Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-02
THE VIRGINIA LAWYERS
Meeting Of Bar Association at
Hot Springs
A REPRESENTATIVE BODY,
Addresses Of the Hon. John COOde and
Mr.. Harrison.
VERY INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS
The Question of Revision of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Law
VERY INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS,
Ladies Present

HOMESTEAD HOTEL, HOT SPRINGS,
VA, August 1.-(Special.)-Th eleventh
annual meeting of the Virginia State Bar
Association began this morning at this
place. The sessions were held in the Ca
sine, where the Hon. John Goode, the
president of the association, made the
opening address. The lawyers and their
families who are attending are delight
fully housed in the New Homestead and
the Virginia hotels.
The attendance is quite large one.
and is drawn from all parts Of the State.
The Richmond delegation has been COM
ing in in detachments since Saturday
night. Messrs. Reilly, Keith, and Harri-
son. of the Supreme Court Of Appeals,
are here, and the Circuit Court judiciary
is well represented. Among the interest
cd listeners to the morning address were
Senator Daniel DR.. Hunter Mcclure, and
Hon. St. George Tucker, Professor Of Law
Of washington and Lee University.
The address OF Hon. John Goode, the
president Of the association. was fully up
TO the high standard Of such addresses
His theme was a Recurrence to Funda-
mental Principles" Emphasis was laid
upon the duty which the Bar Associa-
ton and its members owed TO society
This duty said the speaker, required OF
the lawyers a methodical and industrious
study of the most learned men who have
explored the vast and illimitable field OF
law. Especially is this necessary In TINS
extraordinary period of the worlds his
tory. when our business relations nave
become co-extensive with the world, call
ing for a deeper knowledge of internd-
tional law. The value of the study OF
the divine law was vigorously shown, ana
the need of reforming our laws was
urged. but caution was given against
sweeping change.
CONSTITUTION REVISION.
In this connection the speaker said:
THE Constitution under which we now
five. commonly known as the Underwood
Constitution was framed under the
reconstruction acts of Congress by aliens
and newly emancipated slaves. 1t was
adopted by the people of Virginia under
duress as a condition precedent TO the
readmission of the State into the Union,
and its representation in Congress. IL
IS not only obnoxious on account OF the
circumstances attending It's formation
md adoption, but the government estaD-
nshed by il is unnecessarily expensive,
and. in many respects, Wholly uhsulleu
TO existing conditions. How can IL Dc
amended In the spring Of 1897 the people
lie
submitted TO them 10 call constltu-
t,onaI convention. This action was taken
not because they were satisfied with the
existing Constitution, but because they
considered the time inopportune ior inc
assembling of a state convention ana
because they did not deem II wise 10
lncur the additional expense in view or
the financial condition of the state. IN
der these circumstances l recommend
that this body shall memoralize the Cen
eral Assembly TO provide by law LOT inc
creation Of a constitutional conmissioh'
70 consist of twenty-one members-two
from, each congressional district and one
from the State at large-who SNAIL DO
charged with the duty of recommending
euch changes i'm the existing Constitution
&c i'm their wisdom they may deem ex-
pedient. ,.,,,,,
rxPrDITIOUS AND INEXPENSIVE.
.r submit that this plan would be not
only exneditious. but inexpensive. and
would be attended with the best results
The Code of 1887, the product OF three
weIl-trained legal minds, furnishes EVIL
dence that the work of amending our
organic law would be well done by
commission of twenty-one able, learned,
unright men 10 be elected by the Generai
Assembly or appointed by the Governor
nrba time has been when Nirginians were
recognized as master builders, so tar as
the work of building constitutions was
CONCERNED They promulgated the hrst
written Constitution for free and lhde-
nendent Commonwealth ever known 10
mankind. The convention that irameu
thai Constitution met al Williamsburg on
the 9th of May, 1776. and was composed
of such men as Edmund Pendleton. Rich
ard RIand. Robert Carter Nicholas John
Rlair. Edmund Randolph Henry Taze-
well. James Madison, Archibald cary
BENJAMIN Harrison Paul Darlington,
Thomas Read, Thomas Lewis, william
Cabeu George Wythe, Richard Henry
Lee. Patrick Henry, Thomas Nelson
Thomas Jefferson, and George Mason II
is no exaggeration 10 say that 'he VIZ
ginia Bill of Rights drawn by George
Mason in l776 is the most complete sum
mary of the rights of man and the prih-
ciples of free government that has ever
beer given TO mankind. One OF Its aru-
Giles declares that mo man, or set OF
men. is entitled to exclusive or separate
emoluments or privileges from the Com
monwealth, but In consideration OF pup-
lie services which, not being descenuiDie'
neither ought the offices or magistrate
legislator, or judge 10 be hereditary AS
has been well said. there Is volume Oh
wifi and wisdom for the study of the ma
,ions embodied IN a single sentence ana
expressed In the plainest language III
deIuge of despotism should sweep over
the world and destroy those institutions
under which freedom Is yet protecteu'
sinking into oblivion every Vestise Oh
their existence among men, could this
single sentence OF George Mason De pre-
served IL would be sufficient to rekindle
the flame of liberty and revive the race
~ freemen." The Constitution OF Vir-
gInia adopted on the 18th OF June. l776.
continued In operation more than half
century. In January, $780, the amended
Constitution was adopted by a conven-
ZION that has never been surpassed In
learning. ability, and patriotism"
MOB LAW.
The lawyer should remember, continued
Mr.. Goode, that the duty is his TO uphold
the law. and not 10 wrongly wrest " 10