The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-24
Moseace from Governor Kenper.

MASSAGE from Governor Kemper.
Governor KEyrER's message upon the SUD-
;eet Of amending the Constitution Wit Al
tract general attention for the importance OF
the subjects OF which it treats. 1t is late 10
thc session to urge these matters upon the
General Assembly; but the Governor nc
doubt thinks il will take only little time to
adop, the plan he proposes OF appointing
commission of learned and experienced men
to propose amendments to the Consti'u'.ou'
Governor KknrkR has evidently very NV. =.
rc.nnct for the Constitution, aud ccnsufes ~
in manner 30 unqualified ihas .uc 49,
will hardly concur with HIM. on"'' 90
,;,,,o r.s,cc, for the trainers Of 1t a. ne cal
n,vc Init thew copied the different parts 0.
tho constitution from the constitutions u
o,her STATES and of the United States, making
tbe old constitution ofFirsinia their srouho'
work.
Nor should we esteem It safe TO so 100 iaf
with amendments. The greater the num-
Der the more difficult to pass them. inc
Governor touches some OF The points in the
Constitution which he thinks should be
amended, and one Of them is rs to the num-
Der of representatives in the General AS
scmb,y. He thinks the number should
be reduced. During the deliberations last
year of the Pennsylvania Convention to
amend the Constitution OF that Slate the
Question whether it were best to have q
large or limited number OF representatives
in the Legislature was considered in the
mos, searching and phllosophic manner. In
formation was gathered from many sources
and the conclusion arrived at from pas
experience was that large bodies were more
incorruuible and reliable than small ones
We have Inclined 10 the opinion that th'
numbers Of the present General Assembly
were not too large. We should fear that i
either body were smaller some Railroad
King would put it in his breechespochet.
The most valuable amendment that could
be made to the Constitution would be the
requirement of q test for the exercise OF the
rich, Of suffrage. We prefer the tax-test 10
tina. Of intelligence, because mans ipa-
bity to read is not always his fault, and the
State needs money. No man should be al
lowed TO vote who has not paid bis capita
ton tax.
But il is best to offer only a few amend
ments at time. Indeed, we for one think
th:. no great number Of amendments Is
needed now.
We should certainly oppose the removal OF
the restraints put upon the power of taxation.
These restraints 80 to secure impartialty
and equality in apportioning buFtnens
amongst the different classes ; and We trust
that minorities will continue to lave this
protection. Let the burthens be PIT on all
alike when the State wants money.
If one Of the restrictions already in the
Constitution had been little more plainly
Torded the tax which the Legislature pro-
poses to put upon merchants would never
have becn thought OF by our lawmakers.
While on the subject we may say that one
excellent provision OF the Constitution has
been nu!iEed by the present Legislature.
This is the provision establishing the county
which has been rendered almost
nueatorv. We can truly say that u body
which has shown such disregard for the
Constitution can hardly be considered the
mos. competent 10 amend 1t, and we would
a. soon see this important duty referred to
a commission, as recommended BY the
Governor.