Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-15

inc that the eyes OF the whole com
munity are upon him and all his acts, is
apt To be circumspect in all his rulings,
appointments, and other duties OF his
delicate and responsible position, while
tho circuit Judge above him stands ready
10 override his errors and TO correct his
mistakes.
There are some valuable articles in the
Constitution as 1t now stands, which the
people cannot afford any chance for
them 10 be changed or amended OF
omitted. In Article VIII, section Z, q
permanent literary fund is established,
and in section 8 the General Assembly
is required to apply the interest OF this
fund. the whole OF the capitation tax,
and an annual tax upon all the pro
perty in the State-which tax is limited
in amonnt-for the purposes OF educa-
ton. These provisions should be re-
tanned by all means. No future General
Assembly should be ever allowed under
any pretext either 10 transfer or d.
mipish this fund so sacredly set aside
or 10 exceed tho tax upon property rs
limited. 1t my be that in future, with
out this clause, the General Assembly
NAV do either. At this time the PUBLIC
schools are so popular that it is death to
any public man 10 exhibit any opposl-
ton TO them. and If some reckless dema-
porue in the convention should demand
the omission OF the Limitation OF the
tax Oh property for the schools it will he
voted for by many whose judgment and
hearts oppose it. Can the property
holders Of the State afford to put their
property to the jeopardy OF having the
school-tax increased?
The first section Of Article y. prevents
the Legislature from ever imposing upon
property which may be in the hands OF
a minority any greater tax than ls lald
upon other species of property. The fifth
section protects the heads OF the people
from any greater capitation than Sl.5O.
The oystermen of Eastern Virginia are
protected from taxation for taking or
catching oysters from their natural beds
with tongs in the waters of the Com
monwealth and the sales OF their oysters
cannot be taxed higher than other pro
perty. When we know what small mi
nority Of the people Of the State are en-
gagged IN this pursuit and when we re-
member what a great desire there was
many years ago in the Piedmont, Valley,
and western part of the State to tax per
sons who are working upon public
grounds. We warn the Tidewater section
from committing themselves III a con
vention where there will be 50 large n
majority against them.
/ Several sections in Article Y. forbid
the General Assembly from contracting
debts, granting the credit of the State to
any persons or corporations, issuance OF
State scrip or stock, subscribing to any
COMPANY of internal improvement. We
remember that Mississippi, by involving
her State credit with the affairs OF a
bank. was forced into reputation. We
cannot forget how the present large debt
of the State was piled up by becoming
interested in and pledging her credit TO
works of internal improvement. We
also know that railroad magnstes and
svndicates OF immense wealth control
the Congress of the United States ana
the legislatures of States. How greatly
should We prize these provisions OF pro
lection. ana the people cannot commit
their fate in any convention which Will
be pressed by lobbyists from all the cor
porations. railroads, and mushroom Gs-
sociations for their repeal.
Passing by for want OF time and space
the notice of many other valuable pro-
visions for the protection OF the people,
which. while they possess them, they
| i. j % =, 10 oh 10
OF any body whatever We will now con-
slider the question whether, if the Con
stjtution does contain some objection
able features which now can he removed
bv amendment in less than two years
without any cost. can the people OF tie
State afford the cost of q convention
The expense of such body can only be
estimated 10y our experiences OF the
others held before. The Legislature, If
the people vote in favor OF convention,
will have to arrange the districts and FIX
the number OF members to be elected.
| AS il is probable that many OF orr legis-
lators may be ambitious for seats
in the convention. tho tendency will
be to a large representation. Ever
since 1876 the number Of members in
conventions has become larger and
larger. The convention will have to de-
eide upon the duration of their own ses-
sion and their own pay. The facts from
the record are that the convention OF
1S50-'5I, elected by districts, receiving a
pay of 81 per day, convened on October
il, 1850, and adjourned August /, 1851,
remaining in session ten and q half
months The Secession Convention was
composed Of l52 members. 1t convened
February IL, 1861, passed the ordinance
Of secession on April II, 1861, which wss
the principal, if not the only matter
committed to their charge, and remained
in session until July, and then had sn
adjourned session of two months, making
about seven months, most of which time
thew expended in altering or revising
the State Constitution, not only in rela-
ton to subjects made necessary by the
war, hut reforms which ought not to be
considered except in times of profound
peace.
The convention nj Alexandria was ne.
cesssrilv composed OF few, and remained
in session for comparatively a short time,
but they received 81 per day in Federal
money. The convention which framed
the present Constitution WAS composed
of l0l members from districts arranged
by General Schoield, military com
mander Of District No. J, State Of Viz
GINA. They remained in session 30 long,
having voted themselves 36 per day, that,
like the convention of 1S50-'5l, having
ordered the publication of their debates,
they were compelled to suspend the pub
lication of their windy ard interminable
discussions, aud posterity hes only inner
tied Volume No. J. From these data let
us make some approximation OF the
probable cost of a convention:
We will put matters at a low figure,
ard assuming that they. as were many
conventions before, should have the same
number as the House of Delegates, aud
supposing that they only remain in SEES
SION for six months, and receive only
four dollars q day, with a clerk of the
convention, eight committee and enroll
ing clerks. sergeant-at-arms and two
doorkeepels, without including the mile
age OF the members, and presuming that
the president only should receive the