Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-05-22
Vote, No !!

That the people may clearly see the
constitutional alternatives offered
them at the election on the fourth
Thursday (27th) of this month, we
here quote the whole of Article IL OF
our State Constitutions:
Sec. l. Any amendment or amend
ments to the Constitution may be
proposed in the Senate and House OF
Delegates, and if the same shall be
agreed to by majority of the mem
bers elected to each of the two houses,
such proposed amendment or amend
ments shall be entered on their
journals, with the ayes and noes
taken thereon, and referred to the
General Assembly to be chosen at the
next general election of Senators and
members of the House Of Delegates,
and shall be published for three
months previous to the time OF MAX
ing such choice. And if the General
Assembly so next chosen as aforesaid.
such proposed amendment or amend
ments shall be agreed to by ma
iority of all the members elected to
each houses, then it shall be the duty
of the General Assembly to submit
such proposed amendment or amend
ments to the people in such manner
and at such times as the General
Assembly shall prescribe; and if the
people shall approve and ratify such
amendment or amendments by q
majority of the electors qualified to
vote for members of the General
Assembly voting thereon, such amend
nent or amendments shall become
part of the Constitution.
Sec. 2. AT the general election to
be held in 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 convention to revise
the Constitution and amend the
same ~ shall be decided by the cleo
tors qualified TO vote for members of
the General Assembly; and in case Of
Il majority of the electors so qualified
voting at such election shall decide
in favor of a Convention for such
purpose, the General Assembly ut
its next session shall provide by law
for the election of delegates to
such convention: Provided, That no
amendment or revision shall be made
which shall deny or in any way i'm
pair the right OF suffrage, or in any
civil or political right as conferred by
this Constitution, except for causes
which apply to all persons and class
es without distinction.
The first section (Which we have
heretofore published repeatedly, is
constitutional amendment by legisla-
live action, with ratification by the
people. The second section provides
Tor u Constitutional Convention,
whose action requires no ratification
by the people. The first practically
includes both the "initiative and
referendum for the people, which,
together, are pronounced by all ra
tional persons as the realized ideal
and perfection of human self govern
ment. Thus, the people themselves,
or through their representatives IN
the General Assembly, propose or in
itiate an amendment or amendments.
If one be adopted by both Houses, ii
is referred to the next legislature to
be chosen and published for three
months previous to the election for
the information of all the people. If
adopted again by this next legisla-
ture, it is then submitted to the peo-
pie for ratification or rejection at the
polls. What could be safer or better:
The Convention provided for by the
second section is supreme and arbi
trary, without any restrictions or lin
itations save the constitution and
laws of the United States, and is
practically irresponsible, as it may
do as it pleases about printing and
publishing, or submitting anything
to the people. Its action is final, il
il so chooses; and who can doubt
that its majority will so choose? By
voting for the Convention, therefore,
! on the 9th of May, every man who
does so offers to surrender himself
and all his rights and interests to a
convention of absolute power. Vote
No! therefore. Vote against this
surrender of the people and their
rights, liberties and interests to any
body of men.-Norfolk Pilot.