The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-31

flIAItUAA OE thlNSAE44hS1
and ask for it the candid and careful con.
sideratiou OF the people Of the State. We
,arraign the Democracy OF this State on
the following charges:
Nearly six years ago that party came
into power, under the most solemn pledges
TO economic and reform. 1t has not re-
deemed a single promise then made, but,
on The contrary, has increased the taxes,
multiplied the number Of paid officials,
raised salaries and wasted the substance
OF the people.
Itimposed upon the people Constitu.
tion unwise inits provisions and inimieal
10 our best interests, and which has al.
ready cost us half a million Of dollars,
which, by It's incongruities and yagueness
OF language, has been constant source oi
conflict between the legislative, executive
and judicial departments Of the govern.
ment, thereby necessitating the expendi.
ture OF large sums Of money as fees 10 law,
yers, to ascertain the separate powers oi
each.
It has given us mass Of legislative
jargon, uniutelligable to judges, lawyers
and litigants, and endless litigation as the
result.
1t has changed the road law SO as TO
make it oppressive, in consequence OF its
unjust determinations and in the appli-
cation, OF It's provisions to befog, lawyers
and road surveyors alike. -.
3 In the re.establishmept Of the anti
quated county court, It Has rendered our
judiciary system costly, cumbersome and
oppressive. 1t has extorted large sums
OF money from the people and spent the
same in the construction Of a penitentiary
unnecessarily large, that it might fill It
With importations 'of convicts found
guilty by the federal courts in other
States, whose compulsory and cheap labor
should be brought into competition with
the honest toll Of our mechanics and
laborers, thus reducing the already di-
minished wages Of this class Of our citi-
zens, and swelling the profits OF contrac-
tors and iobbers. - -.
It has so tampered with the school law
as to make it contradictory, complicated
and confused, and has converted the
schools themselves into mere shuttle.
cock for contending local factions, and
has enabled shylocks to speculate on the
wages Of teachers by the unwarranted
Withholding OF their payment.
1t has given us homestead exemption
law, which, in its enforcement, permits
the landlord TO strip an unfortunate ten
ant ,of, f,the, last piece Of household furni-
ture, and even 10 rob him Of the scanty
clothing which covers his famlshing
children.
1t has covered up the frauds and pecu.
lations OF public officials; has defended
their Preparations; rewarded them with
tokens Of favor, and sheltered them from
the legitimate consequences OF their
crimes.
II has, by discriminating legislation
and heavy taxes, driven many Of our best
citizens 10 seek new homes in the lar
West. ~ ''''
II has destroyed local self.government,
concentrated power in the hands oi
cliques at the court houses, and has 80
arranged for the collection and disburse.
ment OF county moneys as to greatly in
convenience tine holders Of claims, and to
foster at the county seats class Of money
changers, shavers and sharpers.
II has with wasteful extravaganza ap-
propriated money for bogus railroads,
boom companies, and the like, with unu.
sual privileges, for tho exclusive benefit
Of bankrupt corporations.
: We therefore demandauch amendments
10 the Constitution as will relieve il
from odinm, incongruities, and absurdi'
ties. ---....
The occasion which once existed for test
oaths having passed away, We declare our
selves opposed to their restoration, not
withstanding the charges Of our oppo'
nents to the contrary. q:
The general depression Of values and
industries being such rs TO make the
present rate Of State taxation burden.
some, we pledge ;oufslyes to q reduction
Of the amount Of taxation for general
State purposes.
Wedemand the abolition Of the county
court; the restoration OF townships and
local self.goyernment the exclnsion 'ot
everything of q sectarian or partisan
character from our schools.
Wedemand the selection, to places ,ot
public positions, OF men who are capable
honest, and sober, and the prompt and
vigorous punishment Of all public mer
guilty of'fraud, ,pecnlalion, or official mis-
conduct. ESSsl7f ="
We demand the enactment OF just
homestead law. "e II, XIX
We endorse the principles Of the plat
form Of the National Republican Con
yention, and we pledge to Its nominees
our cordial and undivided support, recog.
nizing in the selection Of Hayes and
Wheeler an endorsement OF the record oi
patriotism, integrity, and true worth
which has been written on every page oi
their history. In their nomination as
candidates for the position Of President
and Vice President, we see tho exaltation
of real merit and accord TO them the
character Of devoted patriots, and moi
the writer's Of peace resolutions; the
friends OF honest labor, and not the
manipulators Of political intrigues,ot real
re.ormers, and not pretenders; staesmen
not politicians. ~ .o.g
Resolred, That We welcome the coop.
GRAFTON Of all men, Of all parties who will
unite with us in relieving the people oi
this state from existing evils, and in the
establishment Of good government.
All OF which Is respectfully submitted,
w. E. STEVENSON,
Chairman.
The following isthe report OF a minor.
ity Of the committee:
We the undersigned members Of the
Committee on Resolutions beg leave tc
submit the following minority report
Thatwhile We adopt the resolutions sub
mitted by the majority Of the committee
we submit the following additional reso
luton: Jf's
In our efforts 10 remove from our Leg
islRtive halls cause OF constant discus
sion and trouble, We recommend to the
Republican party TO provide through III
Representatives in the next Legislature
ior, the submission Of the question Of thI
permanent location Of the seat Of gov
erument to the decision Of the people
at the polls. J.W. CRAcRAFr,
JAS. l.. MCLEAN,
... r. BURKE,
.....-. &C. W. SMITH.
After q lengthy. discussion, as Ito thu
addition Of the minority resolution, Geo
q Stnrpiaa nf Monongalia ofiered n snh