Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-06-30
.HO.sD.7Y. JUNE 50. 1915.
STATE. CONVENTION.


revise the State Constitution has been warmly discussed,
pro and Fl some crks past by several Of the lead
ng pres-cs-among them, by the Richmond Wing. in
isvgi Of The movement, and by The Richmond Times a
gains, 1.-THE Enquirer preserving thus far cautious
I've will not say charactetsiic) silence. II To
us. however. that the Richmond dsputani. running
somewhat ahead Of the subject by discussing the merits
Of great principle. which To apprehension is not
involved IN the issue presented 10 The people Should
a bill authorizing the sense Of tho people 10 be taken
pass, and ma9riiy determine in favor of The call al
Convention. unqueslionaby one Of the most important
subjects be acted upnn by thai budy will be the re- ad
jusmru II the basis Of representation. But l. dues mol
follow necessarily. the Chimes" assumes and as the
"Whg" seems admit. that lis decision will material
y Interfere with the existing arrangement. much less
that It Ill certainly result in apporanmen Of reps
tcscnation upon The hass Of white population alone and
without reference 10 taxation. Many persons are in ia
ola Convention fI the purp Sc of remedying what
they deem defects in The constitution, who would be nj
terry opposed To any change IN that instrument which
will place the taxing power in the hntds NJ those who
might (and who arguing from the lights Of all history,
We may safely therefore assume would abuse II. But
the friends Of the linked basis have sill stronger
bnluat ihan this In tie Organization II Convention,
for example should one BE- called the Legislature, which
as now constituted is composed If aiory hostile
what John Randolph sry,6 the domination Of " King
Nnbers" would scarcely consent 10 throw the power
into the hands Of their antagonists. by giving 10 them
the ascendanoy in that hody-unless indeed consid
cradle portion Of Eastern Virginia shall coincide with
the people Of the Western part d the State in the opn-
ion ha, The mle basis the true democratic principle,
Gas in theory il certainly seems to be- however unsafe ii
may be regarded by the Eastern Vfginaos TO sanction
II under existing cfeums,aoccs.)
~ far from deenng absolutely certain there fore,
that the call Of Convention will necessarily result IN
this elementary change in the State constitution. re
gard The apprehension Of that event expressed and So
earnestly dwelt upon by the Richmond Times rs alto
Rr'hcr uoiauhd,d do mol, Of course, intend 10 de-
ny that this Is Of the objects contemplated by The adj
vocatcs Of Convention particularly in The West; but
merely 10 shuw, that, if the opponents NJ The desired
change, IN The Legislature. be themselves and
their constituents in the organization Of The Conyenion
its accomplishment is altogether improbable: and conse-
qneniy that the argument against taking the sense Of
the people, as TO tie edocy Of holding such Conycn
ou founded upon that assumption is entirely destitute
Of weight.
We have remarked above tina, the ,sLiis basis seems
ment rroi,ssedly based the popular eiH recognizes
in each individual Of the equal right to part lei
pate moi only In ia ogsnlatun but in lis administra
tim. But il has always been found necessary u circum
scribe this ptInciple by certain restrictions aud lma,
lions. in order quad sgans possible abuses in the
practical oreiaiioo =, the system. There are for exam.
pie Rights 4 property as well as rights q persons be
protected and 1t Is scarcely necessary say that tLc
former are ueh more frequently the subjects Invasion
than the latter. by d"mlnan, majority, from whose
dcspolc deesons there can be appeal petiaps the
greatest desideratun in government is the discovery Of
plan by which The etneally ackuna dyed rnht of the
majority TO goFefn Gay be endcted compatible with the
safety o The minority from oppression And the atta,>
mcnt OF that d,sidenum is always sron To be most as
sestai, uhen, is the in Virginia there are per
msnent aniagons,ical sectional Interests of A vitality
important cilasacer The taxiog pnwer if il were ia
the hands Of the majority in tks State might be SO
welded as seriously to oppress The mnoriiy-hecause
among hsl minority is widely dlnuscd tescriptiop of
property IN which the majority hid comparatively in,
significant interest Against this possible abuse is the
duty ul a lse aod good government ta guard U.nce
arises the necessity. This case fo Limitation If tho
principle above referred iu-un,ss it be commended that
the righ 81 he majority 10 re is oi mere practical i'm
pr'auce than The right Of the minority 10 protection
and 10 ample guarantees against opprtsso,t by an ar
hurdty exercise Il power thrpau oI that majority
Captra,d by the theory, in 1920 we advocated the
white basis OF representations Subsequent reflection and
experience have satisfied that the opinion we then
entertained Is .troneous and therefore should the pcnn
now decide III favor Of the call of Convention (which
TOT other teasons IN favor o We shall insist nm
on guarding the rights of Eastern Shareholders by At
eas, giving them check upon the power Of the MAORI
~ The personal right Of a Western citizen To vote
highly as he may rfza H. ia net important Ia him as
Is the right ol the Eastern stakeholder 10 prfdecnn l
unequal aNaun;a and # the one conf c with the oibcr
we think II viii be- conceded that 10 deprive the ,ormer
oi mere privilege is la less objectionable than Ia sinh
ec Tie latter 10 the possibility OF perpetual Injustice
But may mol the controversy be compromised. by 2
partial recognition Of the rights both PARTIES and which
VIII at the sade time give ample protection 10 the mi
norty2 We believe that such a compromise is M.
imWacticahle We may, for example, appnrtion delet
CATION IA the popular branch Of the Legislature upon
white population alone. and in the Senate upon popua
iion and taxation combined aud. as in North Carolina
eAieiid the right OF suffrage to all free white male cit
zens (eNcept sneh disqualified by crime. SC in
ho-eecton Of Delegates and conine the robt IA frees
holders IN the election Of Senators Ry this plan tho on
posing Interests would operate as mutual checks shoud
either a"empt 10 exercise its power nlnrionsy to the
other. Aud many other plans may doubtless be suoocs
ea To oovlae The difficulty entitled than this to the
favorable Consideration of the people.