
18th June, l2l5 was but little more
than q reasser:ion Of the ancient laws
But it was something more, which had
been found by experience to be nee
essary and was then incorporated into
the great instrument, which from that
time till the new Constitution Of West
Virginia has been enlsrging, imProv-
ing and perfecting for the security Of
states and the protection Of individuals.
The Magma Charta was won from a
tyrsnt, aggressive, greedy, unscrupulous,
arbitrary and grasping for centralized
power. That has been the struggle
from thence onward, and there is no
security for Republican States, no
safety for the liberty of the citizen, ex-
cept in the reaffirmance OF fundamental
principles and in enlarging the basis OF
individual rights against the constant
tendency Of power to centralize in the
hands OF few.
Out OF this very struggle has origi-
mated the Constitution OF 1872, and /
proceed to show in some detail its
great advance in political wisdom
and its definite provisions for securing
the action Of the General Government
within the limitations Of its granted
powers, Of providing for the security
of the States, and guarding the indlvid-
ual in "the enjoyment Of life and liber.
ty, with the means of acquiring and
property, and ofpursuing and
obtaining happiness and safety" &c.
The old Constitution OF West Vir-
,inia is a fair document, considering the
under which it was pro-
luced. 1t was the work OF revolution,
in violation Of the Constitu-
ions OF the Union and OF the State
rom which it sprang; yet was temper.
,te, though innovalive and imperfect.
It was mainly the product Of two gen.
lemen, both OF whom abandoned the
'xcesses Of the party that inaugurated
he movement for that Constitution,
.fter that party had in many instances
Ia ,rantly violated their own Constitution
" neiarious legislation aud Judicial
decision. 1t is the inheritance OF an
vii time, ana ft is the memorial OF
Ice ply inflicted wrongs. and it should
De remitted 10 the dungeons, chains and
M mprisonmen,s Of the past, even if the
wo gentlemen referred TO were some
What merciful agents Of the despotism
which used them.
lRTICLE |, SEC. 4-RELATloNs TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
The old Constitution has no such
.rticle. There were two branches or
ections in the Republican party
hose who believe IN a strong central
zad government, and those who
.dhere to the justice and the
necessity of the State Government, as
he only means Of preserving all the
hecks and balances which alone can
ave our form OF government. There
we're two branches or sections in the
Democratic party. Those who believed
hat from the fact that the States were
originally independent and sovereign |
states, and that they constructed or
.reated the General Government, that
he States had a reserved ight to secede
rom the Union Of States; and those
yno admitted their original dependence
md sovereignty, but denied their right
o secede, but with the other section OF
he Democratic party and with what |
hall now call the liberal section OF the
party, believed and affirmed |
hat the Federal Government was a
government Of limited powers, and that
here were rights and powers Of State
or authority which belon ged |
o them as OF their original nation
.lity, which belonged to them,
y express stipulation when they
ntered into the compact for the
Jnion Of States, and which belong to
hem now and always. if our represent
tive form ,of government Is worth
reserving and can be preserved. All
nen who do not believe that our
ational Government is one Of limited
'owers and that the States have such
ights and immunities are not Demo-
rats, are not Conservatives, are not
in any honest meaning OF
be term, but are and should be the
dvocates of Grantism and the follow
RS of Grant, aud the opposers Of the
ew Constitution Of West Virginia.
his first Article, section =, affirms:
The Government OF the United
tates is a Government Of enumerated
overs, and all powers not delegated to
nor inhibited to the States are re-
erved to the States or the people
hereof" He who does not affirm this
dmits or affirms the unlimited author
Y of a central despotism, which is
one the less a despotism because, jus,
ow, it does not exercise tyranny oUz
ls rhole country, though it does over a
art. That it can execute it over a
art is but of the substance of the
over to do 30 over the whole, when
,e time ripens Tor it. That it now
ares to do it over part is but Of the
ndacity that will seize the whole power
hen the occasion serves.
1t is idle to claim that any danger to
le Union may arise from asserting
lis fundamental doctrine Of all repre-