The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-22
wr.,tcn Tor The Times.)

Our fathers even in the second ard third
generation, appear to have been wiser than
their sons. An act was passed March 4;h,
1850, 80 take the sense Of the people upon
the cali OF q convention, and providing for
organizing thu same" By cts terms. II the
people voted afiirmatively. the Governor
was 10 make proclamation of the fact, and
also that an election Tor delegates 10 the
convention would be held on day named
In tho act, to-wit on the fourth Thursday
n August ensuing. The act also appor-
toned the State into districts. somewhat
arbitrarily, it appears. following the lines
neither of legislative nor senatorial dis
1-icts-
The important fact remains that they did
not take two bites at cherry, and an
expensive cherry at that. while the meas
ure Of like nature passed by our last Leg
islature provided only for taking the sense
OF the people upon The call of conFen-
ton. Thus a special session of the Legs
aature-whiclr is an expensive luxury IN
many ways-bccomeS necessary, or else
the convention must tie deferred I'LL NE
year 1893.
The convention assembled at Richmond
October 1atl1 1850. When the roster OF the
names OF members is read there IS no sus-
GeSt!on OF the roll Of Battle Abbey Hardly
an echo of $50 is heard.
Yet there were some wise and great
men in the convention, whose fame had
not YET attained its zenith: men who de-
served well of their country then, and who
served il nobiy and heroicaliy in the crisis
that came ten years later
CONSPICUOUS MEMBERS.
To name some of the more conspicuous.
following the order of the Journal. there
were Henry A. Wise, Tazewell Taylor,
John r. ChambNss. John y. Mason. Robert
C. Scott, John A Meredith. John Minor
Bolts, James Lyons. Robert C. Stanard, NJ
Il. ii. Garnet. Beverly Douglass, n. L. T.
Beaie. r. G. L. Moncure, John r. Ed
munGs. Thomas J. Randolph, Robert e.
Scott. Ghas. ]. Faulkner, Andrew Hunter,
John Letcher, Waitnan T. Whey. James
Neesnn. Gideon u. Camden, John S. Car
Nile, George " Summers. Allen T. Caper-
ION and Joseph johnson.
John 7. Mason was elected president.
receiving so votes to is for Geo. w. Hop
kin.. and u for Henry A Wise.
This body appears TO have been consid-
cred Reform convention. and reform
IL did with a vengeance For the first
time since its original and unanimous
adoption, in l16 the Declaration Of
Rights" was amended, yet in mutters SO
.mna terial and hypercritical as to be
hardly worth mentioning, except as evil
dence of the iconoclastic spirit of the time
II is the aspiration of many patriotic Eir-
Einians that the next convention shall re-
enact TINT sacred imminent OF the PEG
pies rights just as it stands in the journa.
Of the convention Of l776.
White manhood suffrage-what was
called universal suffrage" until we learn
ed in sorrow that universal could have
a larger meaning-wns adopted, and Demos
became King, with every badge Of au-
thority but sceptre and crown.
Suffrage continued to be viva voce. but
dumb persons might use ballots.
FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Here are some of the features of the
Constitution then framed: NO person
holding lucrative Office, no minister OF
the Gospel or priest of any religious de-
nomination, no salnr:ed officer of any
banking corporation or company, and no
attorney for the Commonwealth shall be
capable of being elected member of
either house of the General Assembly
So reads section Of Article ", and IN
Ii there is much food for reflection.