The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-31

| Suatl OOLlauu tOI Oul eOfCIolk2 fOL0lSs
The most effective argument used
against our old Constitution is that it
permits negroes to send their children
to white schools. Has any negro in
Sosth Carolina ever dared to send his
children to the same schools With white
pupils? No, and that clause may stand
until Gabril blows his trumpet, and they
| will not attempt to do it, and neither do
| the blacks desire to do so.
But there Is way to amsnd the Con-
stitution, and We can do the work. too,
without any expense to the State. Lot
oar legislature adopt such amendments
or charges az it sees proper, and then
submit them to tho people for ratiacs-
ton at the ensuing general election.
This won't cost thu taxpayers one dol
lar, and it will answer every purpose
of brand new Constitution. Georgia
has done this, and voted on two amend-
ments last Wednesday.
Aud then, did 1t ever occur to the
voter that a new Constitution is q reg-
ular gold mine for lawyers! Yet such
is assuredly the case. When We change
our fundamental laws tho Supreme
Court must place a new Interpretation
upon the same, and an endless amount
of expensive litigation is incurred. Aud
then all of this litigation must be paid
for out of the pockets of the farmer and
producer. We are surprised that any
clare sighted lawyer should oppose th.
Constitutional Convention, for when be
defests it he simply kills the goose that
will lay him many golden eggs.
Tbs aboYe are our views in rsgard to
this proposed Constitutional Con.
vention. Personally, We shall not sup
port it since the Act docs not require a
submittal of the work to the people for
their action. Again, the farmers are not
in faancial condition to bear this heavy
and unnecessary expense; and then We
do not believe that moro uefayorable
time than now could be chosen for re
modelling our organic laws. Simply be-
cause the proposition enanated from our
friends We were favorable to the scheme,
but in doubt. But the past two dsVs
We have studied the old Constitution
and the Act authorizing q vote on q
convention, and We capnet, with the
rights and liberty Of our people at heart.
endorse any scheme that takes from tho
masses their dearest privilege aud turns
it over TO feH meo, Our readers will,
of course, act upon their judgment. We
do not desire to prejulce them. Oo the
other hand our columns are open to
anyone for a full and free discussion of
this question, for We are anxious that
all the light possible be throwa upon the
subj :ct. Give good reason why this
Convention should be hold. We are al
ways open to q conviction, not being in
tho least welded to our opinions.
Reform means the will Of the people
and tho rule of the people. If there Is
any "reform" in this proposition to
have one hundred and sixty men frame
Constitution, and then refuse to submit
it to the people to pass upon, csndor
compeis US to confess that we cannot
see it. In fact, it would be the very
worst species Of political despotism-
defraudlng the voter OF bis dearest right
and privilege, and concentrating power
IN the hands Of the few. Even the old
dsposed political rulers in South Carolina
never dared attempt anything - des-
postlc.-Piedmont Headlight.