Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-12-04
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER ,, 1919.
MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE.

were in the CITY, There 10 believe that the
two houses will organize - NJ. to-day, and receive the
Governors Message Having during the last year, iuy re-
yise and dgesed the laws of the State and given mighty
impetus the of Internal Improvement 1t Is mol hKe
" that many very important will come up Tor their
acon md The present session will BIZ sort OF legislative
ntcrregnun mainly employed in putting the car oil nae
properly on the broad track laid down before the ra'her
than III carving out routes and building lie" ioe"'
The session of the Legislature will therefore, uouo
less be much curtaled though shall not pretend TO '
The time like the Augusta indicator, which sees mo reason
why that body should continue in session longer IMAM ~ ="
40 days. agree with the too sharply ana UNJUST
" expressed language of the same paper 'hal II Is o' "
re- probable they will adjourn long there is any money
in the Treasury" With that paper however, we cordially
"hope they will undertake 10 revise the rerisen oil the laws
and commence repeating before the laws go into operation
We had legislation enough last year and the members vi
the Legislature really do wish TO accomplish something lot
the good the people, them take the convention ques
ton pass bill authorizing the sense oil the people 10 Dc
taken the question exchanging their organic law lher CON
sltuets will thank them for that kind OF egislao ana
The Refomers will 90 10 work in the spirit of compromise we
think our Eastern friends will meet them in the same SPIRIT
and that great good will thus be accomplished
This brings us to views on question when we
have no time space elaborate but merely tohocae
our opinion We refer Convention 10 revise the State
I
agita,ed we expressed views in favor Of Convention
not only because there were radical defects that
cried out for change because the then state oi things
fair and lust compromise all sections OF the State coud
be more certainly secured We appealed to Eastern Virginia
to look the matter in its true light and 10 uhi'e
in movement which mlsl result IN much more
beneficial terms themselves than gears hence, wheh
the West shall attain greater population and strength
The views then entertained have been confirmed by SUISSE
Quen, reflection and observation and we again aVow our
ann,oba,ion of measure which public Of justice
and right demands as believe rs evidence Of public
sentiment in Eastern Virginia, we quote the remarks
Of four Journals Of Eastern Virginia this subject
Aside from other important reforms the system OF do-
hle voting by which few landholders control
counties almost enough the legislature sys-
tenn as unjust in itself abhorrent TO the iiindalneia
principles of Republican institutions M Itself justly
the call of CoG"eIlun. But we VIII auoe again 10 ms
subec, which is barely touched on here In The mean
time We again ask attention 10 the developments OF sen'
mcnt in Eastern Virginia in The journals above cited and
| trust that the Legislature will pass blu an,horzing inc
| sense of the people to be taken on this subject
The Democrats who fresh from the people will no
doubt be prepared Ia do Justice themselves their
and to the State whose magnanmity has been so ungene
rosy reou,ed BY their political opponents in their tempo
rarv and accidental ascendancy. To their wisdom and firm
| ness We leave the question.
To the members of both Houses wish pleasant har-
monious and satisfactory session Whatever else may ne
tide them we cannon doubt that they will, with the same
unannity as a, the last session. their unaieabe
of the North and of devotion to the
| Rights of the South and TO the Union
| from the Charlottesville Jefersoaia,.l
In several of the counties in Eastern AID Western Nr
gina people have held mecngsto express their opinions
respecting the cali of 10 revise the Constitution
of Virginia Although in this section of the State there has
been no agitation the subject yet think majority OF
the voters of Abemare would favor the call of such Con
For curse YES we are N iaYo 81 80 amending the
Constitution cs 10 give every white male citizen OF TWEEN
,y-one years of age who is pauper IDIOT deranged
convicted of criminal offence tho right to vote We are also
in favor of cectng the Governor Clerks of Courts Consta
bes Magistrates &C. by the peoples and az 'he basis OF re-
presentation while think the white basis the most equ
present We think however good poicv Cos' v VIA,
while Eastern Virginia can make 'Gr,.' e hs,ei m
gna il sh0ud be Of be Western s Counties will 90 far OUT
number that of the Eastern that we shall bc compelled 10
submit any terms which the West may dictate virginia
should be one and ndvisbe in feeling and and now
that railroads will be in operation connecting the East
and together reasonably be presumed that there
will be greater identity of interests with both sections Of
the State than has been the heretofore We trust the
Legislature this winter will pass Bill Tor The calling oil Con-
yenon or one 10 the voice of The people the subject
lSem &c Lys1sa sfn R1ya srioy or THE
NEXT LEGISLATURE.
The Wings of Amherst who would be able to make
respectable fight in that county but for the large foreign
smother desperate effort overwhem The resident roers of
the county and give the election of the Amherst Delegate 10
men who reside other counties About the 18th OF last
month"; being the ast day of grace they clandestlney
made some additional foreign voters ont OF some
barren mountain lands which said to have been puchas
ed for the purpose at few cents per acre
We have nothing say Of this attempt oyerwhem the
Democracy OF Amherst nor of those who We're the prime
Leaders in the matter They had a right make the
if ,hey choose and they have right the
nee, witch holds 10 them OF carrying the county OF
Amherst next spring But call the acnt ion Of the Demo
-, Inuisla no foctn md
them whether they will apply speedy corrective 20 his
outrageous abuse which has grown up under our Cons-
lion The Wings control at least dozen or Two ot Tho
onnties in the State through the principle Of this double
yoing The counties in the nolghhorhood OF Richmond and
all the large towns are thus controlled amhers IL Demo
cratic by at least one hundred majority while the party has
lone been hard pressed because OF the arge loen vote
| which is thrown III upon her ;,
not the next Legislature order the call of Convention TO
amend the Constitution, and purge II OF TINS ana oler ea
lures by which nearly the whole power ard patronage OF
Democrats hesitate their duty in this matter
The Wings could carry the Legislature but by is
system Of double votng and if IL is permitted 10 continue
much longer will be in the power OF ha parry 70 confo
the Legislature every year, in defiance OF the uinos, eSer
lions of the Deocraey we anu, eI a, he e
press and people OF the State will unite with all Their power
| In the appeal.
From the Petersburg Republican,.
STATE COMMEMORATE our State Cons!i !aln,
is not adapted TO the necessities and demands OF inc pes
age very few will deny Many portions couu =. oes
With great advantage the people This we believe Is .he
almost universally entertained sentiment throughout t
State In the West efforts for several years nave
been made get Convention for the purpose Of amending
and improving our State Constitution. This CALL however
has moi been avoraby responded by Eastern Virginia
from the fear that her interests as now protected would ne
TO greater less extent eoparded by the Convention we
have for some time that this was not the true policy
! for the people of this portion or the State.
In the first place, it is ungenerous TO anticipate unkna
Western friends ,se in mus sna an
u he had and we cannot think that the West will be more
they ea Us as Sa, oa9 2o ean
the connse of the State is influential The people Of this
aborng under many evils nh s'sa ~
nial Of the right Of suffrage 10 large respecfa1se ana s
gent portion Of erery community in he State Inc man. VINO
is liable nj any moment be called upon 10 bear arms IN o
fence of his State and who compelled 10 pay taxes unless
he happen be house or the owner Of
dollars worth of estate By present unjust law posNe
" denied the humble privilege of voting Tor man VINO Is 10
laws for his This i sous h, IN pfn cas
yenon and so change this law 10 make all OF our wo
male citizens free men, the better il will be tor the
.h;o biaS q