New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-27
VIRGINIA CONSTITUTIONAL Gov.
VENTsOA.
Correspondence ofThe \. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence ofrhe y. Y. Tribune
ALEXANDRIA, April TO- 1885,
Our Constitutional Convention has closed Il.
session. A proposition OF Delegate from Acconsc te
submit their work to the people for ratification was voted
down. and the Constitution and Ordinances as sdoes
BY the Convention. without any expression Of popsa,
assent ere promulgated the supreme law OF tho Con
monwealth
We venture the assertion that in the history Of Rem
FesentGtiye Government this Is the first instance ghe
Constitutional Convention has assumed 70 concnde
all action by the people, and without their approval to
prescribe the organic law u State.
The work and duty Of such Convention at any tins
are of the gravest character and in tine Of public dis
order Ike tho present of fourfold magnitude tn.
greatest and most important function or Convention
had TO peri, vas tie abolition Of Slavery. But thv
not all: tie framework OF the State Government
to be examined the week part 10 be replaced and
the whole structure 10 be rcinodeed Above all n
proper basis of representation was 10 be prescribed
and such distfaBChisemcnt OF traitors from the priv
lcges Of citizenship as would secure the political povei
OF the State in the heads Of LOYAL citizens And ali
Just Government deryes authority from the consent d
the governed free and fll opportunity shonld have
been afforded TO tie people sfer due delbcratioa. to
raty reject the recommendations Of their dc!cg cs.
In fact without their ratification, the Constitution lacks
the essential clements, of organic law and imposes
| binding obligations on the people.
! The Ordinance '!ABoLIsHISG AID PRoHlBITING STAY
FRY n THg STATE POWER was bnt the recognition VI
/ , las, higher than ht man enactmenis-a fixed fact
peceesari,v growing out OF re Reoeion and yer being
ordained by n Convention o. sHc people Oh 'rTnia,
may be hailed With satisfaction - eu ~, ahge sep ~
huInan proeress But the merit Of pc -l1S thls Uhis
nance OF Freedom ia obscured by the l"dnsss o
tae Convention In falling 70 provide by Deee2 airy inlta
ton If the elective franchise FOR the safety the very
existence u the Government.
With army VI traitors devastating large poitoo
Of its territory threatening destruction 10 oyal ei sehs
aud al advance onhe national caphei with treas ~
ebie conspiracy usurplrg It's GoyeFnment demanding
allegiance at tho point Of tie bay0net with pJplla
ton in most part poisoned by prejudice blinded by pas
sion enbittercd against the onion. and symphiSlRg
with the Insurgents The first and most obvious duty Of
Convention providing organic aw Tor restoring the
thorty II tie State would seem TO be llat Rebels In
arms their sympathizeTs and abett0rs should be de-
barred the power Of further mischief and excluded
from all part participation or control IN the restored
Government.
IL is huniating TO confess tbat the Convention has
manifested total disregard Of this most obvious sag
gpstiOn Of oxpcdiency and safety.
In prescribing the qualifications for voters it Is pro.
vided that,
sac. !. Every white male citizen ofthe commonwesh. Of
the age Of twenty year, WHO has been resident o. tbs
year. and OF The county city town where he
offers to vote Tor six months next preceding o. election end
his Constitution under the laws Of the eAia ser
the reorganization Of The county city or town kere h o-
vote, shall be- qualified to vote for meo, Of the Gfnr
horsr,r that sha be allowed 20 vote who whea he
offers TO VOTE hano, teregp sAs -a got before have
taken, tho following osth Do solenny swear ior affml
thst will support the ConsttDSsn OF She United Sia-a ard
the laws made in pursuance thereof a. lhe srrne w 9se
land thing In The Constitution sad laws Of tie sae
uis or In the ordinances OF the Convention which ssmbj
lichmona The thirteenth day OF February eighteen
that win uphoid snd defend tie OF irsinis
restored BY tie Convention wch assembled st Wheensos
the eleventh day Of June eighteen hundred and siIyone sns
that have not since the mt Day y JIHU'rg egAfe.r
hundred end sryar voluntarily given aid or asiaanee N
y way 10 those IN rebellion agsus. tbs Government o. he
| ii, u, n
The door is thus opened fOg admission 70 tie polls OF
al who Will subscribe 10 an oath carefully worried of
the benefit OF Rebels, qualified 30 a. hardly 10 eI-
ciude traitors In srB- since they IN their oocsIee
are 10 determine whether hc.r action however tfao4'
Gus, voluntarily for the purpose o. promoting the
Rebeon:" and II rccntiDg OF great severity ~
Rebels il Is further ordained that the Legislature shall
have power TO pass an aCt or acts pHsci plns means
whereby persons who have been DISTINGUISHED snail or
may De- restored 10 the rights Of voters When ID ter
opinion il viii be safe.
Thus 1t via be seen the Legislature has no power 70
declare that traitors reeSirt with the blood 0 loyal
citizens shall be excluded nom the pods, but have
the power "a remove at pleasure she slender barriers
erected by the Constitution Tor the protection OF loyal
citizens.
this Convention q farce. Tho members have made
il one It, work hes been performed in all iEoonslder
ate and satleTny Mdurcr and Is WfohY suited totae
wants OF the State in tdc new career On which ste -
about 20 enter It's actun, feeble and lrraO!1te rom
The irst arrogant and despotic at the close jnshher
the riulcule ana rgproach cl, upon ana Is proceed
ings We had learned ~ expect tCt5 want OF states
mnuship. comprehension, vigOr and 6rBne>' behEas
the representative ot people Just emerging iurihco
aud cnn bed. IRON tie disorders % revolutions pu'
we were hardly prepared Tor th cgOTnag aet or Hro
gance and conccit l. Is difficult 90 eomrrenend tua
tGcse 10 whom We delegated authority 70 consider ana
submit for our adoption if proved elementary ave
under which the COMMONWEALTH should be lc0TGanIeo
and restored should aEToSaic dcsoilc P"Ne.S "'noss
nonultr sanction trcroe the organic iaw, anj Oh tue
alo Instrument iich dccGres the biacSa free cnsrsn
provisions which in practical working VIII make thS
II is Tor our people 70 consider wat ac-ion becomes
them under Ibis embarrassing complication We laa
bvps, TO see the Insurgents drAren ioni or UO dets
We nave ur1ved 10 be delivered IRON oa ensmes; Sith
lbs hopciulness but equal earnrsiness we m$i now
pray 10 be delivered from our tFieaas -.
F"' LOYAL VIRGINIA