Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-08-05
THE CONVENTION QUESTION.

Mass Meeting in Berkeley county, They
cover the whole ground as to the Con
vention question:
ResolUed, |. That 1T is EXPEDI-
ENT to hold Convention, at an early
dav, to reform and remodle the present
Constitution of this State.
RssolueL, III, That the experience of
the Jasmine years, during which time
this Constitution has been i'll operation,
has very satisfactorily shown that 1t
has been powerless to protect those fun
damental privileges, which OF right be
long to the citizens of every Free Gov
eminent. In illustration OF the truth
of this proposition, we refer to the fol
lowing facts:
lst. That within that period, more than
ten thousand of the native born citizens
of this State, have in aperiod ofprotound
peace without trial or conviction for
any offence, by sr pos tactO ordinances,
been deprived of the right Of suffrage,
md reduced to the condition of aliens
upon their native soil. 1t is true this
obnoxious provision has been recently
abrogated by decisive expression of
the Popular voice, but the relief thus
afforded, is attributable exclusively to
the altered and improved temper OF the
Public mind, not to any inherent virtue
in the Constitution and that such a
measure of vengeance should for four
long wears have over-shadowed the lib
critics of this State. shows, that we are
without that Protecting Power, III our
organic law. which it is the great pur-
pose of written Constitution to guar
antee to every citizen of Free Govern
ment
I'd. In further illustration Of said
proposition, we refer to the imposition
of retrospective political test oath, and
through its instrumentality, to the de
privation of many native born citizens
ofthe right to follow the occupation
and business to which they had been
reared to the denial to them of the
right to sue for the redress of civil
wrongs in the Courts of Justice to the
denial of the right Of appeal from arbl-
trary and illegal judgments and DEGREES
in the inferior Courts to their dlsqual-
itication as Jurors in all cases civil or
criminal; and to their disability to hold
any office Of profit, trust or emolument
in this State. 1t cannot be said that
these were mere acts of Legislative
usurpation. The Supreme Judicial ti-
bunal of this State has declared, that
this whole series of disabling and dis
qualifying acts were passed by the Leg
iSlature under powers conferred on 1t
by the present Constitution of this State.
Sd. Regarding the retrospective polit-
zeal test oath aS an instrument of OPP
preston. dangerous to the rights and
liberties of the people, and capable in
any period of excitement of being used
for the worst purposes Of Faction; a
subtle and cunning invention Of our re-
cent diSordercd times, undreamed OF
amidst all the civil and political revolu-
tons and fiery conflicts Of party which
have marked the histories Of England
and France. we should consider any
constitution rs subject to deep rcproach,
thar dill nov with the experience OF the
last seven years before us, forever pro
hibit resort to such an eXpedient, by
any Legislative body for any purpose
whatever.
RcsoIre! Ill. The OMISSION in
our Constitution Of an article torbdding
the Legislature to pass any special lar
for any case tor which provision might
he made bva general Ia,o and rcqulr-
iac that body to pass general ia'rs for
Ill cases where Il general law can be
made applicable, has converted our
Legislature INTO favorite tribunal for
the adjucation Of private interests ; un-
necessarily prJtracting the sessions OF
that body causing neglect O. the true
objects for which Legislative bodies are
created; interfering with private rights;
and disturbing the peace Of entire com
munitics by i'll considered, partizan, and
er par7e special enactments
ResoIueI. ". With an article incor-
porated into our Constitution limiting
the Legislature to its appropriate tmc-
tons, biennial sessions of short dura-
ton. would be adequate to all the pur-
poses of general Legislation, saving Tor
more important State purposes the
money unnecessarily expended by an
nual elections and annual sessions.
RESOLVED, V. The experience OF our
State Governments in this country has
shown tlst one of the most valuable
safeguards against hasty and i'll consid-
cred, not to add partial and corrupt leg
islation, is the obligation imposed by
those Constitutions (but omittedm ours)
recurring the Governor to affix his sig
nature to every Bill before it becomes
a law. The undivided responsibility OF
the Executive is an important correc-
tive of that divided responsibility which
each member of large assembly shares
in common with his numerous assO-
ciates. 1t simply refers obiectional leg
islation back to the body for reconSide-
ration, with the public eye intently di-
rected to the conflict which has thus
arisen between the Legislative and En-
ecutive departments OF the government.
Reso'red, VI. The frank, open and
manly system of riun uoce voting which
has been characteristic of our people
from the earliest settlement OF Virginia,
and which has ever been regarded as
one of our most cherished institutions,
should be restored and the secret bal
lot under which so many frauds may
i L., loo, committed and conceal