The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-02-26
A Revolutionary propositions.


on. them to suggest and adopt some remedy
of relief or some solution Of the difficult
monetary problem that is before them, that
they seek to consume their time and make a
shcw of earning their IS per day, BY the
widest propositions and the most extrava-
giant suggestions. They seem to be abso-
lutely desperate. The Petersburg charter is
an instance of the reckless temper Of that
body--a bin as clearly unconstitutional and
destruction of the fundamental idea of pop
ular government, as any proposition could
be. This is in keeping with the proposition
of Mr.. Stuart, at meeting of the joint
committee on constitutional amendments, to
enquire, "shall the question be submitted at
the November election, whether the people
will clothe the. present General Ass emily
with the wersand duty Of framing new
constitution for submission to the people p
Itscems from the proceedings of the joint
committee that the proposition was adopted
by a decided vote. and that report embod-
ying Recommendation TO that effect is now
being prepared to be presented to the two
houses. Should the question be submit. d
to the people and an Affirmative response
be the result, it is proposed to- have a spe-
cial session of the Legislature to commence
about the 18th of November or list of De-
cember to enter upon the work Of framing
new constitution. 9'a
The constitution provides method of pro-
posing amendments which is attended with
40 extra expense except that Of publishing
the amendments as proposed in Richmond
newspaper, which nine-tenths of the people
never see. It also provides for submitting
the question to the people 10 1888, and
each twentieth year thereafter, whether there
shall be a convention to revise and amcud
the constitution. While the clause contain.
ing this provision might be tortured into
giving to the Legislature the power Of sub
hitting to the people the question Of revis-
ing the constitution prior to 1888, the plain,
honest understanding Of it is, that the pres
ent constitution should stand and its proyis
ions be tested by time, except where amen
ded BY the Eethod suggested in the instru-
ment. The whole suggestion comes from a
spirit OF bad faith, and is violently in con.
iict with the plighted obligation of the
people as announced 10 the adoption Of the
constitution.
We suggest that such revolutionary out
givings are not in consequence with the ira
ditoual character Of Virginians. The people
are morally bound TO give the present con
stitusion fair trial, and inaugurate chan
ges as experience may advise as proper and
right. A radical wiping away of the funda-
mental law Of the State, under the influence
of passions yet too much infamed to be
healt' y, would starte the country into a.
mazement, and confirm the retroaction Of
the commonwealth to a degree that would
be paralysis to her material growth and re-
demption.
There are two provisions in. the presen
constitution that tie people should watch
with the intensest vigilance the free schools
and the inhibition Of State credit to works
ofinternal improvements. These should stand
firm without the possibility of change, al d
while the obstructionists and plunderers
combined, could hardly have the impudeuce
to propose change in this repeet now, it is
well enough to keep them removed from the
possibility of attack.
1t seems to us, that if the present Legis-
lature will dispose Of the business legiti-
mately before them they will have as much
as they can conveniently attend to. Up to
the present time there has not been that tenn
per or craftsmanship exhibited that the peo-
pie should dasire to enlarge their powers, and
place in their hands the creation Of organic
law. They have, as yet, risen no higher
than mere piddlers and trifers with the
interests Of the people. They have shrunk
from a courageous approach to the main ques-
tion before them, and given no evidence of
their ability to grapple with the pressing de-
mands Of their constituents-a solution of
the public debt question. When they have
disposed Of that satisfactorily it will be time
enough to consider whether their services
are desired IN a broader field Of intellectual
effort. a e
Of Mr.. Stuart, those of his constituents
who voted for him, expected much. The
Legislature seemed to sympathize with that
expectation, in placing him at the head of
the most important and responsible commit
tee of that body. If he will bring his ex-
perieuce, his learning, his unquestioned, a.
biIities to his aid as chairman of the Finance
committee, and report a. plan s living the
difficult question Of the State debt-give
the people something tangible. SO they can
see clearly what'it is their interest and du-
ty to do-whether toSsubmit to an Increase
Of their taxes over one hundred per cent, to
propose compromise, or virtually repudi-
ate-he will have discharged duty far
more worthy of commentator, than the
foolish hunt after something new, and the