The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-04-02
The First Ward Capital Meeting.

10 the chair and Hiram Young was ap-
pointed secretary. Captain Dovener was
called upon to address the meeting which
he did in few well chosen remarks, He
said there could be no doubt but that the
best interest Of the State demanded the
removal Of the Capital from the city Of
Charleston, and the fact that the Legis.
lature Of the State had located il at
Wheeling was evidence that they in
their wisdom considered this city not
only the most available place but the
most desirable location for the Capital.
As to the city there could be no doubt ~
to the best interests Of her people, Al
though while the Capital dwclt withus
before, many people did not think it
Of any real advantage to Us, but after its
removal tho advantage that 1t had been
to us was very preccptible. Wheeling
and Ohio county are very largely in
terested in the disbursement Of the
public funds. They pay about one-eighth
Of all tho taxes Of the State and very
properly feel some interest In the distrl-
button Of these funds, Wheeling's COM
morcial interest in having the Capital
located in her borders Is much greater
than ever that Of Charleston could be,
Charleston has no manufactures, no
wholesale establishments to profit by the
influx of strangers who might find there
such Gommodities as they were accustomed
to deal In and finding them there, become
customers. Wheeling has large manulac-
turing interests and large mercantile In
tGrests, aiEording Wholesale market
where the business men Of the State can
find all that they can desire In the way Of
goods. II the Capital be located here,
large numbers Of men will be drawn to
the city, some on official business, such
a. Sherifs and other officers, others on
legislative business, Every section oi the
State has more or less Of particular inter
cat in legislation, and sends, besides It's
elected members Of the Legislature, rep.
rcsentative men to look after their inter
ess. Such men are generally business
men whose patronage Is worth cultivat-
ing, and many Of them, from the very fact
Of coming hero and seeing the advantages
that may bc had in the way Of purchases,
would become valuable customers to the
trade Of this city. Many such men there
are in tie Stnte, who having no occasion
to come here, never do come, and there
fore know nothing abOut us. They go
or and for their goods to Balti-
more. The Captain drew a comparison
between what Charleston was when the
Capital was first located there and what
she Ia now, then itS prOpolAtion did not
exceed 1000. II was dingy tumbled
down sort Of place, narrow unpaved
streets, with very few 'creditable build.
ings. III the few years that the Capital
had been there great change had been
wrought. The population llatl increased
to five or six thousand. The Capital had
shown what the benefit Of Its location was
to Charleston. II was built up by the
States money. Columbus Ohio, would
never have been anything but village II
II had not been made the Capital Of TINT
great State, yet with nothing Of tho adj
vantages Of Wheeling, 1t was a far larger
city. The same might be said Of Indian
apolis, now one Of the great railroad ccn-
tcrs Of the country; also Of Harrisburg,
the Capital Of Pennsylvania, all Of which
places owe their Importance to the fact Of
their being the Capital cities Of their re-
spectiye States.
In many respects II was important to
the general legislation Of the State that
the Capital should be at u point easy Of
access and favorable to the rapid tranS-
mission Of information, so that different
portions Of the State might take action
in relation to pending business when
their interests required Such action. lie
showed that many important bills failed
because certain action was required TO be
taken by the counties or towns which
they concerned and because stlcll action
could not be taken In time to have II
reach the unl.of.the.way Capital for the
further, action Of the Legislative body.
Again, Il was In the interest Of the State
that ,iis Capital should be III place Of
large aud diversified interests, in order
that the manipulation Of the State gov.
crnnlent might not fall into the hands Of
n clique Of designing politicians, as II had
in Charleston. Finally, winter after
winter the citizens Of Wheeling llad
pressed tho Legislature to rOmove the
Capital to our city, and having done 50,
we were in honor bound to provide AMI
pie Accommodations for the Legislative
body and the Offices Of The State.
Dr. Logan followed Capt Doyener in
few remarks In his clear and impressive
style, showing clearly the advantages that
the city Of Wheeling would derive from
the Capital. The DR.. showed that the
Legislature ofthc State was not inclined
to keep the Capital on wheels, that they
had been half inclined 10 put up with all
the admitted disadvantages Of Charleston
rather than change. That llle change
was only made because Of tile conviction
that Charleston was not the proper place
for tho Capital, and in obedichce to the
clearly expressed sentiment Of the people
Of tho State. The DR.. showed that in any
Ia 1t 4