Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-24

burning issue now before the people OF
the State. The general consensus of
opinion is in favor of the amendment
of that monster imposition upon the
people, but the mode of accomplishing
this end has evolved wide divergence OF
opinion. We favor tho plan of sub
hitting the new constitution to q vote
OF the PEOPLE for ratification or re-
lection, and we feel fortified by two
considerations of overwhelming force
first, an abiding, faith in the inteli-
gcnce and capacity of the people to de-
tcrInine the matter for themselves-in-
deed, their RIGHT to be final arbters
in the premises; and, secondly, the
uniform custom in Virginia, for the
last seventy years, of submitting
new constitutions to vote of the
PEOPLE for FINAL ACTION. a
glance at the records relating to these
constitutional amendments will be use
full In cnlightening our minds as to the
custom which has prevailed in Virginia
upon the subject for the past seventy
years, and we think we can do no bet
ter than to follow in this line of safe
precedents
The Virginia Convention or 1S29-'30,
In the preamble to the Constitution
prepared by it, recited its powers upon
the mode of proceeding to adopt n new
constitution as IollOWS:
And whereas, the General Assembly
OF Virginia, by an act passed on the
10th day Of February, In the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and twenty-ninc, entitled An act to
organize q convention, did authorize
and provide for the election, by the
people. OF delegates and representa-
tives TO meet and assemble in general
convention, at the Capitol in the city
of Richmond. on the first Monday in
October, in the year last aforesaid, to
consider, discuss, and propose a new
constitution. or alterations and amend
mentS OF the existing Constitution of
this Commonwealth, ITO BE SUBMIT
TED TO THE PEOPLE, and to be by
THEM ratified or rejected.
I'VE, therefore, the delegates and
representatives of the good people OF
Virginia. elected and in convention as
Scmbled, In pursuance of the said act
of Assembly. do submit and propose
to the PEOPLE the following amended
constitution and form of government
for this Commonwealth; that is to say:
lThen follows the constitution recon-
mended. See pages So to 40 of the Code
of Virginia of 1871
On the same day that the enrolled
constitution was signed by the presi-
dent and secretary of the convention.
to-wit: on the 18th Of January, 1880,
the convention ordered as follows:
"ORDERED, That the president of
the convention do certify Il true copy
of the amended constitution to the
General Assembly now in session; and
that the General Assembly be and they
are hereby requested to make any adj
ditional provisions by law, which may
be necessary and proper for submit
ting the same TO the VOTERS thereby
qualified to vote for members of the
General Assembly at the next April
nj nj y, tla
eminent under the amended constitu-
ton, in case it shall be approved and
ratified by such VOTERS" Page 46,
Code Of 1919.
And at the foot of that order, and
on the same page, is the following
statement:
con the 18th February, 1880, an act
of Assembly was passed, under which
the amended constitution was submit
ted to the VOTERS qualified thereby
10 vote for members of the General
Assembly. for THEIR RATIFICATION
or REJECTION. Upon examination of
the polls, it appearing to the executive
that a majority of the votes given was
for ratifying the amended constitution,
that fact was made known TO THE
PEOPLE by q proclamation bearing
date the 1st day of July, $780, in the
proclamation the number Of votes was
stated to be 26,o55 for the ratification,
ana IJ,J0j against IL.
That convention was q very able and
patriotic body. and so far as we know
there was perfect unanimty In the pol
icy Of submitting the constitution to
the PEOPLE for ratification or rejec-
ton.
The next Constitutional Convention
in Virginia was held in 1850 to amend
the constitution of 1890. It pursued the
same course in regard to submitting
the new constitution to a vote of the
PEOPLE that had been adopted by the
convention of 1880. The closing para
graph of the preamble to the new con-
stitution was as follows:
I'VE. therefore. the delegates of the
good people of Virginia. elected and in
convention assembled, in pursuance of
SAID acts. do propose to the PEOPLE
the following constitution and form of
government for this Commonwealth"
Code of 1860 page 3S.
This amended constitution was rati-
fled by the PEOPLE on the fourth
Thursday in October. 1851. Code of
1860. page 80.
That was also very able and pa
triotic body.
We only now and here refer to the
Alexandria Convention of 1864 TO show
that we have traced these PROCEEDINGS
IN their order. That body is unworthy
of further notice--a mere abortion so
far as the people of the State were
concerned.
The next State Convention in order
was the Underwood Convention that
adopted the constitution under which