The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-01
CLARRSBURG.

Her Claims 10 the Capital Dis.
cusaed Last Night John
\. CRrllle, Col Ben. wilson and
John BASEL, Esqs-A Rig Meet
ing nc the Capitol.
The friends Of ClArkSburg as the per.
manent seat Of government for our young
and growing State last evening made 4
noble effort 10 drive away the apathy ex.
iSting in this section over the Capital
question. They have been particularly
unfortunate heretofore, the weather
being unpropilious each time they
undertook 10 hold \ meeting in the city.
Owing to the intense excitement prevail.
ing over the railroad strikes, It was diff.
cult, II not impossible, 10 create an inter.
est In the question Of locating the Capital,
hepeople generally moi concerning thelA.
selves over the matter, believing that 1t
Inailered little 10 them where Il went so
long as they knew Wheeling had no
ahOW for her white alley, However,
several enterpriAine ClRfksburges who
were In the city yesterday set 10 work to
drum up meeting, and succeeded admi.
rably. There had been no announcement
made Of the meeting In the public prints,
but Kramet's excellent band pafaded the
streets in the afternoon, and again in the
evening played several popular airs in
front Of the Capitol, attracting crowd
numbering from ] 300 to 1000 persons.
The meeting was called 10 order by Mr.,
August Roll, who nominated Michael
Reilly, Esq, US chairman. Mr.. Reilly
being called upon 10 preside, took a seat
Immediately in front Of the prominent
gentlemen who had assembled upon the
steps at the east entrance 10 the building,
from which the speaking took place.
HON. JOHN 8. cAELILE,
Of ClMkGburg, was the first speaker In.
troduced to the audience. Mr.. Carlile
gave a briei history Of the Capital loca.
lion question, which he said had for more
than ten years disturbed the State. II
was thsdnty Of the Legislature TO settle
the vexed question, and put an end
TO the unseemly St;lfe, but they
had neglected 10 do il. The agi,
tation Of this momentous question has
cost the State in time and money proba.
bly, more than the erection Of two Capiiols
would have cost. i! we're a question
whether the seat Of government should
be taken from Wheeling, Mr.. Carlile said
he should not appear as an advocate Of
removal. In common with other
people Of his town he had OPP
posed it. The present Capital bill
originated with the people Of Charles
ton, and because Of their hostility
10 the people Of Wheeling they had con
fined the points to be voted for 10 Charles,
ion, Clarksburg and Martinsburg only,
and thus deprived large number Of PEG
pie in the First District from voting fol
their choice. The Capital question had
been % magnihed by the bitter war waged
by the Charlestonians that every little
town and hamlet in the State wanted
to be the seat Of government, as
ii that alone would make ii q
London or a Paris. Capitol buildings
do not make cities or States-neither do
they make railroads or manufactures
There are many influences, he main
tanned, that should be considered in loca'
ting the Capital. The seat Of govern,
ment Of the State shonld be located where
that government could be economically
administered, easily accessible to The
whole population, and where no i'm
proper influences could he brought &c
bear upon legislation.
The relative advantages Of Charleston
and Martinsburg were considered al
come length by the speaker. In answer
to the argument used by the Charleston'
inns, that the Capital would develop the
Knnawha Valley, he said that it had
been there FIVE years and during that time
nothing had been developed but Cincin'
natl breweries and Kentucky disLilleries
Mr.. Carlile desired to correct the fatal
delusion nursed by many that in the
event OF no selection being made nexl
Tuesday the Legislature might be pre-
vailed upon 10 repeal the bill. This he
said was impossible, as there had been
only sixteen votes against it, and to re-
peal it would be considered m eterDa
disgrace. When the voter casts hi:
ballot for n member OF the Legis
laturc, il he has made u mistake
he can correct it in two years; 60 he car
correct Il mistake made in voting for !
President in four years; but in voting fol
the location Of the Capital no correction
can bc made. In conclusion Mr.. Car,
lille stated that he had travelled goot
deal over the State during the canvass
and was Of the opinion that It was in tn,
power Of Ohio county to forever settl
the question.