South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-05-09

they can be taught modesty and wisdom
by defeat 10 rescue the party from their
hands, and thus save it from destruction
When the Legislature assembled las,
Fall il looked as il the "ring" broken aud
dishear,eued by the popular judgment
which bad been passed. upon them, even il
they were n"i di.po-ei ro make some repl-
tion fur ire Injury th'y hai iLA ct.d on the
party, wouj at least remain qlic.. In.
deed 10 better opportunity shan this, could
have occurred ~ relieve the l:sslvls from
the o1iun TIA, justly attached to their con /.
duct. X graceful rernen;tioa &C the fee:
that the people had spoken, and their voice
mus; be obeyed, would have been Of ser
vice TO the party, and might 10 time have
restored the managers to popular favor, pro-
vlded they were content to act with tho
party, and not assume the leadership in fu-
ture. But almost as soon as the Logisla.
ture met it was determined to forcl the
policy of the ''ring" on the party. Rule
or ruin became thoir wltchwOrl. They de-
cided that the Governor, who h i bean e.
lected without their consent, and the dem.
ocrats who had helped 70 elect him, should
be crushed. And to attain this end they
co1coc'ed n plan which was more CO.'S picu
Gus for madness and folly than any that
had marked their previous career.
| do not intend to examine the several
parts of their plan in detail but will mere
, Iy refer to the policy aud purpose which
runs through it and al, lis parts When
the factinnisls determined tn open war on
Gov. Jacob, they sought to bumilate him q,
and degrade his office. And in order to
n ba 4 u. !
of the lirat attack on him, they made them
selves busy in circulating the charge that
~ had appointed ONLY radicals ~ Office.
This charge Is well known TO be untrue for
when the fActionists began their war on
the Governor, no had made but four APP
pointments e. office, namely, John Blair
lIpge, w. Is. Pehdcton, u. III. Smith, and
Samuel a. Miller, T. qrs, al Of whom
were democrats, and two If the nun her
had supported Mr.. Cim len in the late gu
bcrnatoriel contest. Ill al they assigned az
a reason for their war on & vernon Jacob,
that he dill mt belong to their faction and
! would not submit himself to their control,
it would have been more manly. and more
in accordance with the truth than the roa-
son they III give. N Que can doubt that
Governor jacobs great fault in the eyes
Of his accuseri was his want Of sympathy
with them, anil their designs lie had
said in his inaugural adore that 'uo OF.
fee can riIh;fuiiy be exercised FIR mere
personal, l,cal, or partisan ends" aud this
declaration which commends itself TO ali
honorable minds, was in direct conflict with
the creed of the "ring."
Influenced by these motives the flc,ion-
lists sought every occasion to enter into a
conflict with the Governor; and as be could
, not yield 10 them, without betrayal of he
trust which the people had confled to him
he met their attacks with Grui resistance.
They ondeavored TO curb his power, AID
determined 70 strip his otHce of most Of the
prcrogatiVes which belong to it under the
constitution 10 general, where an off ,e
l. not elective, the constitu;ion gives the
appointment 10 the O. lvernor anil n this
point they struck their most vigorous blows
Regardless of the Cons itu'iru, and of the
| obligations which they were under, rs well
rs the Governor, 10 obey il, they took al
most every appointment from him, and
gave them TO m Illegal bpdy, which had
been created by the legislature Several
laws were passed by the Legislature, at its
present session, taking from the Governor
appointments which were rightfu;ly his. BIZ
constitutional authority, and comforting the
power Of appointment upon the Board OF
Public Works. These laws have bacn
promptly aud properly vetoed by the Gov
| crnor hut with the mujnriiy At their com.
mAnd the LeEisll'ure has pissed them over
the vetoos and they sand Ms sjupoudou.
monuments Of the reckless folly, and iupo.
tent rage Of the "ring." No well read lawyer,
or ref citing man can doubt for moment
that the nets to which | refer, arc uncon-
sti'uliOnal and that their passage vas an
ilega. usurpaiion ~ power by tho L'eis-
lature. IL should be borne in mind that
[ this question is not to be determined by
| the fact wbo'her il be wise or uuwise ia
confer tho power Of appointment upon the
+ Governor. I insist that tho constitution
vested it in bin anl that the legislature
cannot lawful'y t1ta r. from tim 10 i a
/ part Of the supreme llw Of che land, equal
/ ly binding on the Governor and the Begis.
/ laiure, and he c,on1t re.iuduish th1 pow
/ or, now they usurp IL without a violation OF
/ The obligations they have respectively as
/ sumei 90 support the constitution There
has been great deal OF clninlr raised a.
g7in't tho exercise Of tho appointing pow
/ er by Governor jacob; that 10 would b.
/ dangerous 20 confer ~ eroat power upon
any man, and mush has been soil about
ibc Conc nun power T., a.l this we
have tw1 ansvcr5 90 make. the frs; H.. thai
lt th.rc br Danger 800 b., you must hold the
constitution responsible Tor % md you can
only eetl Of tls danger by a change 81
amaoimrn, o.! tbc constitution and my
second answer 10, that 10 thc "rug" had
snce 'iei 90 oIcc'ior 'he Governor Il iheir
choice, 'he danger woul not have been 81