South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-10-09
Speech of Hon III. G.. Davis
CONCLUDED

l"t DA'ls made brief refere nee to the Credit
Nosiiier fraud Sanborne- Jayne robbery, and gave
facts and figures thereon, showing the manner in
which high Republican officials had debased their
ON Gee, and helped TO rob the people. He denic-
ted the sad state of affairs in Louisiana. South
carolina and other Southern States under Re-
puohcan rule, and showed how they had been
hetciIeSsy robbed and plundered until they are
nearly every one hopelessly bankrupted He
showed by official figures, that the exnenses of
the Government bad enormously increased unde-
Republican rule, and that the list of civil Office
holders had maghifed, nearly one hundred ner
cent. since 500 lie also adverted TO the mis-
managed Affairs of tie District of Columbia
BOSS Shepherd x Co., to the robbery of the
freedman s Bureau by Gen. Howard, and his
subsequent appointment to an important position
by Gen. Grant; TO the immense number of de-
taulting ofiice-hoIders, and the manner in which
they had been let go "sco, free" and closed this
branch OF his speech by pointing out the danger
Gus tendency of Grants administration TO that
most dangerous Of all evils, Capitalization +: and
oy exposing Grants nepotsm, and leaning to-
wards a third term.
WEST VIRGINIA. COUNTY COURTS.
There has been great hue and cry raised as
to the County Court system and its practical
workings. Now, not being a lawyer, have no
practical experience to relate in this connection.
but have this to say, that all this fuss is nom
sense, for the reason that the majority Of voters
oil any county in this State can shuttle off this
system and adopt new one at their will and
pleasure. And notice rs "A somewhat remarka
BILE fact that although most of this TRADE against
County Courts comes from Republican sources,
yet in not single county where The Republicans
predomi nate has n move been made TO change
'he system. They have the power to rid them
selves, Of this fraud, as they term H. If it is SO
wieIdIy-so expen sye- so Objectionable in every
way, why don't they rid themselves of il as
quickly as possible The Constitution is explicit
on this point. refer you to section 81, art. g.
The Legislature shall, upon the application
OF any county, reform, modify or alter the Coun-
~ Court established by this Constitution in such
county, ard in lieu thereof with the assent of
majority OF The voters of said county, voting at
any election held for that purpose create another
court or other tribunals, as well for judicial as
for police and fiscal purposes either separaie or
combined, which shall conform to the wishes of
the county making the application, but with the
same powers and jurisdiction herein conferred
upon The County Court and with compensation
TO be made from the county treasury"
Ihe truth OF the matter is that these gentlemen
VINO worry themselves so much about this matter
and kept up such continual howl about the
County Court system and its manifold disadvan
tages do it for partisan, political purposes and
that alone.
ROAD LAW,
As to the road law have only this TO say
1t may have its imperfections, but defy any Lee
gislaturc 10 frame a road law that will please all
classes of people. lis an impossibility. Yet if
II worked all right under Republican rule. what
- the matter with it now For il is substantial
y the same now then, with some slight a.
mendments for the better. And it has this alter.
native advantage You can have your choice
by either working the roads a certain number of
days, or else by raising the money by taxation
to work them "You pay your money and take
your choice
FREE SCHOOLS
great deal Of capital is attempted to be made
out Of the cry of 1.-The Democracy opposed to the
free school SYSTEM" &c. The Democratic party
cannot by any possible reasoning be charged
with hostility to free schools. On the contrary.
the Republicans, by their efforts to force mixed
schools on the people, show their enmity TO the
present free school system, for they must know
that the passage Of that bill or Hoar's school bill
will inevitably and most certainly kill our free
schools. The Democracy engrafted in our Con-
suution the following section: 1.-THE Legisla-
ture shall provide by general law for thorough
and efficient system Of free schools" (Sec. /.
Art. g. Not may, in their discretion, provide
but shall provide. Does this look like hostility
to free schools By reference TO the report Of
Hon Chas. Lewis, then Superintendent OF Free
Schools, for the first year Of Democratic rule ia
this State VIC End Tn at instead of retardinr the
interests Of free schools, they were promoted
the general school fund was largely increased
larger number Of teachers, male aad female,
were employed than the year preceding, under
Republican rule.
Tie told what the Democracy had done for this
State in Congress, since 1871, aud adverted to
The James River and Kenawha Canal, and its
prospects for completion by the Government,
which he said were very Hatterngl
WEST VIRGINIA WAR CLAIMS AGAINST
THE GOVERNMENT.
Last winter introduced in the Senate a bill
providing that West Virginia and her citizens
should be paid their just claims Cor articles taken
and destroyed and reimbursed for destruction Of
churches, school-houses, bridges, &C., by the Fe-
derai troops during the late war During The
Session spoke ia the Senate in advocacy Of this
bill, which was published aud to which I refer
you for details. This bill 10 still pending, and