The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-16
ROANOKE, VA, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY Is 1s95

stitution. Our State has not remained
! unprogressive and shiftless in the
quarter OF century since the creation
OF the Underwood constitution. Her
population has increased hslf 8 million.
Cities have sprung up sill over the
State. Schools and churches crown her
hills and nestle In her valleys Her
resources are many. Her geographical
position, her soil, her climate, her his
tory and her noble people, will shape
future destiny greater than her past
glory.
Virginia Is, 1 believe, the only
Southern State save one (Tennessee),
that has not changed and modernized
Its organic laws Within the lait ten or
fifteen years, and can it be said that
there are not living Virginia ms who, in
convention assembled, could improve
and better our constitu ton, give relief
to the people and reduce the expenses
OF our State and government ? Who
then has the temesity to 80 underesti-
mate the wisdom, the patriotism and
the learning of the loyal sons of Vir-
GINA, as to assume for moment that
our States interest would be leopard,
lied, or In any way endangered by the
assemo bling OF 8 constitutional conven.
ton ?"
While the committee on organize ton
was consulting, Senator Daniel was
loudly called for. He came to the stage,
and made speech of about thirty
minutes, which was one Of his very best
efforts. He said in part: 1.-THE deep
interest which have IN all that per-
tains to Virginia and the respect that
hold for the gentlemen who proposed
this conference prompted me to attend
the meeting. 1 had not the honor to be
one of the leading spirits OF the confer
ence, nor the opportunity to give 1t the
thought that ought to be given to such
an Important matter. / believe there ia
q pervading sentiment in the State that
Virginia should form constitution
suitable to her surroundings, and it
should be formed out Of the spirit and
genius OF our own people. The first
constitution of the State WAS formed in
1776, and Virginia was the first Anglo
Saxon republic, and also the first com
monwealth Of the world to have con-
sutution making distinct the executive,
legislative and judicial departments of
state.
There was new constitu ton in 1890,
which contained such men as Marshall,
Madison and Monroe, and to this day
there has never assembled BODY more
imposing In it's dignity than the consti-
tutional convention Of 1880. Twenty
years rolled by and new constitution
was framed In 1S49 SO, under which the
people lived until the unsettled condi-
tons of the civil war and passing over
that turbulent period. In 1868 SO, at q
time wnen Virginia was military dis
trict No. l, the present constitu ton was
made. The convention was dominated
by aliens. Its president and secretary
we're not natives of Virginia. The con-
stitution itself WIS all that the substan.
tial owners of Virginia soil did not
want 1t has been changed and modi-
ned from time to time in minor WAYS,
but Its cumbersome frame work and its
multiplicity OF ofiicsholders remain.
The time has come for e. change. 1t is
time to fashion a new instrument. Re.
forms OF this kind have gone on all over
the country.
There is not State in the South that
has not had a new constitution or mod
flied the old one. We are now in de-
pressed financial condition, but it is not
for brave, courageous hard working
mon to surrender. This is not the first
time that financial panics have struck
the financial world nor will 1t be the
last. We have had them in all ages.
They grow out of the nature of man, in.
dependent Of temporal means. 1t would
not be fair even to the Underwood con-
stitution to attribute the panic to it or
to the Office holders under it. There is
no system OF currency, there Is no sys-
tenn OF anything that can take out of
human nature these changes of life. If
oil your legislators were Solomons the
people themselves would get into
trouble and would curse the legislature
While l am in favor Of new constitu-
tion am not in favor OF pushing that
issue to the front of all other Issues,
The burdens we bear from federal legis-
lation are greater than those that come
upon US from Richmond. After all, our
State taxation is only 40 cents upon the
$500 worth OF property, which in flush
times and hours of sunshine the people
could easily bear. You may rejoice in
the fact that the Democratic party in
Virginia has given you good govern
mont with no public scandals and with
little deficits from the treasury.
~ believe that the causes of this
panic are due to the confused condition
OF the currency of the world. We need
not speculate on the remedies that the
Federal government may adopt. In
economy as we'll as in charity the proper
place TO begin ia at home. We NAV not
be able to control the policy of the Fed
eral government, but we can control our
own communities, in the counties, in the
towns and in the State. One way Is to
form new constitution on the most
economic basis. The Goth year period
required by law will not arrive until
1908. l think 1t would be unwise to
make this an issue in the next legisla-
tive campaign. II should be left to the
by the conditions OF the times. In foggy
Woathar the prudant narfnor doac 1ot