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

unconstitutional acts have been passed by
She Legislature, and vetoed BY the Gov
eraor, aud passed again oSer ;he vs.s. The
passage of the last class of acts bad no ex-
cnse, save IN the pi,ifui one of partisan hate
to Governor jacob. The factiOnists 10
their hostility - him have shu, their eyes
and closed their ears, TO every sug9ss,iop
that came from him, whether it relAsdSt Va
the preservaiion Of the constitutional pow
ers II his Office, or to the general welfare
OF the State. | willingly cxculpate the
majority OF the Legislature from aHetiber--
alto purpose 10 violate the constiratiaD,
Hod from vindietive warfare against Gov.
ernor Jacob. The straits, in which they
stood, could be readily seen aud while no
one feels pity for the leaders in their vain
attempts to gnsw the file, all musti feel
compassion for their followers who matched
up to the vote, with the drill sergeant in
Their rear, ready to prick the hating or
hesitat'ng soldier, in the back, to remind
him that if he be in the ranks he mus. o.
bey the word Of ranaud.
shall ailude to one other instance as
an illustration where the "ring" has done
III
relates to the public printing. At the last
session OF the Legislature specific charges
OF very grave character were preferred a
gainst the public printer. The charges were
referred to committee for investigation,
and that committee promptly acquitted the
printer OF the specific charges. But it seems
IN the course Of the examination, that some
facts IN regard to the printing, were devel-
oped, which, in the opinion OF the commit
tee required further investigation. Ac-
c1rdingly they reported with u rccommen-
dation that another committee should be
raised, to investigate the matter, in the in.
tervai, and report to the next Legislature
Tor action thereon. a committee Of Eve
was appointed, consisting of four democrats
aod one republican, who made a report to
the present Legislature. The Legislature
has had the subject before it, but has de-
cl;ned to take any positive action in the
matter; and the case stands now, without
the acquittal or condemnation of the prin-
ter. do not wish to be understood as ex
pressing any opinion in the guilt or inno-
cence of the printer; because rs | arpre.
bend, that is not the question here, in It's
bearing on the democratic party. But |
assert that an Impression very prfjudicial
to the party, growing out of his case, has
gone abroad in the State. The reluctance
indeed It may be said the refuSal-Of the
democratic legislature TO investigate, and
decide question which deeply concerns the
interest OF the State, and the hcnor Of the
party, cannot fail to have a bal effec. =
And the effect is the same whether the
public printer be innocent or guilty be-
cause 1t Is the failure to take any action
whatever, OF which the party has right
to complain. 1t the printer be innocent,
not only he and his personal and political
trienis, but every fair minded man in the
State, can well say ,his Legislature il per-
petrating an outrage aud n gross wrong, on
an innocent man, by refusing to decide the
question, aud relieve him from the unjust
imputation of fraud. If on the other
hand he Is guilty, then every honest man
ia the State may enquire why the Lagisli-
ture Oy its non action, ia endeavOuring TO
suppress the facts, and shield guilty man
from mcrited punishment. The Log,ll.
ture cannot avoid enc dilemma or the 9TH
er. II has either perpetra;ed, 10y its course,
a wrong on the public printer, or the State :;
and in either event the party mus. suffer.
The question is now asked every where, ore
these tho representative men of great and
honorable party. who will not acquit an in
nocant man, or fear to convicta guilty one
say, in concusion, to all good demo
cratS, that | have aimed to present can.
did statement, of facts u you, and to warn
you of the dangers which surround the
party. | have no word 81 censurc to cast
on the mass of the party The discredit
which has been brought on it, has been the
work of those in whom it trusted, "not
wisely but too we'll" believe that there
is a vigor ard virtue in true democratic
principles, which need only to b. asserted
in order to restore the party to the full con
iilence Of the public. aud to preserve the
State from the misrule of republicanism on
the one hand, and Of "riDgs" on the other