Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-29
A STRONG ARGUMENT AND GOOD
REASONS FOR VOTING DOWN THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
To The Editor nf the Reqister.

gested by some persons as remedy Tor tAe
amendment muddle" that the Governor
commission only the persons elected at the
October election in 1884, and not those
elected at the November election, 1891
This course, it seems to me, would only be
adding fuel to the flames.
And who does the Governor commission?
The persons composing the Legislature he
has othing to do with; nor has he, the
chief executive and basement-story offices;
nor The county officers. The Constitution
of the United States provides, that each
House of Congress shall be the judges OF
elections, qualification and returns OF its
aEn members So his certificates to the
persons returned at the October election
from this State to Congress would be held
for naught, if it should be decided by. the
House that the November election was the
lawful one.
And now come to the cases OF MesSrs.
Snyder and Woods, if elected at the Octo.
Der election 1854, to the Supreme bench,
and Governor Jackson commissions them,
could not another and paramount tribunal
reverse his action? No good lawyer queS-
tions it, Hence this way out OF the mud
die don't dispel the darkness and let in the
light.
Next comes Col. Byrne, one oi the frame
ers OF the proposed amendment, and tells
the people he thing is plcR That the
election held on the fourth Thursday in
August, 1872, is precedent for the ratitica'
ton of the amendment and election OF Off
GERS on the second Tuesday in October,
1884, and that no one ever questioned the
validity of the August elections Of 1872"
Bear in mind, sir, that that election was
held under the Constitution and Schedule
of 1872, and not under the Constitution and
laws in force prior to August, 1872. And
bear. toe, in mind that it was also provided
m the Constitution of loI2, in the
event Of ratification, that certain officers
then in office should continue in O!fise
for stated periods, and all laws not in con
lict with said constitution and schedule
should remain in force until replaced OF
modified by the Legislature.
The proposed amendment to be voted on
the second Tuesday in October 1884, has in
it 10 such provisions. Ii ratified it
LangSs the time for holding the election
from second Tuesday in October 1884 to
the Tuesdysy after the first Monday
in November (it don't say 1884, but it must
mean 1884 because November comes next
to October, and no other time, by fair con-
struction can be substituted. A schedule
might have been annexed to the proposed
amendment, continuing in office in the
event of ratification all persons elected at
the October elections in 1884 for the full
time for which they were elected, and pro-
yidiDg that tthereafter) the general cleo
tons for State, district and county officers
and members of the Legislature shall
be held on the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, 1856, and every
two years thereafter But this was not
done, and to avoid the danger of electing
two sets of officers, two sets Of Congress
men and two legislatures headed by two
coptending parties ready to knock each
other down, concluded and did write you
on the sth inst that in my opinion the
best and only way out CT the difficulty was
to rote doun the amendment still think so,
and hope it may be the pleasure Of every
friend of law and good order to go to the
election on the second Tuesday in October,
1884, and cast his vote against the amend
ment.
And why change or amend the constitu-
ton in this respect, if it be true that Fed
eral elections are carried and Federal
officers and agents are elected by the aid
of Federal patronage and the use of Fed
eral money wrongfully contributed by
Federal employees? If the States have
rights and may exercise them without
Federal interference, l know of no better
way Of preserving them, than to keep the
State government and Federal government
in the elections of these officers and agents,
rs wide apart as possible.
Our present State Constitution has in
corporated in it day for electing officers
and agents, and the Congress of the United
States has fixed by law another and differ
Representatives in Congress; and 1 submit
whether il is not best, for the liberties OF
the people, and the purity of the ballot
boxes, that those laws shall remain un-
changed, and let the elections be held as
now-the one on the second Tuesday in
October, 1884, and the other on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in November, 1884,
and every two years thereafter.
WN. T. ARNOLD.
Virgins Liable 60 Trial for Treasoa.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Virgins should have notified the Queen