Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-17
GREAT MAGMA CHARTER
RIGHTS OF THE CITIZEN.

" = VI 49,
The Legislature should Permit
the People to Vote on the Pro-
posed Constitutional Amend
ment, Because it IL the Citi-
xen's Right TO Do so-The
Amendments Will Not be Rat
fled by the People.
Correspondence Of the Register.
WHEELING, February 4.
TWAS the refusal OF the British gov
eminent to grant a proper and respect
full hearing to the prayers and appeals
of the Colonists that furnished the orig
inal cause 10 the Colonists for taking up
arms against the mother government.
From that day until the present, the
people of this country have claimed and
enjoyed the political right 10 petition
their law.making bodies, whether State
or National, for such snactments,
whether it consisted of mere special leg
islation, or IN amendments to the origl-
nal law OF the State or nation.
When a respectable number OF voters,
like in the present instance, petition a
legislative body for the privilege OF
voting on any public question, 1t is Ger.
tainly the duty of the Legislature to
make such provision, by suitable en-
actment, for the people to express their
approval, or their disapproyal OF the de.
sired legislation. No harm can befall
the Commonwealth by granting the re-
quest Of The large and respectable class
of voters, whose names are affixed to
the petitions. II is, in my judgment,
the only proper way to settle to the sat
isfaction OF all concerned, this yexed
question.
The Legislator, who votes against per-
hitting the people OF the State TO vote
on this, or any other change in our
organic law, does not, and will not re-
fleet and represent public sentiment In
this State and nation.
Gentlemen, are you afraid to trust the
people? The people who will vote for
the amendments, are the best and most
influential citizens in our State. They
support and defend, by their exemplary
lives, the virtue, religion, intelligence
and the moral, social and material in
terests Of our State.
There is no reason that am able to
discover as yet, why the Legislature oil
West Virginia should not rise above
individual sentiment, and show that
degree of Craftsmanship which 1t IS the
duty OF the legislator to possess and
exercise on all grave and important
questions of public policy, and grant the
petitioners their request.
Now, will the amendments be adopt
ell and ratified by the people? My an
swer is they will not.
MY reason for so believing is, that the
people of this State are people not ex.
tremely radical on any question, and
above all other Questio S, they are not
radical on the temperance
question, like the people OF some OF the
Eastern States.
There can be no legislation devised or
enacted by man that will completely
control and subdue the appetite for al
coholic stimulants. Such legislation IN
the history of nations cannot be found.
All that legislation can DO, is to enact
such coerciye and restrictive laws as are
positively required by society for its
and protection against the
excessive indulgence in intoxicants.
We have good laws now in this State.
but what avail are they to the people,
when il is notorious fact, that our
Judges. prosecuting attorneys, sherlfts
and others, State officers themselves,
violate the very statutes they are sworn
10 execute?
Tie laws in this State are trampled
under foot every day by men who are
sworn TO uphold them. The ordinances
of this CITY suffer in like manner by men
who give penal bonds to Council for
their observance.
Who is responsible?
Nv conclusion is, that the legislature
should allow the people to vote on the
prayed for amendments, because lts
their right so to do; and it is the duty oil
the Legislature 10 make the necessary
legislation to have the vote taken at our
regular State election two years hence.
Let the people vote, and 1t will re-
move the question from the political
arena entirely. and relegate it to the
agencies now employed in our State
by our good and humane people. In
temperance is terrible evil, but how
can we completely extinguish it? Mod
Grafton and justice should govern the
citizen, as well as the legislator, in such
matters. No prohibitory legislation will
ever overthrow and utterly conquer this
State, National and worldwide sin
against God and man. We had better
bear the ills we have than fly to those
- ..,.o - M.cx. i,u.prrp