The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-17
BIG MEETING
IN BUCKINGHAM
Speakers Address a Large Crowd on
the Constitutional Change.
CAPT. PATTEscn,s ADDRESS
BE Makes Strong Speech in Favor
of the Constitutional Convention
and Carries the Crowd with
Him-o,hcr Speakers.
CAPT. PATTEscn,s ADDRESS

BUCKINGHAM c. IL. VA. May b.
special.-A large and enthusiasts meet
ing was held at Buckingham Courthouse
Monday tcourt-day) in favor OF the Con-
stitutional Convention.
The meeting. which consisted Of nearly
thousand people. was addressed by
Hon. e. w. Hubbard and Capt. Camm
Pat;eson, Mr.. c. dollhouse Patteson and
Judge a. s. Hail. all OF whom delivered
able and eloquent addresses in favor Of
the new constitution, but unquestionably
the real speech which touched the minds
end hearts Of his audience was made by
Captain CanlIn Patteson- His health,
which has been very delicate Tor lthe fast
two years, has somewhat improved. For
nearly two hours he not only held, bat
increased his audience.
CAPT. PATTElSON,S SPEECH.
In the outset he stated that ne admitted
there had been villainous trickery and
cheating under the present Walton law,
under which, as an honest man. he had
chafed and wriihed, and with the new
constitution an honest ballot could he
cast and Virginians could leave the polls,
without the blush of shame upon their
cheeks.
He stated that no man in Virginia ought
TO have the right TO Vote unless he could
read and write the English language, or
unless he paid taxes upon two hundred
dollars of property. personal or real. lie
stated that this educational or property
qualification was mild, but just. He far
Their stated that neither of these Guallfi-
cations should apply to the Confederate
soldier or sailor. who, as long as they
lived, ought TO have and should have a
rieflt 10 vote whether they knew "b''
from bulls foot or owned dollar. He
further stated that he was unaterablv
opposed TO the abolition Of the hfteenth
amendment because of the immense pow
er Which 1t gave 10 the South, and winch
it would be folly 10 sacrifice; that ne
would never give up this power. but would
drain 10 the dress the poisoned cha!ice OF
,fat Gun framed by the Puritans, who.
for more than one hundred years. carried
the slaves in open sight of the famous
Plymouth Rock-a striking contrast, as
he eloquently expressed it when ne drew
the picture of the Puritan who favored
religious liberty, and at the same time
ran Roger Williams out CT Massachusetts
because he did not subscribe TO their
forms Of worship.
SLAVE TRADE
He eloquently denounced Massa-
crusetts ana South Carolina, who by an
rnholv coalition like that OF Blyfe ana
Black George. extended the slave trade
TO the year 16aS-dark and infamous dot
In the history of the world he fuftheT
stated that he WAS unalterably opposed
"a the treachery and trickery of the
Angio-SaXon people of Virginia, VINO
state that they are not willing to DIS
franchise the descendants of those who
had right 70 vote in 1867.
He here lsed slang phraSes-said TINS
was a firn-fam and rabbit loot, the oo-
ject OF which was TO deceive ana 10 "e-
fraud. that so fsrr as he was concerned
he would not be guilty Of Intolerance
and oppression. and would open wide the
door of suffrage, both to Africans and
Americans, who could read and write
or owned property OF the Na.ue OF Two
Hundred Lollar2-
r., stated that he wanted the Constitu-
ton so changed that the motsH arising
from taxation of the pro, :tT OF the
whites should so 10 the education of the
white children. and the taxes on the
Negroes property should be used to eau
cate the negro children; that this was
right upon principle: that il was JUSTIFIED
upon the highest principles OF 1norah'E
and Christia nifty, and while 1t was true
that the whites paiG more than SO per
cent. of the taxes and the negroes less
tl,an % per cent, ii was Yet true mat
il, more than a quarter OF century
with the whole world TO back them, the
negroes hac but slightly improved their
condition
A MALIGN MEASURE.
He further stated that the present in
famous Dolly Warden Constitution was
framed by men who had in their hearts
the most desperate malgnity against
Virginia people; that 'iunricutt, 0id
Sszcs Hodges Lewis Lindsay and
Underwood framed a constitution, which,
hui Cor the magnanimous action OF our
ven President Ulysses S. Grant would
have disfranchised the Very pick ana
flower of the people of NirSinia-that
great man and great President having
given TO the people of Virginia the right
10 vote upon the most Objectionable sec
tons.
ne stated that John C. Underwood, ct id
o,,,ne genus! copied the Connecticut and
Massachusetts Constitutions, and save us
n wretcled and cumbersome system appii-
csbla not to our condition. but 10 thlck!y-
settled manufacturing communities. And
IN this connection he stated that there was
no earalv use for the offices of supervisor
or caunIv treasurer or one-half of the
school trustees, and perhaps no use for
co,nty Judges. and by the abolition of
these offices our. expenses would be greatly
lessened.
INFAMOUS SYSTEM.
He stated WITH imprisoned feeling that
having been a lawyer with more than
thirty years experience. he denounced IN
,,nrneasured terms the Infamous system of
the election of judges by the Legislature;
that the people alone had the rignt 10
elect their own judges: that ne was ford-
Ta5 IN this opinion by the recorded state
,nent of the late Judge Edmund q Burks.
~ ora faS