The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-04-08
THE CAPITAL REMOVAL.
4 Voice from The Other - de-'"'
Question Discussed with Reference
to the Democratic Party.
Editors Of the Register:

subject of removing the Capita from
Charleston to Wheeling, we have become
fully satisfied you are laboring under
false impression as to the deleterious effect
upon the Democratic party which will
ultimately develop itself. The past
proves to demonstration the weakness
of the ligaments which bind the segments
to central point in the radius OF the
party. Look at the election of 1872.
Men then were found who protested un.
swerving fidelity to the party, claimed to
be Simon pure Democrats Of the "Jef.
fersonian school" who bolted the regular
nominees Of the party, and disorganized
and defeated democracy to u certain eX-.
tent. Those men were stigmatized as
false and recreant to democracy and the
true interests of the country, yet they
were invited, solicited earnestly to return
to "the land Of the brave and the home Of
the free
They are now bone of our bone and
flesh of our flesh Scarce wa, this
breach in the party healed, until some Of
those same boilers inaugurated the scheme
of agtating the removal question, to the
detriment of the peace and harmony OF
the party: but some editors and others
seem to be- so blindly infatuated rs 10
think the Democrats will adhere to the
party, right or wrong, under just or un-
Just treatment from their party friends.
We say, calmly, deliberately, and with
due consideration to the opinion of others,
this i an hallucination which time and
/ ;tl, al
The Democrats of the Third district feel
that they have been maltreated, wrOnged,
oppressed and unfairly dealt with by
their professrd Democratic friends, and II
coalition with their political enemies.
What is the evidence of the case
The Constitution of 1863 declared that
the Capital of the State should remain
at Wheeling until permanently located. =.
| The Legislature passed an act removing
the Capital to Charleston. Under the
| Constitution OF 1863, did not Charleston
( become tho permanent seat of tho Cap
| ital? 1t was so understood; and State
| House Company WAS formed which
erected u State House or Capital capa-
cious and convenient The company
made donation of the building to the
| State as long As il was used rs the State
Capital, free from rent or cost.
| The Constitution of 1872 declares The
seat of Government shall be at Charleston
until otherwise provided for by law
Where is the individual who would
assert, that the trainers Of the COnStitu
ton contemplated temporary removal
in the aforementioned clause? We read
lily admit the Legislature had right 10
move the Capital to some other point
permanently, and had the Legislature
made such Il permanent location, We
should have acquiesced i'll the action Of
that honorable body without groan Of
/ dispute.
But Il motion in the Senate TO submit
/ the matter TO direct vote of the people
was promptly voted down. Whcna sub
/ stitulc w9s offered in the House Of Dele
/ gates, to make II permanent location of
! the capital at Wheeling, ii met with no
favor from those determined despoilers,
and di>ruptIoni>ts, the remova.istS.
! They, the removaliSt>l forced Il Sec
tiona issue upon us who had ever proved
/ ourselves true To the party, true to the
State; and We intend to prove true still
to those who are worthy of our trust.
I But pseudo friends, galvanized, and yclcpt
/ Democrats have no claims upon Us, and
should lool, for support and tWors from
some other quarter. The late Hon. g.
I W. Summers said in hi. lifetime "thc
| Valley of the kanawhu would be to the
/ othcs portion of the State, Of West Nir-
| ginia. a. the western portion of the Old
/ Dominion had been to the eastern pOr-
ton Of that vcucrated old State
How soon the prediction has been vcri-
fed. How quickly have We seen selfish
no., unnlloycd, overcoming justice, honor
/ and every thing else which constitute,
greatness and excelency The lst and
/ 2nd districts of the State of West Nir-
/ gnia have the larger portion of wealth
and population. Have had greater faciIi-
| ties for education and intellectual i'm
provemcnt, and the country Is fully de-
vclopcd. They have their cities and rail
roads. and the people live in ease and
luxury, while the 81 district Is in an
undevclopcd condition. As mass, we
are poor and uncutivated; our lands are
mountainous and broken our facilities
/ for advancement, either mentally or
financially. are of limited character
| Under the circumstances, which section
of the State requires fostering care, and
which is subject of sympathy instead OF
oppression?
The capital being at Charleston was
aiding in the development of our section
of the State. and the concentration OF
i capital manufactures, &c. But Charles
ton was .inaccaSsiblc.' and could not be
heard from. However, some of the re-
movalists were so unwisc a. to say, Ii
we do not move the capital now we can
never move it, for there is Il railroad in
progress up Elk, and when that is made
we cannot say Charleston is inaccessible
We see it asserted that II large major
lty of the people desired the Capital re-
moved from Charleston. We make no
pretention to legal lore, but we know
that assertion, declaration or declama-
ton, is no evidence Again. if the peo-
ple were SO anxious Tor removal, why
send lobbyists, to secure the aid OF the
wavering members of the Legislature,
and be 50 fulsome of praise for the ser
vices they rendered?
Why not praise the Radical members
for their support? They clearly saw what
effect the removal OF the Capital would
have upon the Democratic party; and
gloatcd over the disruption and disor,
ganization of their political opponents.
We mourn and lament over the pros,
poets of our party in the future. Warn.
ing and entreaty were used, but to NJ
avail We have heard some say they
would never give another Democratic
vote while they lived, for they have NJ
faith in leaders who will sacrifice justice
and honor TO gratity their scliishnsss.
PRINCETON.
March 11H 1878.