Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-04
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
Speaker George II. Mo6en Repndiated.


Speaker Mofett, of the West Virginia
House of Representatives, who attended the
meeting ofgreenbaokers at Washington Sat-
urday week, was interviewed on his return
By reporter of the InteHigencer, to whom he
stated that, in case Tilden was renominated,
he expected to see a third party organiza-
ton in West Virginia, and should take part
with it. Mr. Moffett intimated that he had
been approached with reference to his pos
sible nomination for the Governorship.-
This course Of Mr.. Moffett produced the
following merited action on the part of the
Democratic members of the House:
A meeting of the Democratic members of
the House of Delegates was held in the room
of the Court of Appeals in Wheeling, West
Virginia, on Wednesday night, February &c,
1879 On motion of T. A. Bradford, JOHN
J. CHlPLEY, of Hardy county, was called
to the chair, and B. H. BUTCHER, Of Wood
county, was made secretary.
Dr. Gooch, of Summers county, in 3 brief
statement explained the object of the meet
ing, and on motion of the same gentleman
the Chair was requested to appoint CONS
mitlee of FIVE to draft resolutions.
The Chair announced the following as the
committee j. J. Jacob, Z. A. Bradford, B.
p Gooch, A. Monroe and W. H. T. Lewis,
whereupon the committee retired, and after
some time returned with the following re-
port:
The committee appointed by a meeting of
the Democratic members of the House of
Delegates, to take into consideration the po-
ltical sentiments expressed by the Speaker
of the House in an interview with the editor
Of the InteUigencer of this date, respectfully
submit tho following:
We fully secognlZe the right of any citi>
zen to select such political affiliations or to
express such views as he may deem iust aud
proper without being made subject to the
criticism of his fellows, but as the Demo-
cratic members are largely in the majority
in tho House, and are therefore held respon-
sble to the country for the officers thereof,
we therefore hold it our duty to declare with
emphasis that the views, themes and plans
of party organization, expressed in the ter
view referred to, do not represent the Demo-
cratic party of West Virginia and we hereby
express our determined disapprobation of the
same. We further declare that We do not
mean to yield or surrender in the Sigh test
degree Democratic principles, or Democratic
organization. We shall always warmly well
come to our ranks all who concur with us in
political sentiment, but cannot surrender
political principles which have stood the test
for SO many years, to suit the ideas pur-
poses of any person whatever. We express
our unqualified condemnation of the views
expressed by the Speaker in such interview,
and declare that if such views had been
known at the time of the reorganization of
the House, the present incumbent could not
have been chosen Speaker of the same
JOHN J. JACOB,
IT. A BRADFORD,
". II. +. LEWIS,
j. 2. GooCu,
a. MONROE.
The report was adopted, with one dissent>
ing voice.
On motion Of T. a. Bradford, the Demo-
cratic papers of the State were requested to
publish the proceedings of this meeting.
On motion. the meeting adjourned.
JOHN J. CHIPLEY, Chairman.
B. II. BUTCHER, Secretary.