Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-20
CONSTITUTIONAL Convention
CNorthern Neck News.


Anent the constitutional convention
question, we ask a few peru"e"' w.
tons: " z,,ot, n
From those who argue that such
convention VIII modest the oyster ~,
dns,rv we as,, If the Legislature can
do likewise? And If the oyster laws p'
endorsed. as they now are. OF ps
modelled by a convention. is 1t not iihep
that the Legislature will hereafter ~
Il rest0 and our biennial fears ior-
ever cease? 1oro
II any DISTINGUISHING il to De uone,
don't those who oppose sucD e'al" -
the same dread from the hands OF i"e
Legislature?-V Virginia Citizen.' .,.,,
As the News believes that coii9' -
tional convention might resufl )"
serious injury. if not total des''NN ~
of the oyster industry of Eastern ~
gnia, although this II but one Oh 10
many reasons which actuates its couISo
IN onposjug the calling OF such a CONVEX
ticn. It Will undertake 10 reply 10 INC
pertinent questions" propounded by nS
@ steemeg neighbor Happily. the tons.l-
tuition under which we live contains an
the answer that is necessary. .,.
Section l. Article ". of the Cohs'i'u
ton of Virginia provides that all TAXA
ton shall be equal and UNIFORM hhu
section of the same article is IN THESE
words NO tax shall be lmpoaeu
on any of the citizens of this state loi
the privilege Of taking or catching oystei
from their natural beds with tongs III ,nc
waters thereof; but the amount OF raieS
Of oysters so taken by any citizen nl
any one year may be taxed at rate not
exceeding the rate Of taxation iinposcN
upon any other species of property.
If these provisions were not contained
I'm our Constitution. it would be perfectly
competent for any Legislature TO molest
the oyster industry" b. taxing IT OUT Vi
existence but so long as they are paIu
of our organic law no Legislature can 90
so. So much I'm reply 10 the first inquiry
Of our neighbor. Those who are opposed
to DISTINGUISHING illiterate voters Know
or. at least, those Of them who nave any
knowledge of the provisions OF our CON
stitution relating to the elective franz
ch,se know. that the Legislature has
neither the power to confer upon nor 10
take from any citizen Of the state the
right to vote. The third article OF our
Constitution says who shall and who shaii
not be entitled to vote. With the excep-
ton Of certain excluded persons, such as
lunatics and persons convicted OF bribery
etc. the Constitution declares that every
male citizen of the United States, Il
wears old. who shall have been resident
of this State twelve months, and OF the
county. city. or town in which he snail
offer to vote three months next pre-
ceding any election, shall be entitled 10
vote for members of the General Assem-
bly and all officers elected by the peo-
pie" This being the language of the
Constitution itself we fail to perceive
why as the Citizen seems TO think, any
voter should stand in dread of being
disfranchised by the Legislature. the
Constitution defines the powers and du-
ties of the General Assembly. and That
body. being the creature of the Constr.
tuition, can neither add 10 nor take Troy
the qualifications of any voter. II Is IN
more in the power of the Legislature 10
abridge the right 10 vote of any citizen
Of Virginia than IT IS within its power TO
confer that right upon any citizen who
does not enjoy it under the Constitution.
We know. Of course. that our neighbor
did not and does not desire to mslead
ANYBODY, and now that we have called its
attention to its serious misconception or
the powers of the General Assembly, ana
IL clearly perceives. as it must do. that
IL would at least imperil the interests OF
those of our citizens who are interested
directly or indirectly. in the oyster in
dustry, TO remove the inhibition placed
upon the Legislature I'm regard to its
power 10 tax oysters. we trust that 1t Will
hereafter be found arrayed upon the side
OF those Of us who are opposed TO calling
4 constitutional convention.