Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-05

timonial to be presented to you to-day. You
have made many friends during the years
OF you administration, and among them
there is no one who has a higher regard for
your conduct, both in Office and In private
/. life, than the donor of this gift.
This is a most appropriate day on which
to present this gift. 1t is the day on which
the Democratic party takes charge OF the
general Government, and the day, also,
which terminates your official career. There
fore, it will possess a peculiar historical In
terest i'll after years. | take great pleasure,
therefore, in presenting to you, from the
Janitor Of this Capitol, this token Of his es-
TEEN and friendship"
Mr.. O'Keeffe stepped forward and placed
in Governor Jackson's hands a magnificent
gold beaded cane, bearing the following In
scription:
governor J. B. JACKSON,
"a Man Who Dares to Do Right,
"FROM
"HIs JANIToE.
'lSg5."
Taking the cane in his hand, Governor
Jackson responded as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-I cannot ac-
cept the present bestowed upon me in such
hattering terms without a reference to the
obligation that | feel towards the gentle.
man who has presented it, and to the high
personal regard l have for the donor. |
have been associated with the latter gentle
men for the past four years, and can hear
testimony tina. he has been a faithful and
efficient officer, always ready to discharge
his duties with promptness and thorough
ness. Ny relations with him and the other
state officers have uniformly been kind and
pleasant, and in parting from him and
them | hope that whenever they may 60
from these walls in the pursuit OF private
business they may be prosperous and happy.
| have now closed my official career. l
have gone in and out among the
people of Wheeling for four years,
and l desire to here and now
extend to them my most profound acknowl.
edgment for their uniform kindness and
courtesy. will not only remember the
donor, but the people among whom have
had the pleasure OF living so long.
"Youh have said, sir, that this is a portion OF
the roof tree under which my distinguished
relative was born. had the good fortune
to know him in my early days, and l can
testify to his high character and Christian
morality. he has gone, but his name will
be remembered when mine has been totally
forgotten. l will carry this cane to my
home, and cherish it as one of the CHIEF me.
mentos of my official career. Again, l
thank you"
The cane, which is a very beautiful one
was ordered from Hebrank Bros, and was
made in Philadelphia.
While tbis pleasing event was in progress
the various heads of departments had been
sworn in in their various offices, and the in
augural ceremonies came to a close amid
general congratulations from all present.
The various officials soon after reentered
their carriages, passing, as on entering the
building, between the open ranks OF
the Jefferson Escort Club, and
we're driven to their hotels, and the
large crowd which had braved the keen
March wind for over an hour rapidly dis
persed.
SKETCH OF GOV. WILSON'S LIFE.
Governor L. Willis Wilson, whose inau
gural ceremonies are above detailed, is a
native of Harper's Ferry, Jefferson county,
". Va. He followed his trade as a me
chanic in early life and was employed in
the Hsrper's Ferry armory when a boy.
lie received a common school and CON-
mercial college education. In 1866 he
took up the various branches of a liberal
education and the study of law at home,
without an instructor, and was admitted
to the Jefferson county bar in 1869, where
he continued to practice until his removal
to Kanawha county, in 1874,
Mr.. Wilson took an active part in the
organization Of the Democratic party in
this State in 1866, and has since assisted in
every canvass in the State.
He was a member of the House of Dele
gates in 1871, from Jefferson county. The
Democrats having for the first time gotten
control of the Legislature, set about emo
ing the burdens Of Republican test oaths
and other proscriptive legislation. Mr..
Wilson believed that there should be a new
deal all around-a Constitution made in
time Of peace, all Of the officers elected
anew instead of waiting for the expiration
of the terms of officers then holding and
who had been elected when fifteen thousand
citizens were disfranchised.
Mr.. Wilson took al active part in the
passage OF Senate Bill No. 10, entitled: "a
bill to protect persons who aided in the late
war between the government of the United
| States and q port of the people thereof"
BE also showed a lively interest in all the
remedial legislation of this session to nd the
State of the proscriptive legislation Of pre-
vious Republican Legislatures.
He was elected to the State Senate from
Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties
and served in the session of 1872, commenc-
ing in January. At this session the bill to
| revive the James River and Kanawha Canal
| Company, whose property, franchises and
privileges had been forfeited to the States
Of Virginia and West Virginia, after having
passed the House, was defeated on its third
reading, the last day Of the session, by Mr..
Wilson getting the floor and speaking the
session out. This saved the Kanawha river
to Improvement by Federal Government,
and over q million and a half Of dollars have
already been appropriated for that purpose.
Having removed to Kanavha, Mr.. Wilson
was elected to represent that county in the
House Of Delegates Of 1871. At this SEES
sion he offered q resolution requiring the
Judiciary Committee to report a bill to pro-
tect miners in the full value of their labor
and the free use of their wages, against the
merchandise check system. This bill was
reported and passed.
He also introduced House Bill l49, en-.
titled: "a bill providing for the exemption
Of the working tools Of the trade of occupa.
= ~
from forced sale or execution" This bill
was passed and is now q Law.
At the same session he introduced the
following resolution. which was passed:
Resolved, That a special committee Of
three, TO be known as the Committee on
Mining. be appointed BY the Speaker Of this