The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-24

Constitution, which wiz launch the old
Commonwealth upon an era of prosperity,
ant throw off the burdens fastened upon
ha- people by aliens and men who had
MT the welfare and true happiness Of her
s,ns and daughters at heart
Ut seems eTninenty fitting that this Gior-
ieus work should be accomplished at the
dawninS of a new century, when pro-
pitious winds are blowing everywhere
and when the human family is striving 10
lEI itself higher in the scale OF ciVilza-
EIon.
The people have demanded a change In
the organic law in no uncertain tones,
and they may be relied upon TO see that
the work of the whole scene Is carried
through on the very highest plane There
will be no wavering among them from now
on, and being aroused 10 a sense OF the
highest duty TO themselves and TO their
children, they are going to elect their
brainiest aud best men to frame their new
Constitution; and then adopt the instru-
rnent 10y a good majority, when II snail
be submitted for their approval
SEVEN CONVENTIONS.
Since the organization of our State Gov
eminent there have been seven constitute
:onal conventions in Virginia.
The intelligence Of these bodies has rang
ed from the highest TO the lowest; from
such great inteilects and hroad-1ninded
statesmen at George Mason and John
Marshall down to Lewis Lindsay and Joe
Cox, the two negroes who in part repre-
seDted Richmond city in The back-and-tan
convention of 1857. which framed the
present instrument. commonly known as
the Underwood Constitution.
The first Constitutional Convention ever
held in Virginia sat in the old Colonial
Capitol at Williamsburg. in 17I6. It was
the famous body that framed the nstrtl-
ment which set in motion the machinery
Of Independent statehood on colonial soil:
and which promulgated Virginia's celebrate
ed Bill of Rights, the document which has
made the name of her great son, George
Mason, immortal.
THE GREATEST OF ALL.
It was more than half a century later
when new conditions, incident to the rapid
growth of the State demanded a revision
Of her organic LAW.
The Legislature Of 1S2l-'2s, responding to
the necessities Of the hour, submitted
the question of holding another conyen-
ton to the people, and it was adopted
by majority of over 5,0oo.
The State, which then. of course, en-
braced West Virginia, was divided into
twenty-four districts. and each district
was given four delegates in the c0nVen-
ton, making a total of ninety-six mem
bers In point of ability, this was I'M
doubtadly the greatest body that ever
gathered for any purpose on the soil of
Virginia
It's membership embraced the Governor
of the STATE; Two eX-Presidents of the
United States: the Chief Justice of the
United States Supreme Court: one United
States Senator and q President-elect of
Inc United States.
Upor es-s-a~rfils were the names of Chief
. JUST sA1arsllall. eX-Presidents
Mad fonroe, and John Randolph
of fen a member OF Congress.
f4ESTr' JOHN TYLER.
VI John Tyler, then United
Shr and President-elect of the
Is, was also g, member of the
ser prominent members of the
5 of $3.50 were Governor vii
files, of Amelia; George c. Drom-
lie brilliant orator aud Congress
5rn Brunswick, and John r. Chop
New Kent.
Madison was the only member of
Jay who had also been a member of
Invention of llI6-
convention assembled in TINS city
Monday, October. 1929
r. Monroe was unanimously chosen
preside over its deliberations, on mo-
IN of ex-President Madison
The session lasted 105 days. and its work
Ras ratified by the people in 1880, by
majority of over I,oS
I The instrument framed by this brilliant
ralaSy of statesmen remained the or
Eanic law of the State until 1850. when
another convention was ordered. which
sat in Richmond from October 14th, 1850.
until the spring of ISL.
This body embraced 15S delegates, many
of whom We're among the ablest anu puitsSt
men in their time.
IN STORMY TIMES.
The secession convention Of 1851 vas the
next held in the State. Among the leaders
were ex-President John Tyler and Cover
nor Henry a. Wise
Hon. r. c. Kent. OF Wythe. ex-Lieuten-
ant-Goyernor of Virginia, and long pro-
,ninent figure in the Legislature, is one of
the few survivors Of that memorable
body.
Major Kent is the highest type of an old
Virginia gentleman. and is much beloved
by the people of his section.
The Constitution framed by this body
contained strong declarations in favor of
States rights, but the vote upon its adop-
lion was never taken. perhaps on ac-
count of the stormy period in which it was
completed.
Between the convention of 1861 and that
of 1851. which framed the present Consti-
tu.io,n. one was held at Wheeling in 1852,
and another at Alexandra in 1864
STATES 1oIAIEMBERED.
AS a result of the deliberations of these
two bodies, West Virginia cut off
from Virginia. and each given a Constitute
ton of its own. It was this work and the
mode of its accomplishment that moved a
great Southerner TO say in the midst of
an imprisoned speech on one occasion,
that "West Virginia WAS carved out of the
side of Virginia With the sword OF an
usurper.''
tn. famous body which framed the pres
ent organic law Of the State assembled
in Richmond on tuesday. December Sd.
1867, and sat 1N days. adlournins on FIJI
~
It was composed OF all kinds and condi-
lions of ,nen-Northern Republicans, who
haa come South during the war, and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES negroes constituting
There was q slight sprinkling of native
white y,rgfnians in the body, who We're
,s,own as conservatives, but they reore-
ss,1ea such hopeless minority that
they were power!css TO even obs1ruct
legislation 20 ~,
,,,syohe,,s. appor;ionei somewhat after the
Fashion OF the present House of Delegates.
UNDERWOOD PRESIDENT.
roh,, G, underwood. a former New Yorker
Was elected from Richmond city, and was