National Republican., 1876-02-02
VIRGINIA.
How the c,nssitut.on i, rinisrsd.

AOW Luo SJABh - A41Aoiots
Ever iince the secession Democracy Of Nir-
giniA succeeded 10 obtaining control Of the State
Legislature they have perslstently engaged in
"tinkering" the constitution framed BY the con-
vention Of lso9-by the way, the best Instrument
under which they have ever lived. This con
slant amending, n persisted 10, as IL doubtless
organic law Of the state before the expiration Of
the twenty years within which period conven-
tlon cannot be legally held, that the authors OF
nize any ssmblapce Of their work. save. perhaps,
that Of the public school feature, which has so
grown in popular favor as to be beyond the reach
Of Democratic legislators, however much they
might desire to destroy it.
1t Is, perhaps, very generally known that the
emendatiOn Of its work as follows: Amendments
to be passed BY one Legislature, submitted to
vote Of the people az 2 general election; then
lsture. In this way many radical changes have
been made which are, perhaps, but q pre,udeto to
plated this winter there Is one that proposes
TO ABOLISH TIE SYSTEM OF BALLorISs
at elections and return to the ante belium rirG
voce method. The subject is one that Is prolit
%spts U Of vrPps and as prospeeEe
various sections OF the State, are their papers
and politicians arrsyed for or against the pro
For Instance, In the Norfolk district, where
ballot box stuting and illegal voting has been
Of the locofsco party until it has attained the
magnitude of science, We find tt 10 Democratic
and Sonthwt st VIrgin's where conscious sup.-
riority Of numbers has precluded the necessity
for o resort to the nefsrious practices Of their
Democracy are unit in their desire to return to
the rira roce method Of voting.
eastern portion %% sno Of m. stats wis6t less bV
change, that party would gain to limited e1-
tent IN the middle and southwestern sections by
I'D, ala -, AEt
to vote the locofoco ticket, who nov, without q
knowledge Of the fact becoming too paolic for
their comfort or interest," occasionally vote with
That the ballot system, when fairly admins
tered by impartial judges, with the sole view Of
eliciting honest expression Of public sentiment
unawed by extraneous circumstance,
is THE BEsT, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED,
is an indisputable fact, and one that cannot sue
cessfully be controyerted. Yet, as conducted in
commiss;oneTs .nnointed Nv nsrtisan " ;pgsns. sNt
vile party purposes, We most unhesitatingly de-
clare our preference for change to that Of uirG
with Republican sentiment generally. and that
1t is somewhat repugnsnt TO some members OF
that party in the Virginia Legislature, as we'll as
in the rank and file Of the party. Yet the very
snomolous condition of affairs in that locality,
and the urgent necessities Of the case. constitute
the change one Of selEdetensesif RepublIcanIsm
would have any ground lett to stand upon
To illustrate the abuses aud abomipaole Dsmo-
cratic corruption, growing out of the ballot sys-
sN
tered Republican majority that runs up almost
into thousands, by system of ballot-stutiing in
the hands Of the Democracy. Look for n moment
at the Norfolk district, where, by placing q num-
Ter Of dimn utfve ballots in OF the usual size,
thousands of tickets were found 10 the 0cx that
the clerks tally could not account for, following
which Il becomes necessary to draw out until the
legal number remained, but, as was anti:ipated,
the small tickets were left.
BY such means as this was the defeat of the
gallant Platt, one of the bes. and most useful
Representatives Virginia has ever had In the
failing, where the majority was so very great
against them, to put In enough Of the class of
tickets indicated, the Democracy OF that district
resorted to other contemplate subtertuges and
outrsges on the expressed will OF the people, the
effect of which in this case is TO keep Col. p for
time out Of position to which he Is clearly enti-
tied, and q future result of which will still
FURTHER ESDEAR HIE TO; THE PARTY
and people, for whom he has for years zealously
by no means confined to the district above referred
to, though we have adverted to II as an example
illustrative Of the readiness with which what
might have been blessing is, when In corrupt
hands, converted into a curse too affictiye to be
borne. In view, therefore, Of the e1cesses COM
are likely to continue to still greater extent
under the Democratic regime that curses the Com.
monwealth, we respectfully submit that it would
not only be the part OF prudence. but OF mature
wisdom on the part OF the Republicans, not only
to cease their opposition to the change contem-
aid in their power in etfeeting the object. Albeit
they-the Democracy-may seek the change for
purposes, as they suppose inimicsl to Republican
ism, elect the change, and 1t may De found as
twoedged sword or as boomerang, destroying
those who sent in forth on sn errand Of mischief.