The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-10
THE DANvILLE REGISTER FOR A
CONVENTION.

The Danville Register takes up the
proposition to have a Constitutional Con-
vention, and gives what it thinks are
sufficient reasons why one should be held
The first reason presented by it is one
which 1t thinks should not have escaped
so loyal a Virginian as the Times. to wit
That the present Constitution is the work
Of John G. Underwood and his travelling
crew OF carpet-baggers and deserters. "
We do not consider this fact as being in
Itself one entitled TO any sort of consider
alton. If the Constitution suits us we
are perfectly Indifferent to the question,
Who made It;
Is there anything in II so imperatively
demanding a change that convention
must be held is the question. and the only
question which the Times thinks it i'm
portant to consider.
The second reason which the Register
thinks sufficient is the fact that the
model which Underwood and his crew
took for their work, IS the tourship sys-
TENS OF New England. which they modi-
spells.
THE result OF such workmanship" says
the Register, has been the most costly
and extravagant system Of government.
In which the officials are supplied with
means Of perpetrating themselves in Office
at the expense OF the taxpayers" The
Register contains "a second objection
akin to the first, and not less-potent is the
couniy-court system which entails a vast
expense on the Commonwealth without a
single compensating advantage and en-
lists the friends. the cousins. the sisters.
ana the aunts OF every county judge in
its support and maint enance."
The only radical change which the
present Constitution makes from what exr
isted under the old one is the county
judge The board OF supervisors TO man
age the general affairs of the coun-
~ corresponds very much to an old bench
OF county magistrates. and we see no real
objection TO them because they are called
supervisors instead Of justices of the
peace. Both perform about the same
function.
As for the county judge. there are ad-
vantages as well as disadvantages con-
nected with him. Upon the whole we ques-
ton very much whether the people Of
Virginia would consent TO give up the
county judges and return 20 the old
system Of magistrates 20 hold the coun-
~ courts. A bench of the Virginia mag
istrates Of to-day would be a very diner
ent thing from bench Of the Virginia
magistrates that sat before the war. And
the salaries Of the county judges have
been cut down so low that the cost OF
the system is very little comparatively.
The Register thus states its third rea-
son:
There should be such change in
the right OF suffrage, as will place the |
Political control in the hands OF the in
;eIligent and patriotic citizens and shut /
out the ignorant and venal. The cor 1
ruption and dishonesty In elections OF 1
which the Times complains is directly 1
traceable TO the ignorance and venality /
of mGhy OF our voters and nothing can /
eject the cure which the Times desires
20 successfully as limited right OF /
suffrage.
This Is just exactly what the Times
will never agree TO. The Times Is Dem
ocrat from top to bottom. inside and out
and all around. Its Democracy consists
in It's demand that all men are equals
before The laws and that the
law shall confer special priv
lliees upon none. and put
disabilities upon none. Every man in
America not convicted OF crime stands
before our fundamental law as the equal
Of every other man. and that fact IS AZ
the basis Of ell our power. strength.
wealth. and glory. and the Times Will
20 down in endless Defeat and gloom be-
|ose y vsil give is sanction to the slight