The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-17
cHARLE ESToN.
The Democratic Party Va. Jacob
Tho struEEle for kupremaey-De-
bsse On the AppOintinE Power-An
Excitiag Scene I'm the House.

Exciting Scene In the House.
Special Correspondence Of the Register.
| CHARLESTON, March 10.
DEAR REGISTER A very interesting
and exciting struggle has just closed in
the House OF Delegates. 1t was, at
bottom, fight for supremacy between
Jacob, aided by the Radicals, and the
regular Democrats of the House. II
resulted iu the complete defeat OF the
Governor and his allies.
The history Of the affair is this: Some
time ago the Senate passed bill, Sen
ale Bill No. 81, concerning salaries and
other compensation Of officers, DC. In
this bill is a provision authorizing the
appointment OF the Jauitor by the
Board of Public Works The friends
OF Governor Jacob claim that under the
Constitution be is authorized to appoint
all officers whose election or appoint
ment is not provided for by that instru-
meut, or by the law in existence at the
time it went into operation. They seiz-
ed upon the presentation of this bill as
an opportunity TO urge and enforce their
claim, rightly believing tnat upon 80
small matter as the appointment OF a
Janitor, they could more readily succeed
and the concession once made
they would have less difficulty
in carrying the principle to its full ex-
teut. This would give the Governor
the appointment Of al Boards OF lnstI'
tutions, subordinate officers and attach.
ees; of all commissioners and notaries.
and of sll school uperintendents, com.
m ssioners and trustees, giving him, 10
he aggregate. from nine 10 twelve thou
sand appointments. This they felt sat-
l.fied would enable his excellency 10
reward his personal supporters In
the late campaign, as well rs invest him
with an amount Of personal lLhnence
and patronage that would eventually
open the way to fresh fields and pas
lures green" tor the enjoyment OF him.
self and the chosen ones of his tribe -
A movement in this interest was Out
etly begun some weeks ago; lsadIng
J Jacobins rom various parts oil the
STATE were summoned here 10 aid II;
and these, aided by the local followers
OF His ExceIlency, and operating under
his direction worked with diligence
and effect to the desired end.
The hill in question came up on Sec
ond reading Saturday; an amendment
vas proposed giving the appointing
power to the Governor; aud now The
fight began. The Republicans opened
out defantly, Colonel I. s. Spates Of
Harrison, q gentleman who acted as
foreman OF tue famous Grand Jury
which, at the cloee OF the war, endicted
the present Supreme Judge, Hon. j S
Hoffman, and Hon. Gideon D. Csm'
den, for "construCtive horse-st aling;
compelling them to answer tor offences
alleged 10 have been committed when
they were not in the county; Loldiog
them criminslly responsible for the acts
OF other men, done in accordance with
the usages oil civilized warfare. Colo
mel Spales announced the purpose OF
the Republicans and the friends Of
Jacob to increase his prerogstives, IT 1t
required three months War TO do 1t.
Hon. J Thompson. responded with
an admirable speech. He denounced
the policy toreshsdowed as lead
ing to q dangerous increase OF the
executive power. Itmeant to build up
an autocrscy in the State. The Dem
ocrats OF the House should never sub
NIT to the dangerous eDcroachments
proposed. They had been quiet too
long, permitting themselves, through
tim Iditv or mistaken kindness, 10 be
controlled by the bowls Of the minority:
The question was whether Jacob should
destroy the Democratic party, or the
Democracy smash Jacob, 1t was
tevident one or the other must 90 under
TIE effect was electrical Thompson
had sounded an alarm, and the regular
Democrats OF the House responded
with slacrity.
Price, Of Monongalis, tried to re-
spond in behalf Of Jacob. He thun-
dered, roared, gesticulated, fumed,
tried blackgusrdism on some, and bull
iyIug on others; denounced the oppo-
sltiou TO Jacob as q damusble pro-
scription, and called on the House to
put it down, in the name OF non-psrti-
san legislation. His speech was very
bitter, fierce and abusive.
Davenport replied with effect. He
showed that the purpose Of the Con-
veption and the meaning OF the Con-
slirution was to limit executive power.
Past experience had demanded this
Executive power as welded BY Bore
man and Stevenson had oppressed the
people aud damned the Stale. II
was Executive authority that
threw young Buchanan Of Ohio county
into the Athepeum and kept him there
unaccused and untried until he rotted
and died. Executive power bad turned
Nat Harrison and other judicial mon-
str sites loose to prey upon the people
OF the State. Executive authority bad
brought about the inismies Of the reg
is,raiion system. and all the evils which
followed in its train. The purpose OF
the Radicals WAS to 80 construe the
Constitution as 10 give the Governor ten
,;mes more power than bad been wield-
ed by Boreman and Stevenson. knowing
that this would bring it into popular
di.repute. Then, with wonderful readl-
Mss and force be discussed Prices right
to oppose prescription, read that indi-
viduars record on test oaths, alien bills,
the Harrison infsmies, and ali the 9TH
er legislation with which R.dicalism