Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-02
CONVENTION PREcEDENTs IN
VIRGINIA.

Now that the popular mind Is en-
crossed with the great pending issue:
Convention or no Convention, a brief
history of other conventions, held for
the purpose of framing the organic law
OF the State, ought to be both interest
ing and instructive. There have been
five conventions held in Virginia for
the purpose of framing or changing the
Constitution, to-wit: In 1776 1929 80
1S50-'51. 1861 and 1867.
1t is unnecessary to discuss at large
the convention of 1776, which was a
Revolutionary body and set the pace
which Injured in American indepen-
dence. 1t adopted George Mason's Bill
OF Rights. June IL, and declared Vir-
GINA to be no longer dependency of
England, but a free and Independent
State" June 10Th, 1776,-five days be-
fore the adoption by the Continental
Congress of the general Declaration Of
Independence.
On this same date, June goth, '76 the
Virginia Convention adopted o. Consti-
tuition. 1t was time of war and
tumult. Inter arma leges silent-"when
war prevails the laws are Silent"
There was no submission Of this Con-
stitution to the people for ratification
ton of the State, unamended in any
particular, until the great convention of
1S29-'20 OF which Madison, Monroe.
Marshall. Randolph, Watkins Lee and
n bead roll of other statesmen and pub
licists were members. BY common con-
sent this convention is regarded as the
ablest dellbera.ive assemblage that
ever met on the soil OF Virginia: by
many people it is considered the ab,est
and most patriotic body of men that
ever assembled since the worlds his
tory began. 1t adopted Constitution,
and in the accompanying schedule it
was:
Ordered. that the President of the
Convention do certify q true copy of
the amended Constitution to the Gene
raj Assembly now in session; and that
the General Assembly be and they are
hereby requested to make any add-
tional provisions by law. which may
be necessary and proper for submitting
the same to the voters thereby qualified
to vote for members of the General AS
sembly ut the next April elections, and
for organizing the government under
the amended Constitution, in case it
shall be approved and ratified by such
voters" Journal of Convention, last
page)
Here was the first convention held In
times of peace, composed of the ablest
men of the Commonwealth. They sub
nit their work to the ratification of the
people, without whose sanction and APP
prevail they concede it goes for naught.
Under that Constitution. when rati-
fed by the people. we lived until the
convention of 1S5o-5l, when a new one
was framed.
BY reference to the Schedule" sec
ton D. published at the end Of the Jour
nal of that Convention, 1t will be seen
that this Constitution was also sub
mitted to the people, For Ratifying''
or For Rejecting"
There is this criticism to be passed
in that SCHEDULED" The new Constitu-
ton undertook to confer the right of
suffrage on many citizens who had not
possessed that right under the old Con-
stitution. and which continued to be the
fundamental law of the State until the
people entitled TO vote ratified the new
one. The election officers were directed
Ito receive and record the votes for and
against this Constitution and schedule
of all persons qualified under the en-
listing or amended Constitution to ex-
ercise the right of suffrage"
Undoubtedly here was n gross usur-
patton of authority by the convention.
AS matter of course everybody would
vote to enfranchise himself. 1t was
ratified and under its suffrage clause
white manhood suffrage became well
nigh universal, and has SO continued
from that day on.
Here was the second case of n sub
mission to the people of the work OF the
convention.
The next convention assembled In 1861
known as the Secession Convention.
The Act OF Assembly, Passed January
II. 1861, which provided for this conven-
ton. contained n special provision for
Il separate poll to take the sense of the
qualified voters as TO whether any ac-
ton by the convention "dlssolving our
connection with tho Federal Union or
changing the organic law of the State.
shall be submitted to the people for
their ratification or rejection"
1t seems to be a matter of Constitu-
tional history not generally known, but
1t is an unGuestionable fact, that this
convention did not only 'sever our rcla-
tionS with tho Ipl,.ll Union lint ,t.r,