The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-26
The Constitution Of West Wa. aS
Formed by Republicans and az
Changed by the Restored "Old
Regime"

Regime"
The Constitution framed in 1861, after
the civil war began, contained the follow
ing as it, first section:
The State Of West Virginia shall be
and remain one Of the United States OF
America. The Constitution Of the Unit
ed States, and the laws and treaties made
in pursuance thereof, shall be the SUI
preine law Of the land.
In 1870 the Democracy re.obtained
control, and among their first acts was
the converting Of q Constitutional Con
yention. That body framed new Con-
stitution. 1t became operative in 1872.
It's first section il the same "a the one
Just quoted. But those that fellow are to
be carefully scanned.
SEC. 2. The Government Of the United
States Is n Government OF enumerated
powers, and all powers not delegated to
ID, nor inhibited to the States, are re.
served to the people thereof. Among the
powers so reserved by the States IL the
exclusive regulation Of their own inter.
nal government and policy; and 1t is the
right and solemn duty OF the several de.
partments Of the Government created by
this Constitution, to guard and protect
the people Of this State from all en-
croachments upon the rights 80 re-
served.
SEC. 9. The provisions Of the Constitu.
ton OF the United States and OF this
State are alike operative in period OF
war as in a time Of peace, and any de.
parture therefrom, or violation thereof,
under the plea Of necessity or any other
plea, is subversivo Of good government
and tends to anarchy and deSpotism.
The third section Of the Bill Of
Rights" Article ILL.,, lets in further light
on these declarations, as history has prov.
en- their meaning to be understood in the
light OF State Rights Democracy.
Sec. 8. Government is instituted for the
common benefit, protection and security
Of the people, nation or community. VI
all its various forms that is the best
which Is capable Of producing the great.
cat degree Of happiness aud safety, and Ia
most ei1eCtually secured against the dan.
ger Of MISUNDERSTANDING and when any
government shall be found inadequate or
contrary to these purposes, a majority Of
the community has an indubitable, in.
alienable and indeteasible right to reform,
alter or abolish II in such manner As shall
be Judged most conducive to the pubIiCl
veal.
II must be borne in mind that the con.
vention by which the foregoing deClara.
tions we're framed was largely composed
OF and Influenced by the able men who,
under the strained Interpretation Of sim
liar declarations (Which, by sixty years
OF State sovereignty discussion, filtered
through every means OF forming politi.
cal inLelligence) had in 1861 preCipitated
the State Of Virginia into armed rebel
lion, and thereafter associated them
selves and their fortunes with those Of
the shareholders Confederacy. The loyal
men Of West Virginia, reading the inte-
riOr meaning Of such assumptions by the
red light Of civil war, contCntcd them
selves with simple and stately leclaru-
ton Of the perpetual unity Of the new
State with the Union, and of the supreme
cy Of the National Constitution and laws
in their State, as we'll as in all others.
The Democratic quibbIers Of 1871, re-
Stunning power after losing struggle, in.
Corporated provisions such Ns those under
which their theories had heretofore nj
ways belonged the Southern people, aud
undermined the duty they owed to "the
Government Of the people, by the people,
for the peOple".-that Of the Federal
Union.