The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-06
GkeGntelIiaftrter,
QulbbIing About the COnstitu.
uOnalltY Of CApltAl Removal.


The Martinsburg StaieaiOn dies hard
on the Capital question, It could hardly
take tho removal more to heart ii it was
published in Charleston. In enters into
an argument totshow that no removal
except permanent one Is in fur accord
anCe with Sections 20 and 81 of Article
vi Of tho Constitution. Those sections
are us follows:
SECTION Gothic seat oi government
shall be at Charleston, until otherwise
provided by law.
SECTION '9l.-The Governor may con-
yene the Legislature at another place,
when, in his opinion, II cannot safely "a.
semble at the scat ot government; and tho
Legislature may, when in session, adjourn
to some other place, when, in its opinion,
tho public safety or welfare, or the safety
Of the members, or their health shall re-
qutre II,
The Salesman argues that iRasmuch as
the latter section specifics tho causes for
which the Legislature may convene tenn
porarily at some other point than Char
lesion that therefore IL has no right to
make any temporary change in the seat
Of government. This strikes us as very
singular sort oireasOning for paper that
calls itself by the pretentious name Of
Stateamdu. e. l" Z. p.
The trainers Of the Constitution Of 1872
took care 10 avoid the Language Of tho
Constitution OF 1868 in regard to Capital
removal. And why2 Because under the
latter Constitution 1t was doubtful
whether the Capital, having once been
"pamdntnay located could bo changed
tosome other point Section % Of Arti-
clio ~. Of the Constitution Of 1868 de.
clarel that 0Lhe sent Of governmcntshNll
be at the city Of Wheeling until u perma-
nent seat Of government bc established by
law" In accordance with this clause Of
the Constitution tho Legislature Of West
Virginia passed m act on the Goth day Of
February, 1869, which was entitled ian
net permanently locating The seat Of gov.
crnment for this State" and which de-
clarcd that .ll'i'.S
1.-THE permanent seat Of government
for this State IA hereby located at tho
town Of Charleston, In the county OF
Kanawha." afI
In the memorable canvass Of 1872, on
tho question Of adopting the present Con.
stitutfOn, tho change in the language Of
the old Constitution on the Capital qucs.
tion was frequently pointed out, and a
warning was uttered by such papers rs
the Charleston Journal to the people Of
the Third District to the effect that II
they adopted the new Constitution they
lost the hold which the old one was sup
posed to give them on the Capital.
Nothing can bc palmer to those who
are familiar with the agitation Of this
question just prior to the adoption Of the
new Constitution, than the fact that II was
the intention Of ils trainers TO avoid tho
embarrassing point in regard to perna1
cytAat!had been raised after the re,
moyal 10 Charleston In 1870. There
was divided opinion in regard tc
whether any location Of The Capita
could bc considered permanent as long al
the people, through their representative
:, !, '"r t,atbans n bnTsvSSl 4 Il but fair I,
~, ,h.t ,ha ,voi,ht NJ Tho argument wa
vii, ,ho.o wbo held that. taking III,
i.na,srS n ,ho Constitution and III,
lorSmoSo ~ tbs not of FEBRUARY 90 1909
in connoctlon and aslope no change II
th0looa,ion nj Charleston could be made
Rnt sttor The ndoptiop Of the new Consti
tn,ior IN / 40 tbere VIVA mn other opiniot
Worth sneaking NJ throughout the Stat
than tbnt its Language abroratotl in lette
and snirit Tho clSuse m Me old Constitu
,iOn =, ,ho srhioct Ths nsw clause no
on,v in,onioJ n lsovo but did actunll,
O"j ,,sSsnLisii, ts.voiNe vbnle orestio,
~ I G"siS.i - iOSa,;on Win tbe r,epislature
.".tsI /, aSt ~ ,hs. consiilntion alto
"..has s And Il vas a, accordance viii
g., 'sl. ..ii.ts M ,,as,ar ~ ,ln. roniorred ,hn
.IS .I.' SsI'ls,nrp ssR int SdlouFned remove,
%o .%s r.si,.i ~ tsa.a ch.rtsston 10 wheelinu
'"' y" ' \ .5--s:-tS-.-ss-S---l- n 4
Honor to whom Honor IL Due
Under this head a correspondent 0
Yesterdays Reotster pays what We cor
slider deserved tribute to Mr.. W. N
AferriReld, Of Marion county, for III
leading patt Ec performed in The matte
Of removing the Capital from CharleSto
to Wheeling. Those who attended th
removal convention at Grafton last Ma
y,tU II - :. It4- ..Iias.a., nsI bn,,