The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-26
THE CLNiENNIAL APPEOPRIA-
TION.

ACCORDING 10 IIesIous announcement,
the vote on the Centennial Appropria-
ton Bill was taken yesterday, resulting
in the passage of the same by q vote Of lac
10 lS0-csrried by only l6 OF majority.
|. will thus be seen that it was not made
party measure by any means, Demo.
Gratis and Republicans uniting in voting
either for or against it according to their
ideas. |; will be also noticed that the
West Virginia delegates all voted against
il. We have taken q position in favor Of
this Centennia. appropriation solely be-
cause We regarded it ss conducive to the
quoting Of past discord; the promotion
Of friendship in the future, and as a
means of showing to the whole country
that, in spit" ct the incendiary speeches
Of MoRToN anI BLAINE, the Democracy
Of the land were de.irous ofproving their
patriotism and pride in an united country.
While We have doLe this, We have al
ways asserted that it would be improper
Tor any member to cast his vote for the
messureiihe regarded it as as in the nature
OF subsidy, and in opposition to the
spirit OF the Constitution.
The long debate which ensued in the
House over this bill developed an oppo-
sition 10 it which was unexpected, and
which showed that the question of con.
siiiutionsity was more serious than was
4. first imagined. Mr.. TUCKER, of Vir-
gina showed this clearly in his recent
speech, which. while coming from the
source 1t did, tended to create fear that it
would make capital for the Radicals, was
still masterly and eloquent argument.
Of course therefore any member who,
governed by the conscientious conviction
that this appropriation would be a vio-
lsilon of the Constitution, still voted
ior 1t, would have been very deserving
OF blame. Democrats cannot be too
sensitive regarding inruptions upon
That Instrument, for the habit of fire.
qlent and ssgrsnt violations of it,
which have prevailed in the past,
have brought US into great
danger-as witness, in one instance
OF many, the Force bill
OF the last Congress, which threatened at
ss'ngle blow to destroy the republic, and
GUILD upon Its ruins military despotism.
therefore it Is very necessary that a full
snd due regard to the constitution should
oe had st all times. 1t Is more necessary
LOT the good of the whole country that
This instrument should be preserved in
Violate, than that hundred centepnials
should be celebrated.
II was on this principle, We have
no doubt, that our West Virginia rep
'esentatives acted in casting their votes as
'hey did. They, We are credibly in.
formed, discussed this matter exhaustive.
y before il came up tor q vote, and ii
was their conviction, carefully formed
mat the General Governmen,
could not constitutionally vote
subsidy to the Centennial
and therefore very properly, they de-
ehned to givein 10 the measure their sd'
hefencs. In doing this they did righ,
and while many earnest, sterling Demo.
efaa differed with them, still it must b
confessed that they acted for the best in.
'erests of their constituents, according tc
'nsir judgment sad even though ther,
may be many, who like ourselves, can
not see the constitutional objection
Urged, still we cannot fnd fault will
'oeir action when their motives are con,
sidered.