Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-05
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS.

The people of Virginia having decided, by a
vote of more than two to one, that Convention
shall meet in October next to revise and remodel
our fundamental laws, it becomes every good CT
tzen to bethink himself what changes will con-
duce to the common welfare. 1t is emnently de-
sirable that the delegates should be selected with
careful reference to their opinions on the different
questions of constitutional reform. Otherwise
the people will undoubtedly find that they have
thoughtlessly committed themselves to measures
which they never intended to approve. 1t has
been suggested, we know, that political distinc-
tons should be rigidly maintained in the choice
of candidates, and we have little hope that the
prestige of former party contests will fail, on this
inappropriate occasion, to have its usual in
huence. Yet, we cannot but be persuaded that i
the public mind could be brought to bear uponthe
incongruity of federal politics with the subjects
which the Convention will have to consider, it
would reject the former altogether from its consde-
ration The proposition is uponi its face anomalous,
and incapable of even plausible defence. Sup
pose the constituency of any one of the districts
desire universal suffrage. At ordinary elections,
decided majority of the voters give Democratic
votes. But prominent man of the Democratic
party is candidate for the Convention who is ut
terly opposed to universal suffrage. He has
Wing opponent, however, who is in favour of
universal suffrage. Would it not be the most abb
surd thing in the world for this Democratic con-
stituency to elect the Democratic candidate mere
ly because he is Democrat? This case is but
one example of what must take place in many
districts, if the people permit few political lead
ers to frame party tickets, and turn the Conven-
ton into mere device for promoting the pros
poets of one or the other of the great parties.-
The popular Judgment, upon the all-mportant
questions which the Convention will have to de-
cide can never be ascertained, if the delegates be
chosen solely with regard to their political opin-
ions. The only just mode of selection would be
to require the candidates to make known their
views as to all the proposed measures of reform,
and then to choose between them, according to
the voters opinions on the same subjects, and his
confidence in the integrity and ability of the res
pective candidates.
In respect to the different notifications of the
constitution which have been most earnestly pro-
jected, we shall doubtless have frequent occasion
to express our own views before the 22d of Au-
gust We shall now touch only upon two or
three which seem to US to deserve greater promi-
nence than the rest.
In the first place, it appears to us that the most
wholesome change, which the Convention can
make, will be the entire obliteraton of those geo.
graphical divisions, which are prescribed by the
: Il l..
to produce alienation between the Eastern and
Western portions of the State than all other
causes together. Whatever principle of repre-
sentation be adopted, the Blue Ridge and the AL
leghany ought no longer to be recognised as divi-
ding lines between our people Let the Conven-
ton establish the principle upon which represen-
tation is to be based and let that principle be made
to pervade the whole State without reference to
mountains Or rivers. For ourselves, we hold to
the revolutionary doctrine, that representation and
taxation should 60 together, and we believe that
as Just basis of representation can be devised,
is the combines ratio of taxation and white po-
pulation. If this principle were fixed in the con-
stitution, and the Legislature required, from time
to time, to re-apportion the Senators and Delegates,
according to progressive changes in the two ele-
ments OF representation, the people would forget
geographical divisions, and aequiesce cheerfully
in the basis of representation thus established.
We concur heartily in the almost universal sem
timent that most of the present restrictions on the
right of suffrage should be removed The Con-
venion of 1890, stopped at a miserable half
way house between freehold and universal suf-