Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-01-29

and classes will be fully represented, 10 reg
ulote the whole sui iect 10y laws, witch viii
he at all times opeu tn modification and i'm
piovemrnt, such ~ experience may suggest
or the public interest may require
Toe next mod ii1tion proposed by us is
ia strike out the provision IN att.cle eleven
relating to humrstrsd and oiner exemptions.
The laws of Vtgnii how 10 torcr povidr,
tor homestead aui other exemptions, pros
pective IN their operation. The provi,iO rs
of these laws ar believed TO he not muturi
ally different from those ia the proposed
constitution, except IN regard to pest in.
debtrdnrss, 10 which we reg,rd the pro
posed provision AS clearly in COZ n.ct with
the Constitution ci the United Statos. The
hieftmlo.tauce which we attach To strik
ing ont this prov sion grows out OF its uiu.
rious effect upon The mind, vi the peo,d-,
whose necessities sheHiy incline them t.
Ionk with favor ui,on any suggestion OF re
iie FROM prcnunry obligation.
The only Remaining suggestion Of mod q
| cation is as othe maxim m Of TAXATION q,
local free school purposes n article ,'g 81,
section eight.
II win be observed that we have made no
objection to the school system prop SD *
| cept so FAR as IL depends nn local organ,zt
ton to ~hch we have already referred.
No ,bi'ctiuu is offered in any qnarter to
| the estahl~hm-nt uf Il thorough SYSTEM Ol
free public schools, at least as RAPIDLY a.
the propnsrd constitution rrquites aud al
Though we have asked to strike out tie M de
! Of local taxion proposed, We have suugss
ted IN ldilichton which avoids sny diuinu
ion % the amount 10 te ra s-d by taxation
or publ c free school purp SOS.
la sHgge,tiug the notifications referred
10, We by no means wish To be understood
as couceding that the proposed constitution
- free from what we r,gald as important
defects III other particulars, bus we DO not
unde rgtaud il to be the purpose ot Compress
to Interfere IN such matters further than
may be required 10y high considerations al
tecting the integrity ui The Constitution and
the maintenance of justice aud domestic
tranquility. We have, therefore, confued
our objections to provisions OF the pro-
posed constitution falling pOperiy a., We he.
lieve, within the scope OF such an iuterposi-
ton.
The clauses which we ask 10 have strick-
en- uHi from the proposed constituiion are
Of diiirreut degrees Of import Ance, but the
least imp riant, we think, will be- found TO
involve some grave public mischiefor MUS
tice. Those included in our first sugses.
ton could not but plunge our state mto
civil anarchy aud discurd, aud disturb the
general ANA growing harmony of the two
races of our people, VI not To array them ia q
drpiorable hostility tu one another. They
would arrest immigration, paralyge all fyrm-
OF industry, destroy our dOnes' lc peace aud
nope of prosperity, aud renier US burden
TO the Uulou, instead Of an important addi
ton to its resources, wealth credit and
power. ..
la our personal interview with the com-
mttce we coll tpeir attention 10 The pruvi>-
ious of lhe proposed Constitution, and os-
pecial'y To that relating 10 usury, As inst}n-
ces OF the insertion iuto u constitution uf
matters peculiarly proper To be left to ordi-
udry legislation. The provision m regard
| to usury is one new III Virginia, and will es
tabish policy which, whatever may be It's
merits, must seriously sfiect all the maeri
al Interests of QUE peope.
IL is respectfully submitted for the con-
sderaiUn Of the committee, whether A
measure OF legislation SO important, aud 10
regard TO Sh h.cn opinion is So much divided
OUgbt Ote liked IN the cOas ItuilOn, aud 50
placed yund iesilative canlrol
A, to the mode of gra ntirg Felieflrom the
misehievOus pruyislnas 10 sAich ve ave re-
referred, 10 ~iti By act OF Congress, sug-
gesliug modlieatlons, as ndamcuial coud =.
Ii n, precedent, We desire Ia say that ~ has
been su.gy sled BIS the rtsult ol an exam
nation Ot the prccedcntS fru Il 10 the past
legislation Of Co0gt,s-, aud upon cuusulla-
tluu VITA numb ut the wiSest aud most
1perienced members Of both lllnses. 80
Ia the preparation of the amendments pro-
posed to the pendipg hl We have endrav ir.
ed fairly to f'tl,,w the prrccdens e>iahl SD
m Ike cases ami VS. may be perm,tttd to
sugg s., in conclusion, that We belrrye it
wih be found hat tue notifications propos
"a 10y Us viii IA fact, conti3rm tnthe pr"pos
ed cans tuition &" thr principles aud policy
f the reconstruct N &C $.
/. Is, po'hap', proper to say, We, and
thus- ~ith Wi ON ~e aci, tht ush caurnrfiug,
rs we brlirve, with tbr leupl' oi Vr2uIa,
de- not claim TO be suth,rlzru 10 speak Tor
thvn.
Respectfully.
Your b-dirnt servants,