Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-04-30
Judge Snead's Letter.
Opinion Of q Republican De7egate-He
Refuses to Support it-His Reasons
Therelor &C., DC.

JUDGE EDWARD K. SNEAD, of Accomac
county, who was elected to the Convention
now in session at the Capitol, as Republi-
can, who has always been consistent I'm
ion man, and who held the Office Of circuit
Judge under the Alexandria government,
expressed the following opinions Wednes-
day on the constitution made by the Con-
vcntion. He said:
I will not support the constitution as it
noac IS, but shall vote against it. [ do not
expect to take any active part in the COM
ing campaign, but if do, it will be in OPP.
position to the constitution. There are
some good features in it: but it is so OBJ
jectionabo in some fits provisions, that
do not feel that | could support it without
forfeiting my claim to the title Of an honest
man, and of friend to good government.
The system of county organization is
very Objectionable to NE. 1t is an unneces-
sary and ruthless innovation upon the es-
tablised habits and time-honored institu-
tons of our people. 1t creates swarm of
petty and superfuous officers, which, in
the language of the Declaration of indie
pendcnce, will ''harass our people and eat
out their substance" This objection, how
ever, [ could and would waive, if there
were not in it other features decidedly
more Objectionable. The imposition of the
iron clad oath on officers will render it i'm
possible to officer the State with compe-
tent men, 1t will exclude from holding
office nearly every native born Virginian.
There are u,sr; Republicans who cannot
take it, and many who could consviv... tious-
y take it, who will not do it. would not
do it myself. | would not accept the high
est Office in the State if were required to
take that oath; because I, like every man
whe remained in the Confederate lines, did
things inconsistent with strict loyalty to
the United States Whether such things
were done voluntaly or not, is question
knopa only to the party himself. To all
0atcard appearances the Union men act
cd as voluntarily as any Ole else. The i'm
position of this oath will result in the fill
ing Of the Offices of the State with incom-
petent officers, and, it is to be feared, in
some cases, With unprincipled demagogues.
The consequence will be that we shall have
an inefficient and bad administered gov
ernment.
But more than all else, I am opposed to
it because Of that abomination of all abom-
nations, that scheme of legalized robbery,
known as the retrospective homestead.
cannot sanction by my vote any measure
so contrary to all the recognized principles
of common honesty-so vioative of the
first principles Of the social compact-so
destructive of the primary objects of gov
eminent, one Of the chief of which is the
protection Of the rights Of property This
measure robs honest industry of its just re-
ward-takes from the creditor the hard
earned accumulations of years, and gives
it to those who have lived in extravaganza
and ease. 1t will ruin every merchant in
the State who has done a credit business
There are many small farmers not worth
two thousand dollars (the amount exempt
ed) who are amply able to pay their store
bills, who would avail themselves of this
provision, and leave their creditors Gin the
lurch." In many parts of the State, in
consequence of the great depression in the
value of real estate, an exemption of two
thousand dollars in value of land will Sc
cure to the debtor as much of this species
of property as four thousand dollars would
have bought before the war TO illustrate
the injustice and iniquity of this measure,
| will suppose the case or a man, land
there are many such,) who, having accu-