Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-08
ooVsTITUTIoSAL CONVENTIONS.


The Lynchburg Advance. in reviewing
| the work Of the General Assembly cnar'
acterizes as q beneficent measure the OIL
10 submit to the vote Of the people the
question of holding constitutional con-
yention. but says It thinks It would have
been better in the Legislature to nave
directly adopted an act calling 4 conven-
tim. as IL had q right to do" The Al
vance then adds:
"The two most urgent matters that de-
mand a change In our organic Ia" arg
such changes In the administrator oi
the courts as will reduce the exorDi'ah'
expense entaiIed upon the people by the
present system, and some quahhcation
and abridgement of the existing Suffrage
Our Lynchburg contemporary is on the
right track In the comment last quoted
from it. but 1t errs in supposing tnat the
Legislature has the power to call con-
stitutional convention--out OF hand. Inc
Constitution itself, Article XII, section e
proyldes the only way in which such
convention may be called. In the ioho"-
ing words: -, -
"At the general election to be heid III
the year 1883, and In each twentieth year
thereafter, and also at such time as the
General Assembly may by law provide
the question. Shall there be cohVen'ivn
IN revise the Constitution and amend the
samey shall be decided by the elect
ors qualified to vote for members Oh the
General Assembly; and In case MAORI
ty of the electors so qualified voting
al such election shall decide In favor
Of n convention for such purpose. the
General Assembly, at It's next session,
shall provide by law for the election OF
delegates to such convention"
The question OF convention or no con-
ventlon will be voted upon by the people
Of Virginia on the fourth Thursday in
Nav. 1897. IL the wish of the great ma
iority of the Democrats Of this State Is
respected by the State Democratic Con-
vention, the State convention will COM
mend and endorse the proposition to have
a constitutional convention. and the ques-
ton will be carried at the polls. Then,
during the summer of 1897. an extra ses-
sion Of the Legislature might be called
to apportion representation in the con-
vention and fix the date for electing Dele
gates TO the same, etc.
At the topmost speed that could be
made, constitutional convention could
not be assembled here until the winter OF
1897, '9s, and 1t is far more than probable
that 1t would not be assembled here until
the winter of 1889. In the present
condition OF the States finances an extra
session OF the Legislature would not he
justifable. except to ward Off grave
crisis in public affairs.
The present duty Of those who think,
as we do, that the time has come when
the Underwood Constitution should be
revised and amended. is to see to 1t that
tutional-convention scheme by the State
Democratic Convention to be held at
Staunton on June 4th.
Our State convention ought to stand
by our party in the Legislature and APP
prove and endorse the proposition to
have a convention. This done, We feel
sure that a convention will be ordered.
But should our State convention speak
on this subject in doubtful or hesitatng
terms, our party vote would be divided
In May, 1857, and the success Of the con-
acknowledgements scheme would be
imperilled.
The Democratic public must look to
Senator withers and those who aided him
in this matter in the Legislature to take
charge OF the subject in the stanton con-
vention. May they carry 1t through that
body as triumphantly as they did through
the House Of Delegates and the Senate OF
Virginia.