Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-30

The Convention draws its long life to a close.
The mem bers all seem intent on adjourning by
Thursday, which is the 3lst of July, in order to
bring the new Constitution within the operation
of the act passed by the last Legislature, which
provided that should the new Constitution be
agreed upon by the 1st of August, the vote on its
ratification or rejection should be taken on the
4th Thursday in October.
One of the chief matters that remain to be
acted upon by the Convention is the Schedule
which is TO accompany the Constitution, and to
prescribe the manner of its taking effect The
committee appointed to prepare the Schedule re-
ported one some days since. Its general features
are these: The President of the Convention is to
certify the amended Bill of Rights and Consti-
tuition to the Governor, who is forthwith to an
nounce them by public advertisement, TO the PEG
pie. A poll is TO be taken, on the fourth Thursday
in October, of The uofers qualified to uote under The
e1is.ing Constitution, who will vote for ratifying
or rejecting the Constitution and Schedule. The
Governor is then to declare the result by pro-
clamauon TO be published once week until the
79cord Monday in December, and if majority
vote for ratifying, he is also to make procama.
ton for a general election, on the same day, of
Delegates and Senators (according to the new
appornonment) and also of Governor, Lieuten-
ant Governor and Attorney General The
Legislature so elected, is to meet in Richmond
on the second Monday in January next, and the
elections thus made of delegates and senators I'M
der the schedule will vacate the seats of the dele
gates and senators elected under the pre- sent con-
stitution and laws bit other officers elected under
the present constitution will hold their offices until
their cessors are qualified. In case of vacancy
in the Office of Governor before the qualification Of
his successor, the duties of the Office are to
be performed by the Secretary of State; but the
Legislature is to provide for the case of vacan-
cy in the Office of Judge. All laws not in con-
fiict with the new Constitution are to remain in
force until legally repealed The schedule con-
tains some other details, which it is not important
TO state.
Two questions of much interest must arise upon
this schedule. One of these is whether the new
Constitution shall be submitted to the voters now
qualified, or to all who would be qualified if the
new Constitution were already adopted. The
committee have adopted the latter view, and have
in our Judgment, decided wisely for we can per.
ceive nothing better than sheer Dorrism in the op-
posile doctrine.
Another question connected with the schedule
relates to the propriety of the Conventions I'M
dertaking to embrace in the ratification of the con-
sttuton by the people, a wipng out of the Legis-
lature which will be regularly and legally elected
on the fourth Thursday in October. We know
that a precedent was given for this course by the
former Convention, but it does seem to us to be
without due warrant The time when new
Constitution shall go into operation is of so little
Importance i'll comparison with its substantial
merits or faults, that the question Of ratification
must necessarily outweigh that of time, and the
wishes of the people touching the latter will real
ly not be ascertained by the vote.