Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-22

THE CONSTITUTION ADoPTED-oRGANIZA-
rIoN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SCHOOL CT TEcHNoLoGY-coNvIcT La
BoR-sTATE EXHIBITION HALL-TARIFF
DISCUSSION Al EXHIBITION IN
LONDON.
The Farmers Convention of Virginia
met last Wednesday night in the Hall of
the House of Delegates in Richmond.
About two hundred delegates from the
various sections of the State were present.
The convention was opened with prayer by
Rev. DR.. Moses D. Hoge, and was called to
order by Col. Robert Beverly, of Fauquier.
The Committee on Permanent Organization
made the following report
For President. Absalom Koiner; Vice.
P, esidents, r. E. Withers, of Wythe; Ed
ward Dromgoole, of Brunswick; Paul G.
Edmunds of Halifax; Maj. Robert Douthat,
of Charles City; H. L. Davis, of Clarke;
W. Fl. F. Lee, of Fairfax; G H. Reynolds,
of Botetourt; Gen. Joseph R. Anderson, of
Richmond; Gen. Williams G. Wickham, of
Hanover.
For Secretary, G. w. Mayo.
For Assistant Secretary, G. Julian Pratt.
Gov. Cameron, who was invited to priv
LEGGED seat in the convention, accepted the
invitation and briefly addressed the body,
expressing thanks for the courtesy which
prompted the invitation.
SECOND DAY-THURsDAY.
The convention re-assembled at II o'clock
Thursday morning, Hon. Absalom Koiner
in the chair.
The committee to whom was referred the
subj ct of immigration submitted lengthy
report, which was accompanied by the fol.
lowing resolution:
Resolred, That the General Assembly of
| Virginia is hereby requested to establish a
bureau of immigration, labor and statistics
| in connection with the Department of Ag-
riculture, whose duty shall be to inaugu-
rate and carry out such plans as may be
deemed most conducive to the introduce
| ton of desirable immigrants into our
| State. Adopted.
The sub committee to whom was referred
the consideration of any general matter
| likely to be of interest to the Farmers
Convention and not submitted to the care
of other committees recommended more
ardent and lively interest in the support
and future increased usefulness of the
State Agricultural Society.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. F. Guy,
of Chesterfield, that the conve ntion re-
q1est our next Legislature to pass gene
! raj fence law requiring all persons to fence
+. in their own stock and keep them on their
own premises. The introduction Of this
resolution was received with applause. 1t
was referred to the proper committee.
The following resolutions were offered
and referred:
Resolred, That the Agricultural De-
partment should be fostered by the Gene
raj Government, and that Congress should
appropriate the necessary funds therefor.
| Resolred, That the public lands should
| be kept as a sacred trust and only sold to
actual settlers and citizens in moderate
quantities.
| Resolred, That our representatives in
Congress be requested to secure to the
people of Virginia the full benefit of the
Signal Service.
| PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
! The report of the Committee of Perma-
nent Organization came up for copsidera-
ton. The first article of the report evok-
ed spirited discussion, resulting in the
striking out of the words 'those engaged
in industrial pursuits. -
The prevailing idea was that the conven-
ton should be cont oiled by farmers and
no one else.
The following is the plan of organization
agreed upon:
| This convention, composed of farmers
and others engaged in industrial pursuits,
adopt the following constitution:
ARTICLE I.-Electire Franchise.
Every citizen of the State of Virginia en-
gagged in farming shall be entitled to vote
as hereinafter provided.
ARTICLE II.-Erecutire Department.
shall consist of State Executive Commit
tee, composed of two members from each
congressional district in the State
| The first Executive COMMITTEE shall be
selected by the delegates to this cow, ntion
from each congressional district, and such
committee shall serve until the first meet
| ing of the Farmers Assembly hereinafter
provided for; and after the meeting of
that Assembly the said committee shall be
chosen by said Assembly, and shall hold
Office for two years. And the said State
Executive Committee shall have power to
appoint a secretary and treasurer (whO
may be one person. and to prescribe the
duties of these officers
| Section 3. 1t shall be the duty of the
| State Executive Committee to cary into eff
! feet the suggestions and recommendations
of the Farmers Assembly.
Section 8. 1t shall be the duty of the
State Executive Committee to designa a
farmer in each county to hold election for
a country committee, and should the farm-
ers of any county fail to elect committee,
then it shall be the duty of the State Exc
cutive Committee to appoint an executive
committee for said county.
ARTICLE IIE.-Legislatire Department.
Section /. Tn Legislative Department
shall consist of twice the number of dele
gates in the lower branch of the General
Assembly, except where two or more coun-
ties constitute one electoral district, in
which case each of said counties shall send
to this Assembly one delegate. This As
sembly shall be called, "The Farmers As
sembly of the State of Virginia"
Section 2. Any person may be elected
delegate t., the Farmers Assembly who
| is a qualified voter under the first article
of this constitution. -
Section 3. AL qualified voters under
the first article of this constitution may
assemble at the court-houses of their re-
spective counties at the July or August
term of the Cou ty Cour, as the County
Committee of each county may direct, of
each alternate year, and the voters of each
magisterial district OF a county or ward of
city or town, shall assemble by districts
and wards, and select two delegates for
each district or ward. Such delegates
shall Immediately assemble and appoint
delegates for the county to the Farmers
Assembly, Provided, however, that the
members of the County Executive Commit
tee of any magisterial district or ward as
aforesaid, may, upon ten days notice, call
a meeting of the voters of such district or
ward at point in such district or ward to
be designated in such notice, and at day
nrior 70 said County Court dav and elect