Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-03-27
TlNsLEY g. MORTON, ProprIetors.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAR. u. 1896.
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO
ASSEMBLE IN CONVENTION.

There is no question in OF out OF poll
tics, though it can hardly be called polit-
ical one, more important to the people OF
Virginia now than that of their right to
call and participate in constitutional
convention. For that right is beng pfac-
tically questioned. Gov. O'Ferrall has ex-
pressed the opinion that it should not pe
exercised without the people pledglng them
selves in advance not to do certain thlhgs'
and agreeing to only partially exercise
their sovereign right. He suggests that IL
shall be BODY with limited powers, THESE
powers to be defined for it by pollIlcal
convention some two years IN advance
This is a novel suggestion to free people,
and we now await with some anxiety de-
liverance from the Sheriffs Assoclalloh'
that powerful lobby which attempted W
define the limit of economical legislation
by the last legislature, and which may
have something to say about how 1ar the
constitutional convention may 60 III lhe
same direction.
But the champion opponent OF the eAei-
else of the right by the people OF assembling
in constitutional convention. is our esteem
ed contemporary the Richmond Times. NoI
only does it hold that there should not pe d
constitutional convention now, but II pfsc-
tically holds that there never should be one
1t says:
we think it very probable that the ooh-
stitutional Convention would not interfere
with the homestead provision OF make any re-
duction ii the school fund. But the Deiho-
cratic Convention at Staunton may pass any
resolutions it pleases, and we think the pro-
Dabiiity is a Constitutional convention would
adopt q radical and most luxurious provision
Cor a railroad commission; that it would
adopt a provision fer whal it would cali
antitrust measures, that would be most
harmful TIC the commercial interests OF the
State. and. that it would make very import
ant DETERMINATIONS III the expenditure OF the
public free school fund.-
AS the State will always nave RAILROADS.
in it, and ''commercial interests" and
public free school fund, - ii follows logl-
calIy that the people shall never hold
constitutional convention for fear thaC
thew NAV adopt some radical and most III
furious PROVISION regarding those things
What evidence have the people OF Virgin
s ia ever given by their action In constltu-
bional conventions that they cannot be
trusted with the interests OF their State
Certainly not in the convention OF looo;
better constitution Than The one given
10y that body DO people ever enjoyed. II
swas eraphaticaliy a constitution OF and Tor
The people 1t put them more Immediately
ard completely IN control of their State
and county government than any they ever
Rad before. It interfered with no great
Interests save to promote them LII put
She State in as helper to build the rail-
r5sds and under its provision railroad
building and every other interest prospered.
And the tax payers prOspered by the eco
nofnical State and county government 1t
gave. We only day OF two ago came
across the statistics Of the levy for Poca-
8 Aontas county lnow in West Virginia. for
the wears 1857, SIS '59 ana 80. ard it was
onlV four cents in the Que hundred dollars.
FFbe constitutional convention of 1850
n7aved its~lf TO he BODY to be trusted.
AGAIN. take the courentiou of 1868.
Though it was most certainly not a repre-
sansstive body, Of the people Of the State.
1T neither interfered With railroads nor any
4 Commercial interests. What it did do to
h. eonplaine1 Of. WIS ainst the people
AID the tax payers and against the rail
roads and Commercial interests. Ii
i l5;tted on to the people Of Yirginiaa govern
mental garment which Was cut out fol
NJ \ 9ViY ,tato ysTitb
& fin,es our population, and it put upon Us a
state and county government that costs
EESxss qe2 O02 more than the State and county
savernment Of cur next door neighbor,
ax.rtt, Carolina State with about the
s,n,e population and terTtory-c0sts. 1t
~ il, get id OF that government and to keep
> 3<3.at unnecessary and eXtTavagant eXpendi-
ARE in the pockets OF our tax payers, that
ssa neot.Ie of Virginia now desire an OPP
Es,rtnni!5y to assemble in constitutional
s.anyeption through their representatives
.,,d remedy il. The Times, however, which
eyer sees anything but contemplated
fsaud in any move tha5 may be made
zssshout the franchise il which the Demo
,crstic party has a hand, has this added,
and perhaps its real, objection to consti
rational convention:
..The real purpose now in view in holding a
Unconstitutional Convention is to provide that
g, i'll iterate person shall be registered as a
unless be can understand the Constitu
III ;,n when read to him. The registration Off
sr will then pe expected to find that all I'LL
- 70 white men can understand it. and that
s ,lliterate negro can. This will rid US of
q necro vote but will found all of our in
zz.st;tntions upon fraudulent trick. How long
I; sts =. (. character of & people survive such
zsss.-=<ssae.
= is educational Qualification in sew
1871 States Of this NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
IS instance--but we do not remember to
rave seen ii charged anywhere that pei
+ s,f,,, ,pccepting the place Of registrar under
4,.at5 system is thereby 10 be accepted as a
sz,s<s,<aal who is TO djsfrancise men of any
q zssnInr OF nationality, and fraudulently give
zszs,,e franchise to men of bis own political
sav of thinking. Why should it be differ
~ ~ Virginia We are not confident
*S<1.at we shall see educational qualification
Ss,, Virginia in Our day, though it is so
+ s|reatly to be desired. but we are sure that
<s<5t,an it does come it VIII be as honestly adj
,,,;nistered as it is Ill Nj assachussetts The
Il ,7g,;aes opposes any declaration of the State
Il VI s,o,, yention on the subject of constitu-
!. 4;anal CONVENTION EXCEPT to decla re against
For ourselves We 40 not regard the
nuestiop Of saving the tax payers Of Viz
ainia nearly Two Millions of dollars year,
az pay one. The axpayers of the State
nil feel very much obliged to a Democrat
1aois1ature for giving them the opportu