Year: 1877

uc uh5tC Va VIC ShhA ASesSA SSN'
egates to submit the Capital location tc
the people, is very strong evidence
that they do not desire an opportunity
to be given to the people TO discuss the
merits of the proposition. DR.. HALL
made good point in opposing the sub,
mission Of the proposition at the time
the school elections were held,
when he stated that the law
contemplated that all matters
connected with our school system should
be kept separate and distinct from all
other influences. This feature of our
school law has met with the universal ap
proval of the friends of a public school
system. Yet the advocates of location
at Charleston are so jealous in their par
tisan notion, that they would be willing
to sacrifice the interests of our free schools
to carry their point. The reasons
for not submitting it at the time the
school elections are held are so apparent
that it is useless to discuss it. But there
are reasons why it should not be held at
time other than at the general election.
The question is one that will excite sec
tional feeling so bitter in its
character that it would be u
long time before the people OF
the State would recover from its
bitter results. Independent OF this, rs
stated by Mr.. BARR, there being no can
didates for the State and local offices to
watch the polls. an immense amount OF
repeating and election frauds would be
committed in many localities, and there
could be 10 satisfactory result arrived at'
But above all this there are reasons
why the question should not
b. submitted at all The locs.
ton Of the capital is n legitimate SUBJ
ject of legislation, and the Legislature as
a body should dispose of it without re-
ferriIg it to the people. The people do
not want 10 be hsrrsssed, and have a
great expense ssddisd upon them to do q
work that can be done by the representa-
tiyes they have elected. They elected
their delegates 10 legislate for them, and
they expect them to do it. 1t would be
a beautiful position for the Legislature
10 pass bill levying II dog tax and then
submit to n vote of the people whether
the bill should receive their sanction.
ard then in the event the bill met with
their approval to have second election
to lave the people decide whether
the tax should be levied on black
dogs or yellow ones. Of course it would
be preposterous TO imagine that the Leg
isls.ure would do any such ridiculous
thing. Yet as far as the practical effect
is concerned, or as far as the people de-
sire it, this dog tax proposition
would be as reasonable rs this
Capital location bill seems. The
people of Charleston want. the
Capital and do not propose
that it shall GO anywhere else if it leaves
Wheeling, yet in order to blind some
delegates into voting for it, they have
ssrdwiched other points into the bill for
the purpose of defeating all rival points
and concentrating as much Of the vote
AS possible on Charleston. That ls
the whole drift of thier course, and
to profess otherwise is equivalent to pro-
bouncing the people o! West Virginia
outside of the Kanswha Valley as q pack
of fools. They ought to presume that
there is some sense and intelligence
north of the Ksnswha river. This is a
question of importance to other people
than those who dwell either in Charles
ton or Wheeling. and the delegates must
look at it in that light. Can they stfor 4
to subject their constituents TO the ex-
pense, the annoyance and the sectional
bitterness engendered is the passage OF
this bill, even if it is 10 be for the ex-
elusive qualification of Charleston on the
kanawhs.