Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-24
THE STATE CONsTITUrIO
Message Of the Governor.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNOR OFFICE,

As your session is rapidly drawing to close,
and the chances for maturing further lcglsa
ton are hourly diminishing, am constrained
by a strong sense Of duty to call your attention
10 subject which 10 my opinion, should be
Immediately considered. The constitution of
the state ought to be amended thoroughly aud
without unnecessary delay. Many of its pro-
visions, which are properly within our control,
are as odious to the people as they are mis-
chievous in operation. The longer we live no
der it, the greater the Inclination to endure and
| become recuuced to even such .ot Its provls-
| lou as are vicious au'i demorallzlng Occasional
and partial changes Of som" OF its particulars
only serve to Increase the difficulty Of rlddiug
the state of the residue of the evil. 1t will
| hardly BE- questioned that general public scn'l-
meut demauds a thorough revision OF that H.
| strument What is wanted is i new constltu-
ton, which, without impairing any existing
| right, will In all respects conform to the hab
tudes, ideas aud necessities of the people of
| Virginia, a. far as may be consistent with our
| federal and Interstate regulations.
The difficulty lice iu the choice of Il mode for
accomplishing the desired changes. The crea-
ton of constitutional convention at this time
would produce popular agitation, not to be de-
sired and would involve expenses which the
treasury is in no condition to bear. If on the
other hand the General Assembly should as
sumo the task of revising the entire couStltu-
ton, such aclon w0nld probably prove not less
extensive than the work Of convention of the
peopie, while it may well be questioned if the
l. .glslature would be justified ~ entering upon
this delicate and responsible task, for the per
tormance of winch il was not elected.
A different mode OF changing the constitu,
ton would, 10 my opinion, avoid the objections
which apply to other plans. n commission,
composed OF five or seven statesmen, combln-
ing the greatest experience, ability and weight
Of character to be had, would be likely to frame
such constitution as would commend itself to
the approval of the Legislature and the peo-
| pIe Such commission would Involve but
slight expense, and II now created It's IaLurs
could be COM lcted in tlmc 10 be submitted to
the present Legislature at its next annual ses-
siou. A constitution thus perfected, and car
ryiug with it such sanction aud weight Of lnhu-
ence, would probably receive very little or no
alteration at the hands OF the Legislature, and
would after being agreed to by two successive
legislatures, he likely to be ratified by the poo
pie 10 the mode prescribed by the J2;h article
of the present constitution. 1t Is not doubted
| that an amcGdiUcnt IN the nature o. Sub5tl-
tute for the whole constitution, an amendment
embracing the entire framework OF the organic
law OF the State, would be equally rs admlSsl-
ble under that article as the separate amend
ment of any single provision.
It is held to be- clear thar, so far as that arti-
Gle attempts to restrain the people lroru chang
ing the constitution, it is wholly lnctfecuaI for
such purpose Yet in making such change.
otherwise than through regular convention
OF the people, it is urged by leading minds
that we arc bound to proceed in the mode pre-
scribed by the present CONSTITUTIONS aud with
out expressing any opinion upou that question,
| suggest it as safe, in etfcctlng the proposed
amendment, through the action OF the Legls-
lature aud without convention, TO couform TO
the mode so prescribed
Our object should be to secure an amended
constitution BY the best means at our cOmuIaui,
and with such speed as the circumstances will
allow. In view OF the TACT that any amendment,
made in accordance with the requirements Of
the 18th article, must be approved by two sue
cesslve legislatures before belng submitted to
vote Of the people, two years OF delay viii be
avoided by providing at your present session
| for the proposed comml>Slun Ii such amend
ment should TAIL of being perfected aud agreed
TO by the Legislature during the present blen.
NAL term, it would necessarily have to be APP
proved by the successive legislatures to be elect
cd towards the close of the years 1875 and 1877,
respectively, before it could be submitted TO
the people for ratification. Such delay Of two
years must result from failure TO take proper
action before your approaching adj 1urumcn;
for it is hardly to be supposed that comulis-
| sion, constituted ut your next aud last session,
could complete it, work 10 u satisfactory man
ner and 10 time for your revision during that
| session.
The existing constitution is great barrier
to the return of the public prosperity. Its
trainers were, in large proportion, strangers
| by birth and previous residence aud aliens 10
sentiment to our people. The whole scheme,
context aud composition OF the constitution
show their unacqualntanca with the wants of
the State, and even with the rules of the Eng
| lish vernacular. That Instrument imposes up
on the Impoverished and sparse population Of
VIRGINIA frame work of State and local gov
ernmcut so complicated and costly, that it
must Of necessity be oppressive in any but
| wealthy aud closely settled State. After Vir-
GINA had been stripped OF a third OF her ter
| ritory and more than halt of her material val
ucs When the legislature should have been re-
duced 10 numbers onc-half and the government
couformcd to the diminished size and resources
of the State, the legislative department was
made relatively more numerous; its sessions
twice as frequent, aud the whole machinery of
the government rendered more expensive, than
when the State was powerful, rich and pros
porous The constitution is full! of details
which belong only to the domain OF ordinary
legislation.
1t puts UNUSUAL and needless restrictions up
on the legislative power, which crlpples the
government 10 its efforts to cquaze tile burth-
ems of taxation and to restore the state credit.
II contains provisions aud illusions touching
our past history which are irritating and ofeo-
slve to a majority of the people, and which
we're designed to stigma'ize deeds and facts
such as illustrate the honor ofVirgIna aud the
heroism of her dead sons 1t even lay, sac
religious hands upon the bill OF rights; IN some
respects mutilates that great instrument, and
seeks to lower it from the controlling relation
its authors intended it to bear TO the organic
law of the state, by making it part OF the body
of the constitution, as II inherent and iuaIlena
BILE rights we're possible to be abrogated like
any Ordinary constitutional provision, 1t |