Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-01-28
A TARDY PERFORMANCE OF

a 1AhO1 f6hfUEMANCE UE
DUTY.
Whilst we are glad that President Grant
has issued his order, restraining Federal Of
ticials from holding State offices, we are not
disposed to throw up our caps in commenda-
ton of the act, for 1t is act of duty tardily5
discharged. President Grant knew years ago.
says the Lynchburg Republican, that his
Office holders in the South, as class, were
the fire. brands which have kept alive the po-
litical hatred and financial disorganization. in
this section. for. as class they have not been
satisfied to fatten at the Federal crib, but have
sought and held Office in every Southern State.
We think it is shame, and not disposition
on the part of Grant not to perpetuate his
power, that has led him to issue his tardy
| order. e..
By the way, the sudden discovery of the
righteousness and justice of the order by the
radical press of the country is amusing. As
a sample we quote the Washington Chronicle:
s.The justice and wisdom of the position
taken can not be questioned. The less the
functions of the Federal officer are brought
into connection or in conflict with those of the
State the better. The Administration and
the Federal Government have both been pre-
JUDGED and their influence for good impaired
by the fact that many who hold positions
under the latter have made themselves par
ficular.!y o6icious in the elections, in some
localities. Where they have accepted nomi-
nations for State positions, and thus obtained
a deep personal interest in the result, the
public sense has been Shocked and suspicion
awakened that they were but carrying out the
wishes of the Government. In some States
the Federal officer is denied the right to hold
State Office. Others place no bar in the
way and in such cases the direct interference
with local elections has brought great oppro~
Drum, with occasional embarrassment and
complications that the President feels should
be summarily ended"
What pity these things should have so
long escaped the attention of President Grant
and radical editors.
Ess- It will be observed, from a reference
to our Charleston letter, that the Supreme
| Court is to hold three sessions each year, here
after, viz: One in Wheeling commencing on
the first Wednesday in June; one in Charles
town, Jefferson county, commencing on the
first Wednesday in August and the third in
Charleston. commencing on the second We'd
nesday in January
Now, if the Legislature will give us three
capitals, one for each Congressional District,
all can be happy. Unless, indeed, few
mortals who can never be quite satisfied, may
desire peuitentiary for each of the extreme
points of the State Wheeling Reg, Jan. 49,.
Oh, no! Mr.. Register; that would never
do. Better locate the Capital, Penitentiary,
Deaf and Dumb and Bliud Asylum, Hospital
for the Insane, University, all the sessions of
the Court of Appeals, and also the terms of
the Circuit and County Courts in Wheeling
no matter if they should happen to en-
croach little upon Ohio and Pennsy lvania-
and then enact a law declaring the Wheeling
Register to be the only medium through which
the people of West Virginia shall express an
opinion on any subject whatever. Do this,
and perhaps the ambition of the Register will
have been satisfied.
E9- A special dispatch from Charleston,
to the Wheeling Register, announces the re-
snlt Of the drawing for terms by the Judges
of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Judge
Moore has drawn the full twelve year term !;
Judge PAUL. the eighth year term. and Judges
Raymond and Hoffman that of four years.
Judge Raymond was made President of the
Court in accordance with the custom that has
heretofore prevailed in this State OF giving
the position of Chief Justice to the Judge
whose term will first expire. In this case, as
two of the terms are of equal length, we pre-
sumo that if it is deemed desirable, some arr
rangement may be made for dividing the honor
of the Presidency, each of the four year
Judges presiding two years. Judge Moore
was certainly born under lucky star He is
the youngest member of the Court; has al
ready served two years before the beginning
Of his present term was elected without op
position and now chance has decreed to him
twelve years more of service in the highest
judicial tribunal in the State. At the opens
ing of the present term OF the Court he was
selected by his associates as temporary Presi-
dent and has presided until now.
"SAvE Me FROM My FRIENDs."-We
copy the following from the Clarksburg TEL
legroph, Radical sheet:
1.-The Governor is inert, standing with his
finger in his mouth, not knowing which way
to turn"
1.-The people are expecting him to do some>
thing, but they expect in vain. The Gover>
nor is clever man. but the people want some.
thing more than fgure>head for Governor"
Just now the people of West Virginia
would welcome military government. They
want something direct, and if they had