Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-01-15


law is necessary, To that end milf
tary board has been convened and has for
INFLATED a law which, with come minor
charges, will be laid before you. The present
pay of tho National Guard in actual ecryice is
too small mud tho term of eneampment for
drill is entirely too brief. While believe in
tile absolute government of this country by
the civil authorities, still good men cannot
close their eyes to the fact that forces are ut
work in our country and exigencies may arise
any day which may require the vigorous and
timely action of the military
The Governor urges more stringent pro-
vision for the collection of taxes on the tele-
graph and express companies, suggests the
adyisability of taxing sleeping. cars. and adj
vises the enactment of a law which win make
the car trusts bear their just proportion OF
taxation. He also advises that the insurance
law of the State be revised in order that the
issuance of wildcat insur ance charters may
be prohibited. he also wishes law enacted
placing building associations under tine con-
troll of the State.
BouNDARY CASE OF MARYLASD AGAINST
WEST VIRGINIA.
"This important case for the settlement OF
the boundary line between the two States is
progressing as well as its nature will admit,
The interests of West virginia arc carefully
protected by the attorney general of the
State and by Mcssrs. Price and Flournoy,
who, under appointment of Governor Flem-
ing, have special charge ofthe case. Irccom-
mend that the appropriations asked for by
counsel be made, as they are absolutely neces-
sary, and this case is of great Importance to
West Virginia.
THE ROAD SYSTEM.
s.The road system of this State is utterly
bad and thousands of dollars are yearly spent
by US in constructing mere temporary roads
which arc washed away by the first seasons
rain. hope the Legislature will revise Tho
whole system and introduce system of con
structing permanent roads. / have some
views upon this subject, but am informed thai
the subject will be SO carefully gone into bJ
the Legislature that will refrain from pre-
senting them at this time.
ILLEGAL. VOTING.
4Speaking as one who has had some exper
fence in politics, my mature Judgment is tina
the use of money in elections in any shap'
must be vigorously arrested by the men whit
love their country, or this generation viii
surely see the beginning of the end of thu
true Republican idea of government.
sMy experience is that a want of regard TO
the electoral franchise is extending to all sec
tious, to the sparse as well as The thickly set
tied districts, to the country as well us to tn
town, permeating all classes and alike dc
stroying all classes. at every election mel
are bought and sold like cattle, and it is s.
| com mon that no longer is it remarked. w
cannot hope That this great evil will be cor.
rccted by mere change of election machin
cry or by an addition of greater penalties TO
| any infraction of the election laws Some
thing more will be needed. A good strong
public opinion, q renewal, recognition and ap
plication of the principle that popular govern
ment cannot survive except through the popu
| lar will untrammelcd and uninterfered witt
by any other influence than the desire for tn
supreme good of the lend is needed. w
| must concedc, however, that the we'll guarde,
ballot, surrounded by system of laws pun
| ishing any one for violating its sanctify. is o
great benefit. The Australian ballot system
although very many ways have been devise'
to Gefeat It's provisions and to successful.
land the corrupt vote in the ballot-boX, mus
| be recogniz ed as n great step forward in tn
way OF pure elections. 1t has certainly don
away with some of the most apparent evils o
our ELECTORAL system.
GAS we plainly see that hedging the ballot
| box with difficulties in tho way Of the scducet
voter has been step forward in tho path o
purer elections, so do believe that increased
penalties for the infracton of the election law
will have potent effect. We should hastei
| n.,l XUl
have debauched the ballot-box and corrupted
public opinion.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
| ITO that end r ccomm end that the prescn
penalty for the sale of vote at an election
| be done away with, and that in lieu thereo
there shall be substituted the disfranchise
ment and ineligility to Office of a voter foun'
guilty of selling his vote. This penalty
backed by strong, honest public opinion
will have good effect in this State ant
country. The penitentiary is the penalty to
day for this crime but the penit entiary has NJ
tcrrors fer man bad enough to sell his vote
Let him who commits this great crime ant
sells his birthright be political pariah. The
living exhibit of one having no part or lot il
the government of his country, standing silen
and pcwcr!css on the day when the either
should he supreme, will be more terrible thar
incarceration in the pcnitcntiary. Imprison,
ment has been tried, and despite the penalty
of the prison this appalling evil is day by day
spreading more widely over the country and
sinking deeper into the life of the people
Truth aud good taste direct me to say that
these words are not intended for a Legislature
differing from me in political faith, but would
have been spoken just as earnestly to a body
composed of majority OF my own political
friends"
Next Saturday is Gen. Robert E.
Lees birthday.
Public printer Benedict, in his an