Year: 1869




day ordered to engrossment In th'
House by vote of3 to %. lfreiched
it will probably be put upon Its pas
sage to-day.


Those who read our legislative re
ports will see that an effort was mad'
to let the people vote, at the next stat'
election, upon the ratification OF th'
bill. That proposition was beaten by
vote of - yeas to % nays


1t appears, then, that upon the mos
important questions in their state III
fairs, the Capital and the choice OF Reg
istrars, the people are denied all voice
We have already expressed our views
upon the action of the House in retus'
ing to consider the proposition to alio"
the people to elect their own Registrars
Its refusal to allow them to pass upon
this Capital question, is still more
abominable because ii has not even the
small excuse of party policy to plead IN
e1tenuation. The members of the House
who support Parkersburg prefer to rep
resent the views of their constituents.
If they do SO, there is no fear but that
their action would be ratified by the
popular vote. If they do not, it is rank
Injustice to deprive the people of all
redress.


The argument in opposition to the
proposition is that the Constitution i'm
poses upon the Legislature the duty OF
locating the Capital, and to refer the
question to the people would be shirk.
ing of responsibility. This is very
shallow defence OF a very weak posi-
ton. 1t is clear from past votes that
the members of the House are not salts
fed as to what place majority of the
people want. Charleston, Clarksburg,
Parkersburg, Grafton, Buckhannon,
Weston, Big Forks of Fishing Creek,
Wellsburg, and several other points,
have each received, at different times,
nearly half, and in some instances tal-
ly half, the votes of the House. Can it
be possible that anything like one-halt
of the people want each of these places
to be chosen as The permanent seat OF
Government The conclusion is clear
that the members have no settled con-
viction as to the point which Is the



choice of a majority of the voters. How
then can their views be better ascer-
tained than by giving them an oPpor-
tunity to pass upon this hap-hazard
location which the House seems dispOs-
ell 10 make'


But some say they are bound to locate
somewhere. la answer to this, it may
be said that no location at all is inf
nitely better than a bad location, espe-
cially if that location is to be made by
aplunge in the dark, and ali possibility
of correcting mistakes cut OFT. But to
meet the point more fairly, do the poo.
pie want location at this time We
are satisfied they do not. Look at the
last campaign. Outside of three or four
counties, competing for Capital honors,
where was the Capita; mentioned 7
From a pretty fair knowledge Of the
case, we say that the question was
hardly considered, and heuce 1t IS that
the members know not what place
their constituents desire.


OF one thing all may rest assured.
They want no more taxation. 1t Is i'm
possible to make au appropriation for
Capital purposes, and without an ap-
preparation location would be farcical.
Why then, may not the Legislature con-
slider the Wheeling proposition to fur
nish buildings free of cost 10 the State
officers and Legislature, provided the
seat of government be kept here for n
few years, or until the State gets into
condition to stand the outlay incident
to the erection of Capitol buildings
We are informed that our citizens are
prepared to stand by their original pro-
position. Why may it not be accepted