Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-14


Judse Dfsxs and the Convenuon'
~. have n letter from ex-Judsc Diags,
Of Lynchburg. pointing out that many OK
tho reforms now demanded by the people
ca, bs accomplished by the General Az
s.nb,y. Among these he enumerates the
matter OF appeals In capital cases i'o"
the county courts to the circuit courts
and from the circuit courts to the Su-
irene Court OF Appeals.
The pispatch knows very well, ana al
WAYS has known. that this chanse eo"'"
no made by our Legislature we nav
,aver argued that a convention ought
IN no held to alter this law. on no; but
IN. I.eg,slature has hIth'rto refused 10
make any change in the system We
rust that now. in the light OF the "oou-
ran case. u will at once rectiiy tue eFi'
pu, ~ the Legislature refuses to make
the change. and constitutional coh'en
tion ,s held, then we hope that the con-
v.ntIon will give to the public reilef that
tho Inxislaturs refuses. Murderers now
have too many appeals. Let them nave
tho choice OF being tried In either 'ne
county court or the circuit court pu.
let them have only ons appeal-and that
direct to the Supreme Court OF Appeals
However. we don't understand Judge
Digs as being opposed to constitutional
convention. What he wishes to do Is 10
mint out that the Legislature has IL IN
ia mower to correct many OF the abuses
of which the people are now comp hihihs'
In this he is, no doubt correct; but since
biennial sessions OF the General Assem-
bly have ben in vogue. the Legislature
is in a rush from the first day to the
last day OF It's sessions The election
NJ Capitol officers, etc, the framing or
appropriation bills, and the attention de-
manded by current business take up
all it's time. IL has no leisure for great
questions that require full discussion ana
careful consideration. Hence, while IL Is
a fact that the Legislature has the power
TO make many OF the changes that the
peopls ask. the fact remains that 1t
does not do so. At least. It has not here
tofore done so. What effect the talk
about constitutional convention will
have remains to be seen. We think how
ever, that there are signs that the next
Legislature Is going 10 be little more
progressive than others have been.
But, slur the fact "a we may, IT is quite
certain that the reduction of assessments
now going on throughout the State Is
going to bring us face to face with
grave question. Agricultural lands have
shrunk in value, and the people insist
upon being relieved Of some OF the bur
dens OF taxation that they are bearing.
To accomplish their object they have in
sisted upon having reductions made in the
assessments OF their lands. The next
question with them will be- Shall we cut
down the pay of county officers, or abol-
ish some Of the Offices?
This will be the problem. II must be
met IL the Legislature can solve 1t, well
and good. But IL 1t can't. what more
natural than that the people should look
TO a convention for relief? There are
twice as many voters in favor OF a con-
vention this year as there were last year.
Next year the number will be still further
increased There are thousands who favor
~
held" Among this number is the Dis
patch.
That better men can be gotten for
constitutional convention than for a Legis-
lature will hardly be seriously questioned.
II Is an honor TO be elected to the Sem
ate or House OF Delegates. but 1t Is a
much greater honor to be elected a mem
% A
convention Is a historic body. The names
Of it's members go into history. Such has
been the experience OF Virginia in the
past OF course. we make an exception
In the case OF the members OF the con-
yention who were elected In 1867. Then
most OF our men of prominence were
disfranchised. We had but a small num-
Der of voters from whom to choose. How
ever, even then we were able to COM
mand the services OF a numb%r OF able
and excellent gentlemen. who stood up
nobly for the old State, though outyoted
by the carpet-baggers and scalawags
Now, If a convention was ordered, each
city and county could go to its brightest
and best men and say, you have got to
serve US in the convention" and nine
times out OF ten the answer would be a
cheerful YES"
However, we do not think that II would
be wise for our party to commit itself
to a date for vote on the convention
question until we have gathered In the
experiences OF the May and November
elections Leave the matter for the next
Legislature to decide. The Dispatch wants
constitutional convention-but to suit
US II must be q Democratic convention.