Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-27
FOR A CONVENTION.
Favorable Responses RscslTsd 10 the
Call for q Conference.
LARGE GATHERING EXPECTED.
Expressions of Prominent Demo-
Gratis Who Have siGnihed Their
Intention 10 be Present-Important
and Timely sugacstions.

received by Mr.. W. o. Nardaway Tor
tho committee. and there is every rea-
son 10 believe there will be large ana
representative gathering. The committee
"a in recent OF letter from General
Passenger-Agent w. b. Beyill, OF the
Norfolk and Western railroad. stating
that a rate will be offered based on or
about one fare and a third for the rouha
trip 10 Roanoke and return. Tor HI
persons who desire TO attend the con-
ference.
Among the prominent men who nave
slgnified their intention OF being present
are Judge Waller r. Staples, Hon. Harry
s., George Tucker Hon. Marshall McCor-
mick. Epoa Hunton. Jr: Eugene With
ers. of Danyile who made tight In the
Legislature at the last session TOT con-
ycntion: James Hay. member OF the
Legislature from Madison county; X. ).
Washington, of Westmoreland county;
J. w. Bansell. editor Of the Lebanon
News, OF Russell county: g. T. israel
editor OF the Shenandoah Argus; Frank
Nelson. OF Campbell county; J. NJ. Hod-
gin. OF Bowling Green; c. Redo, OF Bea-
yer Dam: S. Hatton, Of Portsmouth;
Charles Hall Davis. OF Petersburg. and
Joseph G. Fiveash. of the Norfolk Pub
lie Ledger.
Attorney General r. Taylor Scott
writes that he will attend " not deferred
by professional and public duties.
The following extracts from the letters
received show the general tenor Of the
majority OF the responses which the
committee Is receiving.
Camm Patteson, Of Buckingham
county. prominent member Of he
Legislature. writes: II am heartily In
favor OF the call for a constitutional
convention. and I will certainly attend
the Roanoke meeting next month If my
professional engagements will permit.
The present existing status OF AFFAIRS Is
becoming intolerable. and the material
progress of the State of Virginia Is. and
has been seriously retarded by the
present execrable Constitution under
which we live 1t is not now or ever
was suited 10 the needs OF our people.
l. was not the work of Virginia people.
hut Of their enemies, and as time passes
IL becomes more and more burdensome.
a healthy public sentiment demands
change. and the sooner ii is made the
better 1t will be for the prosperity Of
our people.
uNSuITED.
Hon. Joseph W Southsll. senator from
Amelia and Prince Edward says: "Our
present Constitution, as might have
been expected from the character and
complexion of the majority OF is trainers. |
is not al all suited TO the needs or
the people Of this Commonwealth. and
Should in my opinion. be adapted 10
those needs at as early day as posi- |
bic The genius Of our people requires !
that there should be some restriction in |
the right of suffrage. This Is crying |
necessity. Again. there Is something
TO be changed in the system and method !
Of our courts OF law. The dilatoriness
of the procedures is. to my mind, intol- |
cradle. ] am heartily in sympathy with
the movement. and will. II possible, ut
tend the conference to be held in your
city. and will do all / can to induce /
other good Democrats TO do the same.
r. T. Barton. the well-known law au-
thor: For very many reasons nave
been for years. and am now. in favor OF |
a constitutional convention, PROVIDED
we can be reasonably sure of two
things:
l. That the property and Intelligence
Of the state will be able to control 1t.
Q That the terms Of office of the Cir
cult and Court OF Appeals judges so
recently elected should not be dis
turbed.
Our civilization depends upon the first
Harm would. ] think. result from new
change of judges. ] would like 10 attend
the conference fixed for May 18th. but
II comes at a time when / am especially |
busy with my courts, and fear 1t Will |
be impossible.
SUFFRAGE.
A. s. Seagar. a lawyer OF Hampton:
I desire to say that / am heartily in
favor of convention OF the people at
the earliest possible date to revise and
amend our present State Constitution.
Casting aside all other questions as OF
minor importance thereto, public policy
and public morals imperatively demand
a revision of the right OF suffrage, ana
the proper qualification Of this great pre-
rogative OF citizenship. The Importance
of this decision alone is sufficient TO JUS
tify the cost OF the proposed convention.
1t Is the one great vital question or the
hour that rises In transcendent import
ance high above every other question
of State politics.
A. F. Withrow. a contractor OF Clifton
Forge. member of the Legislature, and
a friend of Senator Martin: l am heart
fly in sympathy with this movement
and hope TO be able to get to Roanoke,
May 18th.
]. T. Mason. OF King George county:
II will give me pleasure to attend the
conference upon the important question
of holding a constitutional convention in
your city on the 18th of May next
DIR. A. s. Priddy, a member or the
House of Delegates from Charlotte coun-
ty: am in hearty sympathy with this
movement, and will do my best for the
encouragement OF public sentiment in
that direction.
Thomas w. Russell. lawyer Of Acco-
mac Courthouse, Va: am for many i'm
portant reasons heartily in favor OF
holding a constitutional convention, and
will be in the city Of Roanoke for con-
ference on the 18th Of May.
NEAR HIS HEART.
w. b. Eanes farmer and a member
OF the Legislature from Henry county:
This IL a cause that Is near my heart.
and II Is strange TO me that the people
Of this great old State. the mother Of
presidents. should live under such a Con-
stitution as we now have. I was sup
porter OF Mr.. Withers's bill In the last
Legislature. and hope to see the day, and
II cannot come too soon for the welfare
OF our Commonwealth that the infamous
Underwood Constitution may be done
away with. and We may have Consti
tuition that the intelligent people Of our
State may safely live under.
T. l.. Cockrell, lawyer OF Alexandra.
Va: wish 10 assure you and your asso-
ciates OF my sympathy and hearty APP
prOval OF thls movement. III by any
means can cooperate with You In your
iaudable undertaking I shall cheerfully
do SO.
G. Whittle Sands, a prominent lawyer
Of Norfolk: The need Of constitutional
revision fully appreciate. and have long
desired TO see the electoral and judicial
systems OF the State thoroughly re-
modelled. / accept your invitation 10
be present at the meeting In your city
on the 18th OF May.
Graham Clayton. lawyer, and chairman
OF the Democratic Executive Committee
Of Bedford county: heartily concur
with you In your views. and shall en-
deavor 10 meet you and your committee
In the city OF Roanoke on the 18th.
X. NJ. Brown, an attorney OF Pulaski: |
heartily agree with YOU that a change
ehould be made In the Constitution of
the State. and that conference should
be promptly held TO discuss the question
az to what steps should be taken to in
sure the early holding OF such a con-
vention.
BURDENED.
Thomas ID. Ransom, lawyer of Staun-
ton. i quite agree with Won that a. A.,