Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-04-30
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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GovERNoR's OFFICE,

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COMMEMORATIVE OF VIRGINIA,
GovERNoR's OFF1cE,
RICHMOND, 23d April, 1874.
| Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of
As yoar session i rapidly drawing W
to close, and the chances for -matur
ing further legislation are hourly dim
J inishing, ! am constrained by . strong
sense of duty to call your attention to
q subject which, in my opinion, should
| stitqtfoh of the State ought to be
| amended thoroughly and. without un
necessary delay Many Of it, provi
sions, which are properly within our
control are as odious to the people as
they are mischievous in operation. The
longer we live Under it, the greater the
| inclination to endure and 70 become
| reconciled to even such, Of its provisions
as are vicious and demoralizing. Oc
i casional and partial changes of some of
its particulars only serve to increase
the difficulty Of Kidding the State of the
residue of evil. ~. -.
1t will hardly be questioned that gen
efal public sentiment demands a tho
rough revision OF that Instrument
What is wanted is a new, constitution,
| which, without tmpairing ahy existing
right, will in all respects conform to
the habitudes, ideas and necessities of
the people OF Virginia, as far as may
be consistent with our Federal and in
ter State obligations.
The difficulty lies in the choice of a
mode for accomplishing the desired
changes. Tie creation of constitu
tional convention at this time would
produce popular agitation not to be
desired, and would involve expenses
which the treasury is in no Condition
to bear. If ON the other hand, the
General Assembly should assume the
, task of revising the entire constitution
such action would probably prove not
less expensive than the wotk of con
vention Of the people, while it may
, well be questioned if the Legislature
would be justified in entering upon this
delicate and responsible task, for the
performance of which it was not elect
ed.
A different mode of changing the
constitution would, in my opinion,
AVOID the objections which apply to
other plans. A commission composed
OF five or seven statesmen, combining
the greatest experience, ability and
weight of character to be had, would be
likely 10 frame such constitution as
would commend itself to the approval
of the Legislature and the people.
Such commission would involve but
slight expense, and if now created its
labors could be completed in time to
be submitted to the present Legislature
at its next annual session. A constitu-
ton thus perfected and Carrying with
it such sanction ana weight Of influence
would probably receive very little or
no attention at the hands of the Legis-
lature, and would, after being agreed
to by two successive Legislatures, be
likely to be ratified by the people in
the mode prescribed by the twelfth ar
tlclc OF the present constitution 1t is
not doubted that an amendment in the
nattEre Of a substitute for the whole
constitution an amendment embrace
ing tho entire frame work of the organic
law of the state-would be equally as
admissible under that article as the sep
arate amendment of any single provi-
sion:
It is held to be clear, that so far as
that article attempts to restrain the peo-
pie from changing the constitution, it
is wholly Intellectual for such purpose.
Yet, in making such change, other,
wise than through regular convention
of the people, it is urged BY leading
minds that we are bound to proceed in
the mode described by the present con
;stitution and, without expressing any
opinion upon thaS question, l suggest
it as safest, in effecting the proposed
amendment, through the action Of the
Legislature and without a convention,
to conform to the mode 50 prescrib
ed.
Our object should be g secure an
amended constitution by the best means
at our command, and with such speed
as the circumstances will allow. In
view OF the fact that any amendment
made in accordance with the require
mcnts Of the twelfth article mist be ap-
proved by two successive Legislatures
before being submitted to vote of the
people, two years Of delay will be
avoided by providing at your present
session for the proposed commission.
If such amendment should fail of be-
ing perfected and agreed to by the
Legislature during the present biennial
term it would necessarily have to be
approved by the successive Legisla
lures to be elected towards the close
of the years 1875 and 1877 respective
ly, 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 ap
preaching. Adjournment; for it is hardly
to be supposed that commission con-
stituted at your next and last session
could complete its work in satisfacto-
ny manner and in time for your revi
sion during that session.
The existing constitution is a great
barrier to the return Of the public pros
perity. Its trainers were,' in large pro-
portion, strangers by birth and previous
residence and aliens in sentiment to our
people. The whole scheme, context
and composition of the constitution
show their unacqhainsance with the
wants of the State and even with the
rules of the English vernacular. That
instrument imposes upon the impover-
i.hed and sparse population of Virginia