The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-09-18
y1e P,sscn, Constitution of Irest
Tirgilaid.
Wheeling Register

Wheeling Register
While Sturgiss, Campbell, Fcrgu
son, Ct ii omac genus, are lorborin!
to tlepreciate our own State institu
tions and give currency abroad L
opinions prejudicial to our stand
ing rs a State, to its organic law:
and its general government, we arr
glad to find some independent crit
icisms from highly Intelligent
sources beyond the limits of the
State, which show in what admira,
ton our constitution, which they
so glibly dcridc, is held.
We have before us n speech
which was delivered by Hon.
Charles ]. Faulkner shortly after
the present constitution Of the
Statewas framed by the conycn-
sion, in which hc refers to some
opinions by distinguished men re-
garding our new constitution.
Mr.. Faulkner said: "Charles S,
Buckalew, now tho Democratic
candidate for Governor Of Penn
sylvani,t, ina letter addressed to
me, in which he speaks in the
highest terms Of the entire instruT
mcnt, concludes by saying
"That the fourth section Of the
eleventh article Of our Constitu-
ton, OH the subject Of corporations,
is itself worthy the whole cost Of
the call of tho Convention The
Richmond, Baltimore and Now
York papers have reviewed it with
tic most favorable judgments up
on its merits. Governor Hoffman,
of New York, says it contains pro-
visions Of value not to be found in
any other State Constitution.
William Green, an eminent lawyer
residing in Richmond, in q letter
10 INC, says, "lYould to God that
Virginia had such n Constitution" "
Henry A. Wise, that remarkable
man who is known at least always
to speak what he thinks; whose
feeling Of hostility to our scpara-
ton from the mother State seemed
unappeasable; who in tho bitter
ness Of his hate, in a speech in our
valley, characterized West Virginia
us the "bastartl offspring Of a po-
litical rape" now finds his scorn
changed into admiration, and lis
hostilities intosthankfulness as he
contemplates the=labors of#the State
Convention. InIa.letter addressed
to Inc, he says, have read your
=Constitution:;EI=thankZt
people of.Wcst Virginia, | thank
thc authors of that Constitution,
for its spirit and wisdom
In the same speech to which ne
refer, Mr.. Faulkner pointed out in
n very iorciblc manner tho public
evils that had been corrected by
the provisions Of the new Constitu-
ton. Without dwelling upon that
enormity, the retrospective politi.
cal test oath, and such like opprcs-
sivc measures, which were passed
under the old Constitution, We no.
tice in his enumeration Of the OWLS
TINT have been emdiCatcd, and
made impossible under our present
Constitution, those common sub
jccts of special legislation, such as
"rclicving the securities Of slIcrills
from liability to tho State for taxes
and other moneys collected by
their principals and not accounted
for; releasing The payments OF fines
and taxes; changing the act oflim-
itutions 10 suit particular interests;
authorizing trustees of church
property TO make salc Of it; crca-
ting Il special law Of usury for a
particular county; consolidating
townships to answer some particu-
lar party purpose; removing coun-
ty seats; multiplying assessors i'll
counties TO give patronage !;
amending charters altering and
establishing roads 10 accomplish
private individual ends"
All these petty and pestifcrous
subjects Of legislative strife, Which
occupied our legislatures under the
old constitution have been re-
moved out of The way by the
provisions Of our present constitu-
tion.
Instead of dctcrring immigra-
ton, as is charged by the Rcpubli-
cnn critics, the constitution invites
capital and population, as Mr..
Faulkner shows by the following
wise provisions:
First, by q declaration of rights
based upon the broadcst principles
Of civil liberty and humane equali-
ty.
Secondly, by placing all foreign
crs who may come into our State
upon tho same footing with our
native citizens, SO far as the acqut-
sition, tenurc,d disposition or descent
of.propcrty is concerned.
Thirdly, by relieving our land IT.
ties of those pcrplcxities and COM
pIications which have SO far rctar'
tled population, and rcpellcd settle
menls amongst lis, and,
Lastly, by giving n constitutional
recognition to the homestead prin'
c;N1n