Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-04-23
GEN. jas. 6. FIELD
Makes a Strong argument in
FdYor of a Constitutional
Convention.

Congress from Virginia, on the pro
posed constitutional convention.
With your kind permission, as the
subject is of great Importance, will
view MIR. JOKES objection to the con
vention.
do not regard bis objections not
outstanding his acknowledged abili-
ty and long experience in public ser.
vice, as either profound or statesman.
like. He says 1.-The Demo attic party
and the press are divided as TO th .
desirability of holding the conven
ton, etc, etc" This is very narrow
and smacks too much of partizansbip.
We want constitution for the State:
not for the Democratic party, nor in
deed especially for the press. The
wants and requirements of the mas
es OF the people should be the con
trolling cause. Everybody admits
the imperfections of the present con.
stitutlon, MIR. Jones among them.
Now ii tins necessity is recognized
by the State, why is it not desirable
to have conventions Mr.. Jones
says "there is great division of seuti
ment.' This is potent reason why
the convention should be called to
frame our organic law and remove
this division of sentiment. MIR. Jones
says democrats are making a mis-
take when they asi;ate the subject"
We are told that the Republicans
are opposed to the convention. Is it
the Jones policy to keep the Demo
cratic party in line with the Repub
lican party on this subjecti What
Is the bond of sympathy aud union!
is 1T that the Republicans have uni
versal suffrage, and the Democrats
universal officesl Mr.. Jones further
objects "tnat there is great diversity
OF opinion rs to the objects to be at
tained'. In reply, will say that
there is no diversity of opinion is To
the general need of the convention.
There is doubtless some diversity of
opinion as to the details of the work
the convention will do. This has
always been so, an6 will continue
If such diversity now exists is cause
for not calling a convention, then the
time will never come when we should
be assembled. Men will always diff.
fer as to details. A convention is
the only method by which this diver,
sity of detail can be properly har
monized.
Mr.. Jones further objects, because
needed amendments can be more
expeditiously and far more economi
cally accomplished through the legis
lature." If so why has it not been
done? The Underwood constitution
has been upon the State for nearly
thirty years, and no substantial
amendment has been made or ever
attempted by the legislature. The
convention that adopted this consti-
tntion seems to have regarded it as
provisional, for it provided for call
ing a convention in 1883 and every
twenty years thereafter, aud gave
the legislature power at any time
ad interim to submit the question to
a vote Of the people. Nothing has
been accomplished through the legls-
lature and nothing will be. These
answers to Mr. Jones objections are
satisfactory to my own ;aind, and i
submit them to your own. and your
readers consideration. Let the gen.
eral good be our aim.
L. Tie present constitution, in its
formation, was alien to Virginia. It
was formulated by body of men,
who did not represent the social, in
tellectual nor the moral sentiment of
Virginia. Neither did it represent
the property interest of the State. |
Judge John G. Underwood was the
master spirit and the moving inAu- |
ence of that convention. The tradi |
lions OF Virginia were not all pre-
clous to him. They are to me.
z. This constitution is not promo
tive of the general veal of the peo.
pie. We want clear, compact, in
expensive form of State government
The government form is too elabor.
etc aud diffused. There is not a sin.
gle department of the government
that Is not crowded with superfIn
tiles. From one third to one-half
the Offices could be abolished and
ina functions of State government
more promptly, more ably and more