The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-03-14

nsrily afforded to a creditor. Why is 1t,
then, that in addition to any legal claim
that Virginia may have held against us,
thst these gentlemen wanted the State 10
bind herself by her organic law to the
payment of some sort Of equitable CLAIM
which might hereafter be set up. II
there was no personal interest involved,
| then, their action can be accounted for
solely upon the principle, that men some
times under some mysterious influences
neglect and loose sight of the interests OF
those whom they represent, and go
sround redrcssing the wrongs of strang-
ers. The business of the Constitutional
Convention WAS TO frame Constitu-
tion for the people OF West VIrginia-an
| Instrument TO meet the wants OF the peo-
pie of this State and to protect their in.
terests without reference TO the Interests
Of outsiders. 1t was no business OF the
Convention 10 be looking up the inter-
est of the creditors of Virginia, they had
their attorneys snd subsidized agents to
do that.
TOE THE MARK.
But to come down to the real issue,
lot me ask these gentlemen to
meet it without evasion and without
begging the question by running of into
personal lnuendoes about things entirely
foreign to the subject. State plainly
and squsrely the object of that select
committee. If a job was never contem-
plated, state what was in view. Do you
believe that the Common wealth OF Fir-
giuis could establish any claim against
the State of West Virginia without
voluntary acknowledgment on our part2
And If you do think so, then what was
the necessity for the Wiley smendment2
Whist benefit did the Wiley amend
mert give the State over the creditors OF
Virginia? Or TO sum it up in few
words, why did you as representatives, Of
u West Virginia constituency desire TO
impose upon the State burLhen which
the law did not impose? An honest aud
uneQuivocsl answer TO these questions
will throw more light upon the subject
than volumes of personalities.
THE DANGER THAT THREATENS.
1 am now willing TO state why 1t /:
that have agitsted this subject. The
principal part of the old Virginia bonds
are now in the hands of n Northern specu-
lators. The questionable proceedings OF
the Virginia Legislature for the last few
years led the people OF that poverty
stricken State to believe that these specu-
lators had been expendlng little OF
their money on the legislature. 50 firm
were the Yirginisns in this belief that at
the last election they elected legislature
squarely on this issue, and one that VIII
receive no overLures from these bond
holders. The result is that these shy
locks finding that there were no
more bonanzss in Virginia, have turned
their lustful eyes toward West
Virginia where they hope to get good
slice. With the aid of the home bond
holders, and by judlcious expenditure
of little money where it would do the
most good, they expected to capture a
Legislature in this State TO put into op-
Grafton their little scheme. Now, with |
little OF the "pruvient ambitioL' OF q |
newspaper correspondent, l have been |
enabled TO gather speck OF information |
which leads me TO suspect that the next |
Legislature was TO be the one to be cap. |
tured by the consPlrators. IL l. useiess
TO try to worm my authority out OF me-
for, with that freemasonry which belongs |
10 the profession, there are some secrets
Iuvlolste. 1t is sufficient TO mention 1t.
The occasion promised to be au-
splcious. This is to be an "oii
year" in West Virginia politics-no
Senstor to elect and no Capital to light
over. Consequently, as supposed, there
would be but little public interest mani
tested, and it would be essier to nsnlpu-
late the primary elections IN their inter
est without exciting public suspicion
II l have succeeded in arouSlng the
people OF the State TO the danger and |
thus enable them to require pledge |
from their representatives. before elecllng
them, l am satisfied and feel amply re-
psid for my trouble, and am content to
stand the abuse the disappointed agents
OF this conspiracy against the State. In
the meantime pause for reply.
e.. II. NJ.
CLovsrllck, March 4, 1878.