The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-09

portion OF the state, ably seconded by
Archibald Campbell and Lewis Sum
mers. ..,
The convention completed its work
in January, 1880, and submitted the
constitution 1t had adopted to the
voters at an election to be held in
April following.
On March /, Philip Doddridge pub
lished letter reviewing the acts of
the convention, OF which the following
are extracts: A'
1.-THE system proposed in the scheme
for distributing power falls too heav-
lily on tho west to be submitted to, but
1t falls most heavily on the country
beyond the Alleghenies, because at
present the greater proportion Of
those represented reside there, and
because it is there that there has been
and must be the most rapid increase
in population"
Every days information serves but
to increase my anxiety to see the new
constitution rejected. Every day in
forms me that our adversaries con-
slider its adoption as the execution of
a solemn compact, to secure their pow
er, and our submission, as a political
compact for the slavery of us and
our children"
He says further that II the consti-
tuition Is ratified that 1t will disfran-
chise 1890 free white men over the
age Of 81 years.
He states that in the appointment
Of the legislature 'thirty-one members
Of the House are given to the counties
west Of the mountains and 100. to those
east Of them. That west of the. Blue
Ridge thirteen senator's are given and
nineteen east Of It.
The Clarksburg Enquirer Of Febru-
airy 1880 recites that a meeting of the
citizens of Greenbrier was called to
meet in Lewisburg, .'for the purpose
of discussing the propriety of sep
aration Of the old dominion in order
to obtain equal rights"
At a public meeting held in Bev-
crly, March 10. 1880, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved, that we would sooner
commit the new constitution to- the
flames and vote for division of the
states than its adoption.
1t was claimed during the discus.
sion of the merits Of the constitution
that out Of company of seventy-four,
soldiers from Virginia In the war Of
1872 only two had the right to vote.
They had the privilege of fighting
for their country but not the right
to take part in its government.
But all the efforts Of the west to
secure q vote for every white man
who had reached the age Of 81, and
to adopt a just apportionment OF the
members Of the legislature to be elect
ed west OF the mountains was In vain,
the constitution being ratified by a
vote Of 26.055 for and 1853 against.
Every county east Of the Blue Ridge
except one (Warwiclk) gave major
ity for the constitution, while every
county in what is now West Virginia
except two. Jefferson and Hampshire,
voted largely in favor OF rejection,
casting 1883 for ratification and 1915
for rejection. Harrison county gave
nine votes for and LIP against the
constitution.
Brooke county. the. home Of Dod-
bridge and Campbell, gave a unani-
nous vote for rejection.
Thus was sown the seeds OF injus-
tice and district which bore fruit in
later years. er IVY, =. 4
The new constitution was unpopu-
lar in the west and in short time
demands were made for radical
change in che organic law. This final
ly resulted in the legislature calling
9 constitutional convention, which
met on October IL, 1850. and adopting
constitution which was ratified BY
the people on the fourth Thursday OF
October. 1851.
The election for officers under this
constitution was held on the second
Monday Of December, 1851.
The first legislature under It's pro-
visions met on the second Monday in
January, 1852. and the governor and
other state officers qualified January.
16, 1852: Z ;, Sac.
The delegates to this convention
from Harrison county were Joseph
Johnson and Gideon D. Camden.
This constitution was remarkable
in the general advance embodied In
II and for its radical difference from
former ones. m
The properly clause heretofore re-