Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-01-22
THE ADVOCATE.
FRIDAY, JANUARY p, 1890
THE LAST OF TIE CONVENTION ,

We have the pleasure of laying before our
readers to day, the close ng scene of the Con-
vcntion. In this plensu c, the people will no
doubt, participate. We b ave n confident hone
that the anxieties and a. citations which, since
the commencement of the session, have disturb
ed certain portions of til State. and in which
every part of it has, moro or less participated,
will now subside, and that the convictions of
mutual interests and co? imon late Will restore
to their pristine strength md harmony tho ties
of kindred and affection which have heretofore
bound together every porii on OF Virginia. We
trust, too, that the lessons which the last thsee
months have inculcated With such promn cnt
force, will not be lost upon our people. L ach
portion of the State will leaf tkat those in ar-
csts and advantages which, from geographical
position or from any other cause, ale supposed
to be peculiar must be sustain cd with modara-
ton; and that the uhcempro missing and fiery
zeal which will listen tono abatement IN ats de-
mands and admit of norelaxat ION or inoGhtsa-
ton in the principles ou which the demands InreI
placed will be.compelled to mitigate its ferkor
If any thiHg Is hoped to be accomplished, wien
: it cones,ia contact with antngonizng intercsts
and conflicting principles Extremes in pofitits,
as in those principles which regulate the condAct
of daily life, are equally to be avoided They
are positions in which the mind of man canAot
LONG sustain itself. Principles taken up with
moderation are most likely to be maintained
with firmness and consistency. They are most
apt to stick by US, and we by them.
We likewise p7crent to our readers the Com
stitution which is the Ultimate result of the
prolonged and arduous labors of the Conven.
Ia u,;u l,o 10 frnp he Iran Ia
of the select Committee which we two weeks
since laid before the readers of the Advocate, in
some important particulars and each amend
ment we consider to be an Improvement. The
committee of the whole had resolved that the
election of Governor should be made by the
people; and in the event of no candidate hay
ing a majority of the whole number of votes
given in, the Legislature should make the selec-
ton from the two having the greatest number of
votes This feature was changed on the mo-
ton of our valued delegate, Gen. GORDON, and
the election of Governor is given, as at present,
to the Legislature. This change is amply vim
dicated, we think, by the reasons urged in its
favor in the speech by which Gen, GoRDoN ac-
companied and sustained his proposition. a
council of State, TO consist of three members,
is also provided.
Mr. MADIsoS's proposition providing for re-
appor;ionment of representation throughout the
Common wealth, every ten years after the year
JS41, by a conctrring vote of two-thirds of each
House of Assembly, limiting the number of the
House of Delegates to 80 and of the Senate te
&c, is likewise part of Constitution.
Judge MARsIrALL's proposition to give to the
Senate a right to amend revenue bills, as well al
all other laws, is, also, part of the organic law
All these changes we look upon as improve
ments, and are well calculated, VIC think, t.
commend the Con siitution to the favorable con
sideration Of the people. IL will be submitted
for approval or rejection to all those qualified
under it to vote Tor members Of the Lesisla
ture.
There is however, one omission which w
cannot but regard as presenting serious defec
in the Constitution, though by no means sue
an one as to diminish our hearty and nearly en-
tire, appreciation Of its general features Th
Convention, by urge majority, embracing
nearly all its ATTEST and most distinguished mem
hers have refused to. Incorporate into the Const
tuition any article making provision for futur
amendments. The negative of tile prcpOsltio
passed without discussion the only speec
made upon the subject being that Of Mr.. RA'
DoLpH, which we published last week. Th
result has surprised us not little. If its rcje'
ton gave any grcateF assurance Of pcrmanenc
and stability to-our institutions, we should Ii
less regrctii Butts absence constitutes no sa
guard against the passion Gor frequent chang
which possesses some minds. Many look 70
ward TO the calling Cf future conventions wit
cagerness and desire, Goueli we truh that Il
experience of the last three months issoniewh
diminishing the nun.bcr- o' such Now wou
it not be better, TO us il seems very desitcnbi
that some method slroDld have hecn provided