Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-03
TWELVE PAGES
TUESDAY,. JANUARY 3, 1899.
A VERY CRAVE MATTER.

There is no need of State conven-
ton to amend our State constitution in
\ any particular, and there Is every good
Il reason why the legislative method of
amendment, with popular ratification.
Z should be adopted. That is as plain as
nnythine can be, unless one has an
arriere pensee. or mental reservation,
# which blinds his judgment. II Is safest
cheapest, surest and best in every why.
AS to restricting suffrage in future
J or merchandising anyone now possess
Ing the suffrage, our feelings are one
way, and our convictions another. We
y do not desire any good or even tolerable
citizen degraded fby depriving him Of
his vote; and it seems to us a trea cherry
Z to the best manhood to dlsfranchise any
brave and loyal ex-Confederate, or his
!; sons.
On the other hand. the public safety
IS the supreme consideration If 1t may
sometimes work apparent hardship and
Injustice; but,we have invariably main
falned and agreed. as our State con-
stitution already provides, that no idiot
nor lunatic, no person convicted of
bribery in any election. embezzlement
@of public funds, treason. felony, or
petit larceny. should be allowed Ito
CORY. in our own Judgment. a number
cc other offences. or incapacities, that
should exclude any man from the fran
chlse, Irrespective of all considerations
\ or property or educational qualifica-
stlons.
Nor In our mind. is conviction on
judicial trial necessary to complete the
crime and effect the disqualification;
but IL N mari has shown by his course
or conduct that he has no more sense
than an idiot or lunatic. so adjudSed by
n commission. or Is no better than "a
unit and unworthy to have a voice in
government and laws even for HIM
self. and much more so for others.
90 Tror these and other reasons the VIR-
aCsINIAN- PILOT desires to see the pro-
posed, suffrage Commandment, as finally
framed before it will. or can intelli-
gently and honestly say whether or not
IL approves or condemns it. To afford
nc and ALL CITIZENS of Virginia this
sreascnnblc opportunity, the legislative
method OF amendment is absolutely
necessary because when amended by n
convention, it does not have to be sub
mitted to the vote OF the people.
Besides, 1t does not become. in our
mind, an Intelligent press, nor an in
8telligent constituency, to give carte
blanche and unlimited powers. to any
body of men, beforehand. in matter
so fundamental and important as this,
without chance to consider object.
or amend before 1t becomes our SUI
preme law. Nor Is that all--for con-
stitutionnl convention, once assembled
and organized cannot be constrained by
any power as to how it shall shape any
particular amendment. or us to the
matters into which 1t shall carry
amendment. We do not believe it wise
to convene so absolute a body and
every thoughtful citizen must see the
many dangers-unnecessa dangers
that must arise IL euch a body be once
called and constituted.
Let regular or special session of the
s General Assembly. then, deal with this
suffrage problem. 1t is as competent
10 capacity as in Jaw as any conven-
i ton will be. to do this work; the con-
st!tption itself offers it this work before
= " mentions even the questIonssof
convention. and then submits 1t merely
& as a suggestion TO be determined by
sls people, obviously commencing the