The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-10-29
Vote Down the Amendments.


Vote Down the Amendments
We presented last week figures to show, that
in Augusta the expenses OF administering the
affairs of the county, under the present State
Constitution, were less by s4,9l2.52, than UNI
der the old constitution, excluding the the dis
trct and township levy for public free schools.
We recur to the subject again for the purpose
of impressing upon the voters of the State the
necessary policy Of voting against the proposed
amendments to the constitution, upon general
principles. The idea of tearing to pieces the
organic law of the State is uonstrous. Moth
ing so shocks the apprehension as q contemptu-
GUS disregard for the fundamental law OF the
country OF State. People, in distant States,
without reelection or examination, prostitute
the sacred privilege of franchise by using it to
mutilate their State Constitution. and so disfig-
ure it and impair its vitality as to leave doubt
as to what really is the meaning ofthe instru-
ment. 1t is this revolutionary spirit that is
contributing largely to the paralization of all
the great interests OF Virginia, by creating dis
trust in the minds OF those who would other
wise come among us, and join their fortunes
with ours. Business men are exceedingly SEN
stive about investmelts-careful ia examining
the laws of the State, and Weighing the ten
~deney OF public sentiment, before they enter
into any engagements which imply locality
stability in the laws, and respect for the laws
by the constituent element,and wherever there
is manifested a disposition to change and NIL.
tilate, without regard to consequences, it is
there prudent men will not direct these course.
Apart from these general reasons for not vo-
ting for the amendments, there are economic
considerations which forcilay saggest to the
taxpayers to cast their suffrages against thern
We have heretofore sllewn that under the pres
ent system, the expenses OF Augusta county
are near .fce thousand dollars less than under
the old system, and unless itisthe desire of the
to their interest to prevent the adoption OF the
amendments. We are thus brought to the
question, directly, is the Free School system to
be abolished? Are the people prepared to say
that the system is a failure, and that they wish
to return to the old method of education, by
which hundreds and thousands Of the poor
children of the State were brought up in ig-
norance, increasing crime, and flooding our
prisons and poor houses? If the present sys-
tenn is less expensive than that under the old
constitution, leaving out the school levy, what
other reason can be assigned in support OF the
a1,Gn1 hf to
with the school tax and thus destroy the sys-
tenn? There is-none; and as we have hereto
fore argued, if the people will allow themselves
to be deluded into the adoption of these a.
mendments, thus 6HyestiEg themselves of the
power to exercise n supervision over the coll
duct OF many Of the public servants. it will not
be long before the Public Free School provis-
ion of the State Constitution, will be voted out,
just as it is proposed to strike out other prevs-
ions looking to the recognition of the rights
and privileges Of the masses.
We warn the people to calmly and thorough
ly consider the propriety of tearing to pieces
their organic law. 1t is serious matter, and a
step never before taken by any State. The in
telligent minds OF the country, as a general
proposition, have respect for State Constitu-
| tons. 1t is rarely that they are changed, and
when it is found that i'll the progress of events
and the development of circumstances and
conditions. certain stipulations in constitutions
| arc not applicable or need modification, the re-
FORMS are approached in a manner becoming
the dignity and Importance of the work to be
performed. Conventions of delegates elected
for that purpose by the people are called to-
gether, and the entire fundamental law is re-
viewed and considered and an instrument franz
edfte be formally submitted to the approval or
disapproval of the voters of the State. 1t lis
not done by patchwork, nor by process OF
emasculation that tears out the vital and es-
sential parts of the law, leaving it without the
distinguishing features pertinentte Republi-
can form of government.
Harris Union man during 'the war,
and Republican ait henrt after the war, and