The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-18

! took no part.
Nine states ratified before Virginia.
| The great convention OF 17sS considered
! II. All the great names OF that time were
| there or expressed themselves in no I'M
| certain sound.
WHAT JEFFERSON SAID.
jefferson. then In Paris as Minister 20
! France, wrote Madison on December 70.
! 1877. 4 am captivated by the compromise
! Of the opposite claims Of the great and
the little States: of the latter 20 equal and
the former to proportional influence"
Second Jenersons Works. by II. A.
! Washington. p. 329. and while he OBJ
jected 10 having the Presidents eligible 10
reelection, and said that II was but
! poor imitation OF Polish King ana
that the great merit OF Washington had
blinded the people TO the danger OF this
Office which. II unlimited, was liable TO
become dictatorial, yet he heartily APP
proved Of the Constitution as whole
and the mode OF selection OF the Ma
! tional Congress.
Writing TO his friend. Colonel Caring
ton. on May q. 1858. he said:
81 learn with pleasure Of the progress
OF the new Constitution" When the VIZ
! ginia Convention Of 17sS met the Constitu-
! ton was favored by Washington from
| Mt Vernon and by Madison, the practi-
| by Randolph then Governor; Pendleton,
the president Of the Court Of Appeals and
| Wythe on the floor and opposed by
! Henry and the great ancestor OF the
| present senator from King George-beo'
Mason. But in all the magnificent donates
/ and wonderful oratOry, not one single
! objection was even raised as 20 the Wis
| dom and perfection Of Article l., Section
8. cl. /. which prescribed the mode OF
electng senators OF the United states.
| SO that / am justified In saying that II
received the sanction of our great FORE
! fathers I'm this state OF Virginia without
q single exception. Now. unless for some
/ grave cause. / am unwilling TO make so
! great "A change from an instrument which
! i'm this respect al least has been regarded
as the perfection of wisdom for now ITO
| years.
First II is practically all We have
| left of state sovereignty. and we need its
! protection. a. we are now among the
| weaker or less powerful State organiza-
/ lions.
Second II you start 20 change II will
| be soon followed by more radical changes.
It is the first step TO elections by direct
! vote Of the people.
when this is done Il will surely be
/ followed by the passage Of law by
/ Congress placing under control Of Federal
/ machinery all Federal elections. Several
/ times has Congress under the power II
/ has by virtue OF Act J.. Section I, On. j.
attempted 10 regulate these elections.
! Each term the Senate as now consutu-
I ted has been the bulwark Of our safety.
! Add the Senate 10 the prize Of this war
! and no power will be able 20 stay the
! Federal hand. Are you willing TO run
| this great risk?
Z ttu.l. q flfufrs T.
| should be entitled a bill TO remit the
/ Southside Of Virginia and Tiiewa;er Viz
| ginia TO the condition from which 1t was
rescued by the Democratic party
MR.. BLAKEY FAVOkS IT.
| Mr.. Blakey addressed the Senate brief
| ly. lie was IN favor of the principle OF
| senatorial primary elections but he
| thought the Barksdale bill was defective
I'm some particulars. He knew the act
was doomed TO defeat and. therefore
| saw no reason TO seek TO amend II. He
was willing TO trust his people to express
their choice OF Senatorial candidates.
| when the vote should be taken he would
put himself on record as favoring the
| principle. while ne opposed some Of the
! details Of the bill
me further consideration az the meas
ure was postponed until tomorrow.
Afternoon SeSs on.
| Wnen the chair was resumed Mr..
! Nlcknam from the Finance Committee
reported an amendment TO the bill tax
ing telephone companies. which provided
| tnat companies having coo transmtters
\ or less should pay 80 cents on each; over
I 800 and under 1000. e cents each: over
900 and under 1000, 81 each, and over
| Zy0 Sl.oO each. The bill was passed as
| amended.
The dill incorporating the Virginia
| Sugar Refining Company was opposed
| by Mr. EggestOn in a lengthy speech.
! he had seen under acts similar 10 this
| the best pieces Of property the state
4 possessed pass into the hands Of corpora
lions lie had seen the states interests
IN the Richmond and Danville. the old
southside and Virginia Central Railroads.
| 20 TO a corporation, and he had seen the
James River and Kanawha Canal
go to a corporation. To-day, all that re-
mains 10 the state is its interest in the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac
| road-now on the way 10 the pawnshop-
her penitentiary. and Eer debt.
This bill proposed to take away the
| penitenuary
Mr.. Eggleston attacked many OF the
| provisions Of the act, especially that pro-
vidrng that the company should have
| the use OF not less than one hundred
convicts
Ihe bin was passed by q vote OF % 20 s.
HENRICO COURTHOUSE SITE.
MIR. Sands from the Conference Com
mittee on the disagreeing votes of the
| two Houses in relation 10 the bill pro-
viding that the lot OF land I'm the city
OF Richmond on which is located the
| honricO Courthouse and other county
buildings. shall be a part Of that county,
| made the report. The committee recon-
mended that the House recede from its
amendment and In lieu thereof an amend
/ ment be adopted giving the city police
! concurrent jurisdiction with the county
omcers In making arrests and executing
! warrants on this property. The report
was agreed to.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Mr. Maynard (No. SOTO relieve
the Baltimore. Cincinnati and Western
railroad Company from any forfeiture
which may have secured from failure 20
complete its railway within Il certain
time and TO extend that time.
Ky same, (No. SOTO authorize the
| school Trustees, Electoral Board OF Nor
folk county TO increase the number of
district school trustees IN Washington
Magisterial District.
By Mr. Keezell. CNo. 50O-To provide
Tor the protection OF mountain trout IL
the waters OF Rockingham county
by Mr. Jackson. (No 50S.)-To legalize
| primary elections and conventions In the
| counties OF Clarke and Warren.
SENATE BILLS PASSED