Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-26
Constitution for Virginia.

A writer in the Richmond Wing and Dis
patch, WHO'S said BY the Dispatch to be 'one
of the most distinguished statesmen in the
Valley Of Virginia, after setting forth 'the diff
culGes of our situation; of the impossibility
of avoiding negro suffrage aud Of the possibi!-
ity of escaping other and worse evils, " advises
the people of Virginia to agree upon the plat
form of universal amnesty and universal suf-
frage," and framing constitution upon this
basis, to ask at the hands of Congress Its sub
stitution for the obnoxious instrument pro
posed by the late convention. The writer
says:
"a constitution derives its validity not from
the body which frames and proposes it, tut
from its ratification by the votes of the people
If the Legislature OF State were to instruct
the Court of Appeals, instead of Convention,
to frame constitution to be voted on by the
people, it would be competent for them to do
so and such a Constitution, if ratified by the
popular vote, would be just as valid and obliga-
tory as If the same had been framed by Con-
yention assembled in the usual form. lie
then proposes ITO avoid unnecessary delay, let
the Executive Committee, in the lnterva
ruary, take the Constitution of 1850 and the
proposed Constitution of 1861, and from the
two select the better provisions, omlttlng the
word white and all other provisions that
would be in conflict with universal suffrage
and universal amnesty, and thus frame
complete Constitution. Let US, then, avail
ourselves of this idea. Let the Central Con-
sentative Committee call together. say two
gentlemen of approved wisdom and Integrity
from each congressional district, to meet the
committee in Richmond about the first OF Feb
ruary, to agree upon q Constitution for Viz
einia to be submitted to Congress as a substl-
tute for that recommended by the late Conven-
ton. Let this Constitution emb0dy the uni
versal suffrage and universal amnesty PROPOSE
ton in its broadcast terms, and negro eligibility
to boot !"
The Dispatch in commenting upon the prop
osition says: 1--WE dislike the proposal to
render negroes eligible to ef6ce; yet we are
willing to concede that even that is infinitely
to be preferred to the Bayne Underwood Con-
stitution." 1t does not think, however, that
an instrument framed in the manner suggested
would ever be accepted by Congress as the
work of the people of Virginia and says ito
present it thus, and to ask for its acceptance or
recognition by that body, would be to invite a
torrent of donunciation. 1t adds:
ga constitution framed in this or any other
manner might be presented to Congress
with the request that it and that framed by
the late convention should be submitted to the
voters of Virginia, white and black, as COM
peting constitutions, the one receiving, the
greater number of votes to be accepted by
Congress as the constitution of Virginia. y
The Wing thinks that the object Of the
writer might be equally we'll attained by the
judges Of the Court OF Appeals and such CIR.
cult judges as may be within reach, drafting
such constitution as is proposed, for submis-
sion to Congress, and odds I'VE believe that
such constitution as Judge Riyes alone could
frame would meet all requirements aad be aa
ceptable to the people Of Virginia, y and it
says: .-c-
eve have reason to suppose tn ct such &C
ton as is indicated would be properly apprecl
ated at the most influential quarters in Wash
ington; and that there is no disposition there
to subject Virginia to farther degradation.
Both papers advocate an earlier day for the
proposed meeting Of such gentlemen as may
be selected to undertake this responsible, deli
cate, and most important task, as Congress re-
assemblies on the 5th Of January and may pro
coed at once to take measures for the recon-
struction Of the State.