The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-03-28
END OF THE EXTRA SESSION.
Promises and Performances Under the
New Constitution.


Promises and Performance Under the
New Constitution.
When the present Constitution OF West
Virginia was before the people for adop'
ton, the Hon, Samuel Woods, Of Barbour
county, issued an eleCtioncering circular
on is behalf. lie gave the public NUM-
Der Of reasons why they should adopt it.
One of these reasons was that 1t was to In
augurate an era OF economy and reform in
West Virginia. lie laid great stress on
that feature calling for sessions oil the Leg
islature once in two years only. Noyearly
sessions for the Democracy, and great saving
for the people. This was the war'cry
Of Mr. Woods in 1872, and the Democratic
press echoed and re.eChoed the cry through.
out the State. lie figured up odds and ends
that were to be saved by this and other
provisions Of the new instrument to the
extent Of $4,000 annually. This was the
great pocket argument addressed to the
voters in August, 1872. Thousands otthem
were touched by this argument who would
probably have otherwise voted against the
Constitution. Behold how they were de-
ceiyed.
Since the adoption Of the Constitution
We have had reassessment Of the real
estate OF the Commonwealth, which was
oi.course an increase in taxation. And yet
despite that increase Of taxes the State has
been steadily going behind in her relative
receipts and expenditures. With all the
increased wealth, real and personal, added
TO the assessors books, the Democracy
have notrun the State withinher income, but
have steadily accumulated debt. The State
will be short when the appropriations Of
this Legislature are paid out Of borrowed
money not less probably than $4,000,
in addition to last years shortage Of say
$4,000, making with the amount
taken from the school fund over $4,000
that the Democracy have expended in run
ningt this State, over and above its receipts
Thus We see how Mr.. Woods magnif-
cant promises have panned out. The peo-
pie OF West Virginia never made n greater
mistake than in the adoption Of the pre-
sent constitution. Even Mr.. Ferguson
Democrat, was moved to say ID Charles.
ton that its adoption was great mistake,
and he is reported further us saying that
he had compared it with thirty constitu-
tlons Of different States and found it in
ferior to any and all Of them. This is the
some constitution that Mr.. Sam Woods
and others formed and deluded the people
into adopting. And now that it is adopted
the Democracy themselves treat it with
contempt, aud so back upon it whenever
pressed in the least by. their party neces-
stiles.
There is to be another reassessment Of
the lands this year, and the farmers Of
West yirginia will get another tAste OF the
quality Of Bourbon rule. They will know
experimentally what change from Re-
publcanism to Democracy has cost them.
We had good constitution at the start
one formed in harmony with the States
with which we are identified, and in har-
mony with the spirit and progress OF the
age, but the Bourbons come into poweran
sought to put US back into the Egypt OF old
Virginia ideas from which we had been
emancipated by the war.
In order to hold the State in their grasp,
and make their spoiation OF the revenues
60 down at the polls, they have gerry
wandered the State in way that cxcites
ridicule and indignation. In fragrant de-
tance Of the Constitution, they have
squeezed the Congressional and Senatorial
districts out OF their relations, and trampled
under foot all considerations Of equality in
population. They boldly cut down one
Senatorial district, because it was Republic
can, to Si025 people, and added two coun-
ties that territorially belonged to it to an
other and very unnatural district, and
raised the ratio to 5s,00G people. And one
Of the leading Senators OF the party de-
Tended this ruthless job on party grounds.
And this they did in order to add two
DemocraticS Senators to the next Legislature,
by which United States Senator is to be
elected.
The doings Of the Bourbons have been
such at this session that even some OF their
own adherents revolt at it. Mr.. Bell, from
Mineral county, has publicly dissentcd, and
says, in effect, that justice and right have
been outraged by their action. Other mem
bers would say the same thing if they would
make known, as he did, their honest pri.
yate sentiments.
In view Of this record, the public is to be
congratulated that the long extra session
has at last come to an end. This is the
third extra session in less than nine years
beside the prolongations Of other regular
sessions, and now we are to have code
revision, and then published code, in
hope, as it were, that a system of laws
adapted to modern times can be made
practicable under the crude and bungled
piece OF work known as Constitution that
was fastened upon us at great expense in
1872.
wethink that the people OF West vir-
GINA will have something to say at the
polls this year about this record. There
areunmistakable signs that they do not in.
tendto be bound by the DEGREES Of lcgisla.
tive caucuses. Legislators may propose
but the voters at the polls will dispose to
suit themselves.
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