The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-10-24
Ghe1ntelltgetttRr
The Political Situation in West
Virginia.
Editors OF tho IntcllIgCncer:


throughout the State, It may not b.
amiss for On humble individual" 10 pub
lish through your columns his views upor
The political situation in our State, which
situation Is anomalous, 10 say the least
OF IT,
The Executive Department OF oui
State is not under the control OF the Gov
ernor as provided for by the Constitution
but this department Is engineered by TIT
Board of Public Works, and that through
the unconstitutional acts Of the LegislaA
ture, and the Governor Is merely figure
head.
The Legislative Department Of the
State Is under the control not oil party
governed by principle, but It is directed
by an irresponsible Ring, the members Of
which are controlling the Legislature In
manner which they believe will further
their interests individually. Individual IN
terest Is the primary object, and the public
good a matter oil secondary consideration
iol any consideration at all.
The judiciary Of. the State Is not to say
political judiciary, but a ring judicia
~ Its decisions are made with an eye
10 the interests OF ring. 1t appears
bound 10 sustain the Legislature and the
Board Of Public works right or wrong.
We see here the three departments oil
our State government in position that
initiates against the interests Of the reo-
pie. The Governor is shorn OF his pow.
er, and that power unconstitutionalIy
vested in a Board OF Public Works. The
Legislature tramples under foot consti-
tuition, which, though bad, has been rati-
fled by the people OF the State-under tho
party lash, it Is true-but nevertheless
binding. The courts stand ready TO sus-
tain the unconstitutional acts OF the Leg
stature and the Board of Public Works.
Ills evident that all the departments Of
the State government are arrayed against
the people and their interests, for although
the Governor honestly discharges his
duty, the Legislature has so stripped him
thai he has but lew duties TO discharge.
The Governor, elected by the people to
discharge the duties Of the position in &C!
COrdance with constitution ratified by
them, has been taken in hand by IN un-
sCrupulous Legislature, and Invested Of
the power with which he was clothed by
them. Tho people made the Governor,
md the Legislature has unmade him, and
little remains Of him or his office but the
name. .,
It's plain that the State Government.
Republican In form, with oil power de-
rived primarily from the people, presents
the anomaly OF those who have been plac.
ed in power by the people as public ser
wants arraying themselves in hostility to
thepeoplC who made them. In monarchies
in which rulers come into power by birth
right, this frequently happens, but it's sci.
dom that such direct hostility as we now
dnd in West Virginia occurs In Repub.
lie. The Constitution and tho voice OF
the people have been ignored. The Lcgis.
laturc and judiciary have combined IN
conducting the State Government, not al.
ter the manner prescribed by the Consti.
tuition and directed by the people, but to
suit a few designing leaders.
Now this 10 o time in the history Of our
State when there Is no cause for any wide
difference in relation to our State policy
however much we may differ In relation
to national politics. The vexatious issues
engendered by the rebellion have passed
away, and all our people should feel a
deep interest in having the State Govern.
ment administered honestly and economi.
Cally, and in having such wise legislation
as will contribute 10 the deyolopement Of
our resources and the general prosperity
OF the people. This Is what the masses
Of the people want. They care but little
concerning tho aspirations Of any indi-
vidual, and do not care to be taxed fol
such legislation as will build up the politi
cal fortunes of some ambitious aspirant
No political legislation ID demanded, but
such as will build up. the agricultural
manufacturing and mining interest of the
State, as well as to foster its educational
interests. -.
Well, the question arises, is there a
remedy Tor existing evils? There is q
remedy, and that remedy can be applied
by the people and they are ready to make
The application when the proper time ar
riVes, and that time will DO the election
next October, and the public journals OPP
posed 10 the present miserable Ring thai
controls the State should begin toprepare
The minds of the people for 1t. In fact
bot little preparation Is needed, for they
are 10 a great extent ready, and large
majority OF the people Of this State
could they have the privilege Of choosing
between the present Constitution and the
Old one, would choose the old. They
have seen their error In placing the pres
ent party In power, and would gladly
ptotogue the present Legislature II they
could, and send the members home. II
The present Constitution must be dis.
pensed with as soon as It can be done, anC
one framed that Is more practical-one
laNWill give back TO the people the powel
o. local self-government by restoring L
Them the township and supervisor system
and dispensing with that "ol1 man Of the
SCI" The County Court system. 1t Is the
general opinion thatit Is not good 10 med
ule too much with Constitutions, bu
when one is found 10 be intolerable 10
can
With view to returning 10 first prin
siples, that Is dispensing with the presen
incubus and framing Constitution a
broad and liberal as tho old one, let III
senators and Delegates to the next Legii
azure be elected with special under
sanding that they will be expected 10 vot
.ot an aet submitting TO the people tn
question Of calling Constitutional Con
This may be objected to by some on az
count OF tho expense Of q Convention
but the expense will he light in compar
sou with conducting the government un
der the present Constitution with ia cun
otOus Judiciary system and other extraya
CANT machinery,
Tho present Constitution must b
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