Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-09
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Full Text OF An Important and Interesting
Document.

Governor Wilson's message, to be read be-
fore the Legislature tomorrow, treats only
of matters Of general interest to the State
and foreign to the work of the various de-
pntments. The reports from the exeeu-
tive officers have been unavOidably de-
layed and no reference has been made to
them. They will be made the subject of
a special mes sage some time during the
session.
The megslga is as follows:
JANUARY 8, 1889.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of Dele
gates:
Daring the two years, 1887 and 1888, it
became necessary, in order to meet the un-
usually large appropriations made by the
last Legislature, to borrow S143, 200, OF
which sum 1926, 900 was borrowed from
banks and SIS. 900 from the Board of the
School Fund, all of which amounts have
since been paid, and, in addition thereto,
the sum Of S67, 545 46, on account of claims
filed by sheriffs prior to 1885. There has
also been paid $1,000 on account of the
sos, 600, which wss borrowed from the
Board of the School Fund during the years
1885 and 1886.
It's very gratifying fact that for the three
fiscal years of the present administration,
ending September 80, 1888, there remains
but one delinquent sheriff in the State;
and, in that instance, the amount is less
than one thousand dollars, and is in no
danger Of loss.
BY reason of unavoidable delay
in preparing for the printer, the
reports from the Executive Officers, and
from the Boards Of the various institu-
tiOns, / am unable, at this time, to COM
municate concerning the same, bat will
do so as soon as possible.
FRAUD AND CORRUPTION IN ELECTIONS.
We have Just passed the firit century of
our political existence. The dangers
which btset the experiment of selfgovern-
ment have. 80 far, been avertsd, and the
gieat Republic still stands as luslrOus ex-
ample Of the superiority of democratic
republican institutions, OF the happiness
and contentment of free people, and OF
the grand march of human pro Iress, where
the manacles OF despOtism and 'the divine
right Of kings" are unknown.
1t is no mere American boast that this
/ is the best government the world ever
saw II stands forth as towering fact
as we turn the pages Of recorded time,
whether of ancient, medieval OF modern
| history. IL is the paramount duty Of
patriotism, wrether Of the public or pri-
vate citizen, TO observe, and, with jealous
care, guard our political organization
against every form Of danger and innOva-
ton. Proud of the strength aud splendor
OF cur institutions as we are, and have Just
right TO be, we should profit moth
| ing from the experience of ths
past should we reckon them beyond
the dangers of ambition and corruption
| Whether armed legiOns he bought with a
price to strike down existing institutions,
or the ballot in the hands of a free people
be polluted by the bribe-giver and the
bribe-taker, the re.ult in the end, mus, he
/ one and the same thing
The corruption of the ballot must bring
with it a loss Of public confidence; and the
| loss of that confidence can but pave and
make straight the way for the destruction
of existing forms.
Upon the ballot rests the entire super
structure Of our political fabric; aud lis
corruption is more dangerous than open
revolt. for il undeImines the very founda-
tions with insidiOus debauchery. And yet
this is q peril TO which our whole country
is this day exposed. Under the sham Of
campaign expenses vast sums of money are
raised and distributed TO corrupt the voter
and defeat the pnblic will. 10 many in
stances men are selected for exalted public
positions whose only qualifications are
enormous wealth and a ready willingness
to provide money 10 tempt theindigent and
delile the ballot-box.
Throughout the country, fer months last
past. the very atmosphere has been laden
with the CRY of fraud. Rsprolch has
/ been cast upon our own State IS
never before by illegal, fraudu-
lent and corrupt voting in almost every
county within its borders This 1t so pal
pable. that che who runs may read.
/ The capitatiOns of 1sSi were l33, 522, and
the entire vote, after the most active pO-
litical campaign ever made in this State,
137. .5s7. The capitations for 1888 were
/ Ia. .4OS, aud the entire vote l59 44O. The
difference in the capitatiOns and the vote,
in 1884, was 065; in 1888 1t IS IL. O32
This shows an increase OF votes IN four
years of 81 ,sj3, which, if legitimate,
would indicate population of 100000,
and an increase in four years Of much more
than 100, 900. IL is certain that no such
incref So hiss taken place.
TIE purity of our elections imperatiyely
demands a revision Of the election laws
The public sentiment Ofthe State demands
/ il These crimes should be made 20 odiOus
that no man with the sligtest claim to
common decency can dare to cOndOne
them.
recommend that registration law be
enacted. and that our election laws be
amended so that bribery aud fraudulent
voting may be prevented and the purity OF
the ballot-box preserved
That the certainty and severity Of the
penalty may be measured by the enormity
of the crime, l recommend that false reg
istsring. or voting, or procuring, or adyis
inc the same TO be done, or brlbing
OF attempting TO bribe or giving or offer
ing TO give money OF other things OF value
for the purpose, express or implied, to in
auence sny person not to vote, or any shift
or deyicee to evade such provisions. and
every other violation of the registration or
election laws, the eflsct Of which may be
/ 10 destroy. or change the true result OF an
election. be made felonious crimes. That
any oerson, whether implicated or not, IN
committing any of such oflenses, shall be
compelled 10 testify against any person
concerning such offenses; but such witness
tn he exempted from punishment for the
violation Of the law Of which be may have
been guilty, and, concerning which, be
NAV be compelled to testify. That no
statute of limitations shall bar piosec J.
tion. and that il shall be the duty of the
Circuit Courts, at every term Thereof, to
give the act in special charge to the grand
jury.
Ogcourse. the recommendation in rela-
tion 10 a registration law, is necessarily
limited within the following Constitution
al provisions: "
''No citizen shall ever be denied, or re-
fused the right or privilege Of voting at an
election. because bis name is not, or has
mot been registered or listed as a qualified
voter. See. IL, Art. G, Constitution.
"The Legislature shall never authorize
or establish any board or court OF registra-
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