Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-10-10
Nntional Convention.

National Convention.
Forncy's Sunday Cir@r'e Of Washington,
D.C.in a late issue laIa two-colomn ar
ticle on The subject ola National Convention Co
revise the Constitution To arguing the abso-
Lutte necessity Tor such convention the editor
has made some very good poiats-so good,
chat we are rather surprised at their out-spokcn
frankness and truth, considering the autece-
dents and present attitude Of this Republican
Journal. Hear BIN
"Tha. we have drittcd away from former
convictions as Co the relative power 90 the Fed
er,l and State governments during the civil
war. and reversed the order of things So ALSO
lutely that the States are almost poweriess and
the Federal Government aIl-poweriui, Is man
ifest % the most casual observer.
Governors Of States are DO longer dignita-
ries of the first rank, but are shown by the
Louisiana embrogl0 and the correspondence
between Gov. Brown, of Tennessee, and the
President. o. be less powerful than the U \
Marshals. who may call Cor troops 90 enforce
revenue laws, election laws, Su-6.uX laws, CIV
n rights laws, and many other laws which,
under the new tiSpslsati00, have been passed
20 subject the people 90 the South o. the direct
control of Federal officials. in matters which
formerly concerned tle State administrations
exclusively. Coordinate Jurisdiction by the
n. : Courts with the State Courts has been
established in hundreds of eases, aud che pow
er claimed is such That Che State Courts aud
Stats governments win soon be regarded aS
unnecessary and expensive membranes, 60 be
81 IN .H
the governorship has ceased OBJ attract amO,-
ti3us men through It's Inherent dignity and
mower as chief executive office oi a sovcre 90
State and has become @ mere s'cpping-stoue
IN the United States Senate. about half Of
whose members have elected themselves out Of
rubernatorial chairs by using tbo patronage OF
States 90 inGlencel legislatures go their election.
We agree with Mr.. Fouey, that the most
Casual observer may see that state lines are
being rapidly ol'i,autal that in proper
ton as sovereign States are sh1ru Of their pow
sr. 10 centres in the Federal government.
With regard 70 the character Of the men who
now guide the Helms Of some Of the southern
States the least said tle soonest menled. Com
pared with the Governors Of some Of the great
Middle. North and North West and New Eng
land States they are bur feathers 10 the balance
deficient 10 the very first elements Of states
manship. "BGal leaders Of the blind, they
are both fallen iu,3 the miserable bitches Of
oppression and over,axati5a. The stepping
stone o. the u. S. Senate as q simie, Is a
success. Facts wen bear &c out For iusnuce,
the interesting correspondence recently pub
hshei, between Benz Bu,.er Caleb Cushing,
and certain Senators. with William Pit, kel-
logg. Governor Of Louisiana by imperial eiict,
wherein it is shown what valuable services
they rendered O. advance tie Interests Of The
Republican party TO that State, and 90 secure
Senators Of theri,ht stripe. something hand
some must have been DONE when Five thous-
and dollars was the fee for services, and part
Of that went to Chandler, You know" The
records Of these transactions wherein Senators
aud Representatives were paid thousands OF
dollars 70 Influence the lcg' Station Of Congress,
and the action Of the Executive. throw the
Credit Mobiier and Bei. Road scbemers, deep
into the shade. 10 caps the climax Of corrup-
ton and the peoples wl,ehwori of the past,
"look % the Senate. is now biting irony.
Once more. " The Chicago Tribune. referring
tothe condition ofLouisiauo. "says that had this
Kellogg usurpatou been attempted ia Ohio,
Illinois. or Michigan, it would not have been
tolerated one DAY by the people II either State,
a.. -.. "a