The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-18

mas been stated, been chosen distinctly
-oi 'hS purpose, but il was :, sovereign
eohFeht'on, vested with supreme authori-
" without any limit upon its powers
ana 1t was not only its prerogative hut its
auty TO establish a government for the
State
1t was not only the first CONSTITUTIONS
| al convention which ever assembled in
virginia, but the first that ever met on
esTth TO form government by the terms
o. q written constitution for a free peo-
pie. Fifty-four days afterwards tho first
written constitution ever framed by an
independent political society was adopted
by unanimous vote
Upon the roll We're four men. any one
of whom would have made illustrious any
dei1berative assembly of which he might
be member, and would have marked as
an era. any age in which he lived. These
four We're George Mason, James Madison,
Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.
There were other able and distinguished
men there, the memory of whose talents,
services and abilities have been enshrned
in the hearts of the people of Virginia
forever.
Meeting in the midst of the natal
throes of the American Revolution it
then gave to our fathers and to the world,
a constitution OF government which, as
was so well shown in the admirable ad-
dress of Judge Pryor before this Associa-
ton in 1895, was not only the grand orig
inal of all subsequent State constitutions" "
but the model to which the architects Of
the Federal Government had recourse In
it was for the first time expressed in
concrete form the principle of checks
and balances in the formation of a free
government, which was afterwards still
farther illustrated In the Federal ConSti-
tuition and it also embraced that arrange
mcnt of what Mr.. Calhoun seventy-fve
years later defined as concurrent maiori-
| ties and shows to be a limitation upon
| the will of democracy of a mere nu-
| merical majority essential to the preser-
| walton of liberty
Perfection cannot be claimed for the
| Constitution. In some of its provisions,
| narticularly in the apportionment of rep
| resentation. it was doubtless very imper-
| feet.
The election of the Governor by the
| Legislature and that for the short term OF
one year. and the division of the execu-
tive power between the Governor and a
| privv council were also found to be OBJ
| jectfonabe features. Another ground OF OBJ
| lection was the requirement of a free
| hold qualification for suffrage. which soon
| aroused strong opposition.
The inequality in representation was
| doubtless in q measure unntentonal-
| It is to be remembered also that this
convention had access to no reliable census
| OF population and that the basis adopted
| for the House of Delegates was the same
| upon which the convention itself had been
| relected.
Under this Constitution, the people of
| Virginia lived in freedom and happiness
! for fifty-four years.
''As population increased, the inequality
| of the apportionment made in 1776. became
p,.t 'TllrTp hoard iha +
| terings of a storm. for the people of large
| districts of the State justly felt that they
| We're the victims of fragrant injustice.
! Finally. in 1877, an act was passed by
| the General Assembly, making the appor-
| tonnent of representation in the Senate
| upon the basis of white population. The is
| sue was pressed from year to year, till
finally the Legislature, in 1925 %. yielded
! to the popular demand, and a convention
| was called TO consist OF four delegates
from each of the twenty-four senatorial
| districts, so that it would be practically
chosen upon the white basis of 1917.
THE SECOND CONSTITUTION.
This convention met in the City of
Richmond on the 5th of October 1929. 1t
| was taken all in all. the ablest body OF
men which ever met in Virginia, excepting
only the Virginia Convention of 1SGS. which
adopted the Federal Constitution, an1 in
| most particulars it measured fully up to
| that illustrous assemblage.
In all the history of ieliberative bodies
! Of the Enslish-speallng race. there have
| been few, if any, which, far the ability,
| learning, eloquence and original power,
manifested in its proceedings and debates.
/ have surpassed this memorable assemblage.
! The demands Of the West We're, that they
should have equal representation with the
White men of the East; that the negroes
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