The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-22
The Amendments.

The Amendments.
Ie would be uncharitable to charge that
the majority Of the members Of the General
Assembly have agreed 10 submit all the con-
stitutoual amendments together In order to
have them all defeated. Rather let US suppose
that whilst some have been actuated by such
a motive, tho most Of those voting to submit
them In this manner did so for the purpose
OF having them all ratified.
In other days constitutions were always
submitted as whole, but latterly 1t has
been the practice to submit any part OF con-
sti.utiou considered especially important, or
OF doubtful popularity, to separate vote OF
the people. In New YORK., few years ago,
long list of amendments to the State Con-
stitution were submitted to the vote OF The
people; bat the privilege Of voting for or
against each one was accorded to the voters.
The amendments were all so described on a
printed strip as to be easily identified, and
this strip was headed with the following
words, or words Of the same purport:
"Eor all Of the amendments not erased"
The law OF course provided that the erasng
OF an amendment was to be counted as 9
negative vote.
Now, we can see no good reason for not
allowing the people Of Virginia to vote in
this manner upon the several amendments
which are 10 be submitted to their verdict
mex, fall. There need be 10 confusion at all.
4. man who could not vote understandings
when furnished with such list as We have
Indicated, or an election officer who could
no: easily count the vote correctly, must De
vecy stupid-the one unfit to vote, ana the
otter certainly unfit TO bold an election.
I,hc plan of requiring man TO vote upon
ali the amendments by a single affirmative or
ner,,jye Indication would be ludcrous IN
q ca if ne could see it put into actual prac-
nee. The election officer would be heard
crying out "All those in favor of biennni
scs,:ors, smaller legislatures, DISTINGUISHING
FIR is:ty larceny, paying members aalsry,
ard r~qui;;ng the payment OF poll-tax as
rrer,a u..te TO voting, say 'Aye.' All those
eooos> d say NO." Now, who could cast
20 horest or intelligent vote under tueh cir
svustsnSsi
Quo OF the greatest boons ever conferred
1oou our people WAS grautedto Virginia by
Congress " uen, at the Presidents suggestion,
the voters we're permitted to vote separately
upsR different articles or sections OF the UF.
pERwocD Constitution. Can any reason be
given why those sections should not have been
Submitted together which will not apply In
the case before US? The friends OF the pre-
sent ecaeme will say those sections were
highly Objectionable to majorlty OF the peo'
pie Of Virginia. So they were. But the
fact that tue friends of certain OF the pond
Ing amendments arc unwilling to submit
them to a separate vote is evidence enough
that they suppose those amendments also to
be objec siouable to msjority of the people.
Indeed, some Of the speakers had the candor
to avow in the House Of Delegates that they
desired the unpopular amendments to sus-
tain the popular ones; but no member had
the capdor to confcss-What some aspirants
will be undesirable enough to, charge Upon
the hustings-that he was anxious 70 hsVe
all the amendments drowned, and 80 tied
them all up in one sack.
We are afraid to trust to biennial sessions.
There can hardly ever be twelye-month
during which Virginia will not need some
lerislasjon-some, too, that cannot we'll be
S;sp.nsed with. And yet We are not 10 be
allowed the privilege OF voting to require
the prepsyment of a poll.tax rs q pre-rcqui-
si,e 10 voting, nor to disfrsnchse petty
thieves, unless we will also vote for biennial
sessions. And uice versa-those in favor OF
biennial sessions are not to be allowed TO
vote for them unless they will also vote for
the other amendments. What possible con.
nect!on is there between amendments 80
dissinlar?
AS to making these amendments test as
between the two parties, and setting down
the friends of biennial sessions rs ConserVa-
tives and the opponents of biennial sessions
as Republicans, we buve TO say that we do
ROT propose to be governed by any such alb.
surd test. We shall vote as we please. Our
respect for certain advocates Of this ridicu.
lous party policy prevents us from charac-
terizlng them as anything worse than
mistaken and misjudging partisans. 1t
would De as sensible 10 make an lssue
as between solar and mean time. or as be-
tween the World. and the Trtbuae-almanse.
No such issue can I've made without the con-
ourrence of the press even if State conven.
ton of the Conservative party were to ap'
prove of the silly project. But where is the
member of the Legislature who would be
willing to rise in the State Convention ROOF
to meet and propose 10 insert in the Con.
servatiye platform plank In favor Of bleu'
nial sessions sad rule out a. Republicans all
who would not stand upon that plank!
The fact is that the amendments ought to
J be submitted separately. The large majority
that voted in the House Of Delegates in favor
Of submitting them all together indicates
nothing more than that the opponents o
some Of the amendments deemed that to bt
the best mode of securing their defeat. We
are inclined to think that these opponents
will be deceived and all of the amendments
will be ratified.
Why not have fair vote? Are we
never TO get rid of such attempts to stne the
Il