The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-05
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


One Of our esteemed Virginian ccntem-
p~oraries IS amazed that another esteem
| ed Virginian contemporary while admit
ting the necessity for a constitutional
| convention, should insist that it be made
purely a party issue 10 be decided in
accordance with the temporary interests
Of a single party. rather than with tho
permanent and enduring interests Of all
the people,
There IS nothing amazing about this.
however much we may depracate It.
for a state convention for any purpose
necessarily involves party politics and all
parties will endeavor 20 control IT and TO
derive a benefit from its conclusions. For
that reason. if for no other, The Times is
opposed TO calling a constitutional con-
vention az this time. in the present
temper of the people, with all sorts OF
questions Of national politics as we'll as
Of State politics to divide them, We think
II would be dangerous. not 10 say reck-
less. to call a convention 70 revise the
state constitution. We AVE already
heard from one source hat the conyen-
ton should pay its respects to the money
question and engraft into our constitu-
ton a provision regulating the currency.
and il is also we'll understood that If the
convention il called. it will attempt 10
restrict the suffrage in what way and
10 what extent. no man knows. Then,
again there il "a large Populist element
in Virginia, and no mar san say how far
that element would control the action OF
the convention. 1t is dangerous, We say.
and reckless TO assemble ii convention az
this time for the purpose Of changing the
fundamental law of Virginia.
The Times does not pretend 10 say that
our present constitution is O model. We
do not 20 so far as the enthusiasts IN the
opinion that it can be so modified as TO
save the State hundreds of thousands
each year, but we do believe that judi
clous men. Influenced by the one 6reat pur-
pose TO serve the interests of the State.
could make such changes in the constitu-
ton as materially TO reduce expenses Of
government. We do not believe. how
ever. that a convention composed Of a
large number Of men Of different political
views is by any means the best method
of revising the constitution. Conventions
are cumbersome. and, as a rule, reyolu-
tionary. The views of its members are
usually so far apart that in order TO ac-
complish anything. compromises are
necessary. and everybody knows that
compromises are generally unsatisfactory
to both sides.
There is a way to revise the constitu-
ton. a way provided by the constitution
itself. and hat Is the model way. The
frame work Of our constitution is all
right. Nobody wants to change the bill
Of rights, ana as to details, they can be
dealt with by amendments. which OIL
ginate I'm the Legislature and are after
wards passed upon by the people them
selves. We believe, therefore. that the
way out of the difficulty is for the ncxt
Legislature to appoint a commission to
be composed OF "a few Of the best and
purcst statesmen in Virginia, who shall
80 over the constitution carefully and
draft such amendments as in their judg-
ment are best adapted to tho needs Of
tho times, or upon such points as the
Legislature may itself desire amendments
TO he drawn.
Such a commission would be a DELHI
crative body and its members would have
such technical knowledge of the law as
would enable them TO make their work
perfect. In this way all amendments
deemed expedient could be drawn up and
the Legislature would then pass each ar
ticle and section separately and then de-
eide as TO which should go to the people.
And finally the people themselves would
! say by their votes at the polls as TO
whether or not they were satisfied with
the result.
Another thing that commends this plan.
is that it would cost the state practical
ly nothing. save the pay Of the members
Of the commission, which would be tri-
fling. whereas, a constitutional convention
would cost in the neighborhood Of 10000.