Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-30
THE uSDrRwoop CONSTITUTION.
A Vigorous Letter Denunclntory o.
IL from Professor Puryenr.


obey the DR.. Bayne-Judge Underwood
Constitution This IL the formidable and
forbidding barrier to any adequate re-
trenchment. II WIS intended to pro-
duce exactly the results which have
caused the present clamor for retrench-
ment. We must make up our minds 10
get rid Of It. per fas aut nefas." for
nothing is so wicked and destructive as
Il.
Before proceeding, Mr.. Editor, let me
ask what Is the use OF constitutions,
anyway? They seem to be powerless to
protect and to restrain. and only potent
for evil. The Federal Constitution, pro-
nounced by Mr.. Gladstone TO be the
greatest emanation that ever came forth
at single time from the brain OF man.
has conspicuously failed TO perform It's
functions. In its despite, States have
been dismemebered, and fully loco MIL
lions OF property, TO the protection Oh
which 1t was specially and sacrediy
pledged, was ruthlessly confiscated. For
forty years we have been driving coach
and six, and are doing II now, through
the Federal Constitution. not only with
out protest, but even without remark.
II the Federal Constitution, sanctioned
and approved by Washington and Haml-
ton, Jay and Madison, cannot and does
not enforce its inhibtions. how does IL
happen that the Underwood Consttu-
ton, with no title to respect, restraints
our hand, and defeats our purpose, when
a great crisis-its necessary and logica!
result-putting life and property, and
honor and virtue at stake. demands i'm
mediate and heroic treatment? III we
were men such as Virginians were WITH
in living memory, we would cut our way,
sure and quick, TO safety and deliverance'
With this preliminary skirmishing, we
plunge at once Gin medals res"
The Underwood Constitution Is an I'M
constitutional constitution. The conven-
ton which framed it was not called
by the people of Virginia, the only com
petent authority, but by military procia-
nation. Worse even than this, at this
time and subsequently, all men were
disfranchised who had held any office
from Governor to constable Thus the
very men who had made proof OF their
natriotism, intelligence, and trustwortni-
ness were debarred from citizenship,
and so our supreme safety was COM
mitted into the hands Of the least
worthy This brought about state OF
things which the English Language hao
no word TO cover. We hear OF aristocra-
cy, oligarchy, democracy, empire, KING
dom. ETC., but our government % must
a
scribe it--kakistocracy, a government OF
the worst, by the worst, for the worst
The personnel OF the convention was
lust what might logically have been ex-
pected A few-natives to the soil ana
true TO their State-sat there and saw
in silent agony the shameful dishonor
inflicted on the State, while the govern
ing majority of Yankees and negroes
aliens and enemies, fanatics and tools,
tore, in flendsh glee, the limbs, ana
Toasted on the decaying carcass OF the
Commonwealth i saw, and sickened AS
l saw, the convention at its work. Inc
Constitution which has been debasing
our manhood and blighting our prosperity
for more than thirty years Is the out
come Of this awful incubation. AT the
time of it's formation, when the pubic
mind was infamed by the hot passions
born of war and blood. 1t was hardy
possible for even wise men 10 90
the wise thing. What then, might nave
been expected of that ribald crew. VINO
represented no property worth mention
ing and whose only idea was to make
public provision for themselves and their
taxless constituents? Their work-ex-
pected to be bad-transcends in its actual
results the Imagination of us all. Tney
did not seek to protect property, Out 10
expose Il in every way, to the rapael'y
of the lazy, the idle the vicious. Inc
Constitution is honey-combed with
multitude Of unnecessary and hurttul
Offices. to harass our people and eat out
their substance. 1t did not seek TO en-
courage industry, but erected innumer-
able bomb-proofs for the protection OF
the lazy and the worthless. Its most
malignant and destructive lesson, how
ever. has been to destroy self-renance'
and to teach the people to look TO gov
eminent for help and support.
The convention sought 10 emasculate
the people. 1t sought to destroy, and II
has destroyed, that lofty sense OF per-
sonal freedom, that proud Individuality
which. in the better days, made the an
nails of Virginia lustrous with immortal
names. From the corrupted womb OF the
Mother Commonwealth will never spring
again such men as charged with Pickett
AT gettysburg, or constituted the rank
and file of the Stonewall Brigade. our
moral descent has been so rapid as 10 De
palpable to the senses. Men To-Day 90
things at which they would have been
shocked thirty years ago; and the young
come upon the stage of life dwarfed an.
corrupted from the beginning ana Win
low and debasing ideals.
Mr.. Editor, is there no hopper Our sisteI
States of the South have, for the most
virtually forced upon them In the dark
days of Reconstruction. Why can't we
do the same? Has the iron so entered
the soul that we are already deadT III
really seems so.
Whenever the proposition is made for
a convention TO form a new cohstitu-
ton the objection is made that no"
is not a good time" To this l wish 10
make the triumphant reply that now Is
the worst time we have ever had In the
mast. but the best we will ever have IN
the future. Every passing day adds 10
the moral debauchment OF the people,
and makes them more UNIT for the great
function of establishing a new organic
law. A constitution framed now VIII lie
vastly worse than one made ten years
ago. and vastly better than one made ten
years hence.
We are told that the State Is unable TO
meet the expense Of a convention. There
could be no stronger argument for
convention for If true. 1t proves that
the Underwood Constitution has brought
us already TO absolute bankruptcy. For
no conceivable reason, save one, am
willing to submit to any increase OF
taxation. l am willing to submit to any
thing that gives the promise OF the an
Inhalation of the Underwood Consutu-
ton.
If the voters of Virginia are yet com
netent TO elect suitable men for the pur-
pose indicated, they would give US
constitution which In a single year
wonld diminish taxation by an amount
sufficient to pay many times the ex-
penses of the convention
The Bill Of Rights, drawn by George
Afo.o, auumerates the civic virtues,