The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-06

NS''h'Ol W s"c peOPle " hlo pOllb. IL
was well understdod that, TO secure the
passage Of this bill, il was necessary 10
defer the Senatorial election, and thus
command u support which the merits of
the measure. might not control. This
was the substantial agreement OF the
kanawha Delegates and Senator's al IN,
time the bill was introduced, Subse.
quently these gentlemen, with the ex.
ception oil Messrs. Baxter, BurdetL and
Wilson, were found casting their
votes and using their influence in
manner that tended TO strengthen
candidates already formidable, and to that
extent at least, to hasten the elections
which all seemed interested in postpon.
ing. AS a natural result, two gentlemen
we're brought within such easy range Of
election, that the influence Of Wheeling
and tho Republican votes carried them
through. So far rs the postponement OF
the Senatorial elections could fnyorabIy
ailect the Capital bill, that influence was
lost by what, from a Kanawha stand.
point, appears 10 have been II premature
choice. We are not prepared 10 say that
had these elections been deferred until the
end Of the session, Il different result would
have been had, but it is clear that all
those members whose attachment to ia.
vorIle candidates might have led them
TO court the Kanawha vote, have been
lett by tue election Of Senat tors entirely
Tree TO follow their own inClinations.
The introduction and protracledl dis.
cus'ion OF Constitutional amendments
has delayed action in the House on the
Capital question until more than half
the session has expired. At our last ad.
vices the Capital bill had not passed ia
second reading in the branch Of the Leg
islature where ii originated. Its con.
sideration by that body will occupy much
OF the remaining time Of the session, and
there seems no likelihood that even il il
could pass the House in an acceptable
shape (which is extremely donbtlul) it
would ever see daylight in the Senate.
These facts, and others which it is nm.
necessary to dwell upon here, have pro.
duced during the past week, a marked
revolution in public sentiment in this
county. A large majority OF our people
have reached the deliberate conviction
that the removal OF the Capital, so far as
II could be OF benefit TO Charleston, il u
dead issue in this Legislature, and prob.
ably several others to follow. They feel
that they have done all that can be done
in the way OF righting what they
believe to be wrongs inflicted upon
them; that majority OF the Legislature
cannot he brought to view this Capital
question as they view il; that our best
talent is powerless to bring them redress,
and that the continued agitation Of the
subject, while it might end in removal
from Wheeling, would not in the imme.
dlate future result in the relocation at
Charleston. They see that the Third
District IS growing tired OF the squabble,
and that without hearty unity here,
nothing can be effected; that our former
allies IN Jefferson, Pendleton, Hardy and
Hampshire, without whom it were use
less to protract the contest, are not dis.
posed to aid us as formerly, and that no
new friends have come in to take their
places; and they are not disposed 10
make their struggle the mere expression
oil spite and exert themselves to secure
removal from Wheeling, which cannot be
accompanied by Il location at Charles.
ton.
Such being the growing sentiment in
our midst, we have no hesitation in ex-
pressing our own opinion, that the best
interests Of our people require them TO
cease hostllities on the Capital question,
to cultivate friendly relations with por-
tions Of the State now cstranged and to
await the complete development Of pub.
lie sentiment in favor OF permanent
settlement OF the vexed question. Prem.
ature agitation onl y hurts Kanawha; il
will produce 10 compensating benefits.
Our people have already been charged
with being promoters Of strife, disturbers
Of the public peace. Sectional prejudices
have been aroused against them /;
whole communities taught to look
upon them AZ implaCable enemies.
We submit that Kanawhn county
is i'll no condition at this writing
10 wage warfare, single.handed
against the most powerful, wealthy and
influential portions OF the State. Ger
talnly she can reasonably expect no
benefits from the legislation which II
majority Of the Legislature believe she is
laboring 10 hinder and distract. In Il
business way, she is isolating herself
from all other sections, whose people
feel their resentment aroused by what
they are pleased 10 call her unwillingness
to submit todhe will OF the majority as
expressed through their representatives.
In political way, the county is already
practically ostracised, whether through
the intentional or unintentional acts OF
our representative men, and there il no
Immediate prospect OF change for the
better.
For nearly seven years the Courier has
been lighting Kanawha's battles in this
Capital contest. With sincere purpose
TO promote the interests Of the people
in whose midst it is located, this paper
hNs done what it could to present their
case to the favorable consideration OF the
public. Realizing that 10 protract the
struggle now would not only be power
less for good, but fruitful OF evil, we are
prepared TO urge the postponement OF the
agitation until an unprejudiced public
opinion shall declare that the time has
come for the permanent settlement Of the
Capital question. We shall take part in
no strife that will array the balance Of the
State against us; that can result only IN
crushing defeat, that gives aspirant5 in
our midst hobby to ride into those
positions which can subsequently be
prostituted by n betrayal Of the people,
and which furnishes those who defy the
will Of their constituents on vital issues
a ready and plausible excuse for their
course. This article would not be COM
pletc without the statement that in our
| Judgment the fate OF the present Capital
bill Is to be attributed more to the action
Of two members from Kanawha, indica-
ted in proceeding part of this article,
than TO any other cause, and that this
opinion is shared by the great mass OF
our people. Their motives il is not our
purpose now to question. They are gen.
tlemen who are reputed TO be willing to
assume all Just responsibility, and we
presume they are ready to meet anything
in that line that may await them. II in
the development Of their plans they shall
show that sagacity which is now obscured
1 l.. 1.