Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-24
For the SPECTATOR.
Improve Your LegJslatuYe,

Il Improve Your Legislature.
The advocates of convention to amend o
! make a new constitution, observe reticenc
as to the changes which they desire. which
a little remarkable. 1t can hardly be in th
mere sentiment as expressed by the Dispatc
that the time has now elapsed at which a con
vention should again be held. 1t is true tina
the wild geese and all migratory birds hav
times for their flight, in obedience to natura
law, but in matters of government and law
stability and permanence are Fundamental
considerations. Especially is popular gov
eminent liable to fluctuations and discredit
when its leaders are influenced by the evane
scent myths of the hour. The stability OF
the English government, her laws and Gus
toms, gave to the civilized world the Com
mon Law, to which 'the memory of mar
runneth not to the contrary The penchant Of
modern pettifoggers to change, has almos
totally despoiled US of this ancient paterna
heritage which was the known rule for oul
procedure and the vindication of our rights
| The Dispatch objects that the Legislature
has not the time to amend the cons titution.-
Let US see. That body has done it in the pas
without any apparent loss of time. What ha'
been done in the last few years? An ex-
perienced and very learned commission com
posed of Judges Burks, Staples, and Riley
with the very accom- lished clerk and lawyer
| Major Johnson, were appointed to revise ant
systematic the long accumulation of dis
cordant Acts Of Assembly and give the pee
pie once more an opportunity OF learning
what our laws were. The commission, aftel
several years of study and labor, compressed
| the statutes and constitution into volume
| of III pages The three succeeding Legisla
lures, composed largely Of inexperienced men
set to work on the new Code, with such per
sonal and local stuffing as was convenient
and enacted three volumes aggresating 3,40-
pages. 1t is fair to presume that if those in
dustrious assemblies had omitted their at
tacks on the Code it would have been better
The next Legislature, by way of little va
the constitution which the necessities of the
State may demand, if there be such.
Permit depression, to remark That
Lieut. Gov Montague, an experienced legisla-
tor and patriot, when asked why he so fire.
quently voted to adjourn, replied, THE
people are safe when the Legislature is not in
session. When the complaint was made that
there was so much speaking that industrious
man of affairs and large experience, General
Wickham, replied, ''Let them speak, it is the
voting which hurts.'
These wise statesmen Lere teach us lesson
of political philosophy, which should be pom
dered by all. What we now most need is
obedience to the constitution and laws, rather
than additional strained obligations, only to
be violated by the FESTIVE and discontented.-
Who can sound the depths of lngratitude and
discomfort which are waited on the breezes
or tell the mind which will control an assem-
bly, of successful candidates? Why do not ad-
vocates of a convention specify what they de
sire? Will the proposed constitution provide
for system of public roads by the State on
borrowed money? For railroad commission
and State management ultimately? For
bureau of labor, statistics and hours of labor?
A bureau of agriculture, mining and geology?
For the election of all judges and other Off
GERS by popular vote For effective restric-
tons against gerrymandering in favor of
race or party elections? To give effect to
race civil rights in cars and all public places?
To make intermarriage of the races consti-
For woman suffrage? To es-
tablish prohibition or local option?" To
abolish capital punishment? To prohibit the
employm ent of convict labor, &c. To enlarge
the homestead exemption and the poor
debtors allowance? To confiscate deceased
persons property in excess of the homestead
exemption? To provide for public admins
Lration of all estate to be ordered at any time
in the Clerks Office unobserved by the public
eye? To limit the expenses and burdens of
government to property alone? To prohibit
any demands for labor on public roads? To
limit the ownership of property in amount?
To prohibit the child pupil or student from
for disobedience-the infant
being the ward of the government, and the
parents and teachers only trustees and amen
able to the children, to the State and its
avs? The last fad of higher law theories
How many more changes may be proposed
no man can tell Will the people look before
hey leap into the vortex of a convention at
his time?
MODERATE.
How C. d. Harrison Got the nomination.
The contest for the Republican nomination |
or Commemorative Attorney in Rocking |
lam county between Chas NJ. Keezel and |
has. d. Harrison, the present mbent,
vas very spirited during the canvass and very
lose in the convention From the account of
he proceedings of the convention given by
he Register it seems that Keezel would have
eceived the nomination, but for the action of |
he committee ON credentials, which admitted
delegates not properly elected.
The Register says
1T was known for days before the conven-
ion that neither candidate had a single vote
% spare, and it also transpired that at least
seven votes were in doubt by reason of irreg
llarites in the primary meetings held at Port
Republic, Mt. Crawford, and Furnace No. 2.
1t was in the shrewd management of these
votes in the committee on credentials that
Mr.. Harrisons nomination was accomplished
oy the narrow margin of five votes in a total
# III.
The committee on credentials here submit
ed their report. They recommended the adj
mission of the irregular delegations from Mt
Crawford and Furnace No. 2, and gave the
nine delegates from Port Republic twelve
votes. AS it turned out, the Keezel managers
had been cleverly outwitted but they did not |
appear to realize it at the time, and the report
was adopted without division. They only
woke to the fact when it was too late. If tie |
action could have been reconsidered, the re
port would have been rejected and Keezel
would have been nominated"
If Keezel had a majority of the properly
elected delegates and was defeated in the
nomination by the improper action of the
committee on credentials, it was wrong not
only to Keezel but to his supporters, which |
hey will probably resent at the polls. When
are fairly and properly nominated,
t is the duty of the members of the party to |