Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-16
city. May this praiseworthy work here
inaugurated be felt In the remotest cor
ners OF this grand old State.

s"V SvheturOu Oh Major Jones' re.
marks the courtesy OF the floor was ex-
tended TO any one present who might
desire to speak.
There were long and loud calls for
senator Daniel, who. amid tremendous
enthusiasm. assembled the platform. He
was In good voice and spoke with the
vigor and eloquence so Characteristic OF
him. The Senator made a brief acknow-
Regiment Of the compliment the
committee had paid him In asking
him to attend the conference. and
assured that body that there was a
steady. growing sentiment In Virginia in
favor Of constitutional convention.
He said that there had never been so
long time before as thirty years IN
which the Commonwealth of Virginia had
not had a constitutional convention. The
first Of our assemblies OF this kind was
held In l776 and antedated that OF the
Federal Government. In 1850 the Virginia
convention was composed of some Of the
greatest men ever known TO the worlds
history. Among them were two ex-
Presiden's-Madison and Monroe-and one
Chief Justice OF the United States-Johu
Marshall. There was never a more able.
honorable. or trustworthy body of men
assembled.
ALIENS AND FOREIGNERS.
There was another convention In ISi9,
under which we lived until that confused
period OF the late civil war In 1869,
when the Commonwealth of Virginia was
Military District No. L. there was held
under military law an election, the out
growth OF which was the so-called I'm
derwood Constitution. 1t was conyen-
ton OF Aliens and foreigners One OF
the provisions of this Constitution was
that all persons who participated in bat
lie on the Confederate side in the late
war, or even sympathized with the South,
should be diafranchised: but this was
eliminated. The remainder was. how
ever, adopted that we might escape car
pet-bagism and scaliswagism. Since
then there had been some minor changes,
but, as whole, declared Senator
Daniel, the cumbersome framework OF
the Underwood Constitution, with its null
tiplicity OF officers was still upon us.
This was not a Constitution as the peo-
pie OF Virginia would have made. There
was not State in the South
hut had had a constitutional convention
in order to fit its Constitution TO the
times. Even the States of the North were
amending their constitutions so as
10 conform them to the national cond-
ton.
NOT THE PRIME ISSUE.
Senator Daniel said that he was out and
out In favor OF a revised Constitution.
but did not think that this was the
prime issue of the day among Democrats.
While the expenses of the State were
large and imposed burdens upon the
taxpayers, the people ought to rejoice
n the fact that the Democratic party
had given them clean. able government.
which had been attended by no pub
lie scandal and by little or no deficiencies.
The present financial depression had some
features which no other depressionS
had had, and which must have had
some abnormal causes. All financiers
had observed that during the past twenty
years there had been more enormous
fall In the prices of everything that
comes out Of the soil than had ever been
known before. Some attributed this
10 the fact that machinery was taking
he place OF all kinds of laborers. Others
attributed the troubles to the opening OF
treat areas Of country and enormous pro-
auctions everywhere. He thought that
he confused condition OF the finances Of
the world was one of the ca uses of this
great and continued financial depression.
Tie was OF the opinion that the people. to
correct these things and improve mat
tiers, should begin at home. We might
not be able to control the policy of the
Federal Government, but we could con-
trol ourselves, and the policy Of the
Commonwealth. one Of the questions
affecting u.s. therefore, was the making
II a new Constitution. looking toward
The most economic administration of the
commemorative affairs.
AS TO THE TINE.
As to the time for the holding of such
convention, he deemed it best to leave
Il to the discretion of the next Leglsla-
ture. The General Assembly could bet
ter pass upon this question, with the
light and all the circumstances which
might then surround the question. With
SO many perplexine features to deal
with, he regarded ii best not to force
this matter ahead of all others, but TO
leave 1t where II justly belongs. to be
properly. prudently, and carefully con-
sldered.
Senator Daniel spoke of the elections
that were now approaching. and said that.
In his opinion. in 1896 the people were
going TO raise the largest crop Of poll
tics that they had reaped since 1861. And
just at this stage of the game the Demo-
Gratis were not any further ahead i'm the
ballot-box than he would like to see them.
Uaughter) The fact that n larger body
Of Virginia Democrats was not in at
tendance upon this conference was not
because they were not in sympathy with
this movement. IL required sometimes
more courage to retreat in good order
durance were sometimes more TO be
coveted than bravery. A careful mariner
never rushed heaclong through fog.
but went slowly, continuously. steadily
along, lest he might be shipwrecked.
Constitutional conventions were the most
august bodies on earth They could
make courts and pull them down; they
were composed of sovereign people,
curing the highest order of talent, the
hnnnF no xf1e counsel
he most patriotic and the noblesU of
motives. and this question of the time,
concluded Senator Daniel. should not be
considered by anybody other than the
General Assembly. which body should
look into IL with all the wisdom and
prudence. and with all the light sur
rounding II, without making any false
step. and finally bring the good old ship
of State into safe haven. Great APP
plause)
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The Committee on Permanent Organiza-
ton at the close OF Senator Daniels
kaddress presented the following report:
sEer Chairman, X. G. Murray. of the
Nrfolk Landmark: for Secretary, l.. 7.
MVrye. of Lynchburg, assisted by repre-
sentStiyes of the press present: Vice
PresidSr's--J. ". G.. Blackstone. First
District; w Little Sans, Second District;
George L. cssristlan Third DISTRICT; Eu-
gene Witners, r',tb District; r. w. Scott.
Sixth District; X. ". Byrd Seventh Dis
trict; j. h. McCabe Eighth District; Her
bert Peters. Ninth DIN Fict; A. E. With
row. Tenth District
The report was unsniS hously adopted.
and the permanent cha> oman assumed
the chair
Mr. Murray extended his thanks for the
honor which had been conferred upon
him by the gentlemen OF the Conference.
He referred to the interest felS in his
section In the proposed constitutional
convention. and announced that the body
was ready for regular business.
In response 10 calls Hon. j. Alien WAITS
made a few remarks expressing his syn'-
pathy with the objects of the conference
He said that he was In favor OF TINS
matter when an effort was made TO get
IL through the Legislature upon a resolu-
ton offered by Mr.. Eugene Wthers'
member Of the House OF Delegates from
Danville
Remarks favoring a constitutional con-
vention we're made by several ether gen.
tlemen. c..
On motion OF Mr.. Hardaway the Chair
annonted q committee on resolutions
naming the following gentlemen: w. ~