Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-26
STATE CONSTITUTION.
SHALL WE HAVE A CONVENTION TO RE-
WISE AND AMEND TT
This Question will Be Submitted for Dc
eision 90 the Presidential
Election in November.

virginia's last Constitutional Conven-
ton was held in 1865.
Judge Underwood presided over it,
and the Hon. Lewis Lindsay was a
prominent and influential member.
July 6. 1869, the people OF Virginia
went TO the polls, adopted the Constitu-
tion in the main. rejected the most odious
clauses (which General Grant permitted
ms 10 vote upon separately, and elected
Gilbert G. Walker Governorand Demo
cratic majority in both houses of the
General Assembly.
NOW SAY eyes" OR "So."
The instrument thus accepted as the
organic law of Virginia enabled MS to get
back into the Union bnt all tho same
Virginians generally considered that the
thing was thrust upon them.
They had to take that or letthemselyes
be ruled by military officers.
The Constitution has, however, been
amended and improved from time to
time by legislative and popular action
combined, and some Of its odious
featnres-the township system, for IN
stance-haye been extirpated.
Now the voters Of this State are soon
to he called upon to say at the polls
whether they wish to call q convention
10 revise and amend the CONSTITUTIONAL
other words, TO make new one.
The Constitution requires that this
question shall be submitted this year
1sss). and the General Assembly has
PASSED bill providing that at the cleo
tion 10 be held in November the voters
NAV say at the polls whether they are for
or against a convention. If majority
of all the votes cast at the election IN
November are for convention, why
then the convention must be held, and
no doubt this Legislature will he recon-
yened in extra session III December to
provide the manner of electing the dele
gates, &c.
"THE REASON WHY.
II is curious fact that though this
momentous question is now upon us very
little indeed has been said pro or con.
Neither party has made declaration on
the subject. but it is likely that action
will soon be forced. When the Demo
Gratis hold their convention to elect their
delegates to st. Louis; when the Re-
publicans hold their convention to elect
their delegates to Chicago, there pro
badly will be vigorous utterances on the
subject. At present many able states
men say that the people will certainly
vote for convention.
Asked why? they answer:
a 4 ckff tn
ton has bad name because it is posi-
bic to frame a Constitution much more
in consonance with the spirit of the
times because. seeing that convention
is to meet, the bOndhClders may deem 1t
wise to fund because Virginia would
then have ii in her power to adopt bet
ter judiciary system; because our pres
ent homestead exemption Is no eX-
empuon If an improvident husband
choose to sign 1t away from his wife and
family: because most men who mean TO
become candidates will favorit, and what
is more, because the people called upon
10 decide such a question have IN the
past always voted aye and called the con-
vention.
It is portentously argued against a
convention that it will cost great sum
of money, and will almost deplete our
already poverished Treasury, and that we
have inst gone 10 great expense to have
the Code revised, and that before the
country generally knows what Is IN 1t, the
convention will undo it all.
More than that, there is fear among
ultra conservatives that the alterations
will not be for the better, and with
colored people there is apprehension
widespread, though not well grounded
taat their rights are better secured IN
the Underwood Constitution than they
would be in new one.
Certain it is that at present there is
no sign that the Republicans will pro-
pounce in favor of convention.
The ballots cast for or againsta conven-
ton are to 60 into separate box-not
10 he put in the box with ballots Tor
presidential electors and members OF
Congress.
WHERE WILL OUR CONVENTION BE HELD
II rests with the State Democratic
Committee to say where and when the
convention to elect delegates to the st
Louis convention shall be held.
Our last State convention was held at
Roanoke-R Richmond city not having
been considered by the committee be-
cause Richmond extended no invitation.
OF course it was an oversight.
We will do better this time.
Our people would be delighted to have
the convention meet here, and will, no
doubt, provide the halls, &C., necessary.
But the experience at Roanoke was SO
pleasant that it will no doubt be urged 10y
some that place near the mountains or
by the sea should be adopted, so thatthe
fayors of the party may be as widely
distributed as possible. Hence 1t is SAID
that Norfolk, Petersburg, Lynchburg. OF
Staunton will do as well as Richmond OF
Roanoke.
II the convention could be held du-
ring the vacation of the University ses'
sion. when all Charlottesyilles boarding.
houses are empty, that new city would
no doubt have strong claim to present.
Richmond is certainly going to press
her claims but if the party good de-
manAs the selection of some other city
10 ungenerous complaint will be heard
from here.
General Malone has not determined
where he will hold his convention, or II
he has determined, has not made an
nouncemenL
ENDING OF TIE SESSION.
The ninety days of the General As
sembly end March the 9th; but as the
members took recess Of two weeks at
Christmas it is considered probable that
one half of the time thus lost will De
made up to the State. SO If the mem
bers give one week for the two weeks
tins lost Mt Christmas the session will
be extended TO March the 18th. The
10Th. however comes on Monday, and by
Saturday afternoon of the 10th it would
be found that majority of members OF
each branch were gone to their homes
Any sooner adjournment would mean
the defeat Of the most important legisla-
ton OF the year, including some &c
which the party is distinctly pledged.
The Legislative session has this to dc
with the constitutional convention--thal
the Law for submitting the question has
been passed, and as soon as the tive
houses adjourn the foremost public ques
A.. Usx<f-,o ill la yuha~. 81