The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-15
UNRESTRICTED SUFFRAGE AND
ITS CORRUPTING INFLUENCES
Some Knotty Problems That Will Present Them
selves for Solution, and Vital Questions Of
The Constitutional Convention.

at this time than the consideration OF
those vital questions which must ne
oeSsariiy arise in the coming Constitn-
donnl Convention. When people under
take TO draft anew their fundamental
iaws-laws binding alike not only on exc
cutire officers and courts. but on legisia-
lures as We2l-they are engaged in no tFi-
vial task The people should not wait
until the convention ASSEMBLIES before they
begin TO study md discuss these import
ant questions. Their thorough discussion
IN the press and on the stump VIII De
highly beneficial, not only in ascertaining
the NH OF the people. but in necessitat-
Ing frequent recurrence 10 fundamental
principles without which. says our BIZ
OF Rights, no free government or the
blessings of liberty can be preserved TO
any people
II IS the purpose of this article and the
several which vii! follow to compare the
important features of the Tnrious State
Constitutions. The "iSill of Rights, tho
elective franchise. the executive. judiclal
and legislative departments. taxation, pub
lie schools and certain miscellaneous pro-
visions viii each in turn be discussed BY
careful study of the constitutions of her
sister States, Virginia rnuy TO some extent
profit by the combined wisdom of every
constitutional convention held in America.
1t VIII he especially valuable 20 examine
thosa constitutions drafted within the
last decade, such as the constitution of
New York, adopted in 1895: Delaware.
1897; kentucky. 1891; Louisiana, 1888:
Mississippi, 1890 md South Carolina, 1885.
Many other States have, during the same
period. made material amendments to
their constitutions, but the States above
named have held constitutional conven-
tons and have discussed all the prob
lems Of State government in the light Of
modern experience Published volumes of
the debates OF these conventions will
be a store-house Of information and wis
dom for the enlightenment OF our com
ing contention. In the examination of
tbese latest constitutions, one will be
struck by their increased length and the
Number OF new subjects upon which they
treat. They abound with provisions con-
corning corporations. show a great in
crease in safeguards intended to prevent
1naladninstration of State affairs, and
thus indicate q growing distrust of public
officials.
Virginians have always shown a liking
as well as a genius for constitution max
Ing. The coming convention will draft
the seventh constitution under which Vir-
GINA has been governed in the last one
hundred and twenty-four years. Not
withstandins Nirginia's boosted conserva-
tism, she has built anew more constitu-
tons than any State in the Union, with
the possible exception of Louisiana and
South Carolina.
This frequent changing of fundamental
law is in keeping with the idea Of Thomas
jefferson. who insisted that mo constitu-
ton ought 10 90 longer than twenty years
without an opportunity being given to the
citizens 10 change it." He based his opin-
ION on the fact that the European tables
Of mortality showed that a generation
LASTED an average OF twenty years,
and that every generation had "a right
TO choose for itself the form of govern
7ncnt il believed most promotive of its
own happiness, consequently TO accommo-
date to the circumstances in which ii
finds Itself that received from its prede-
cessors.n
To Virginia belongs the honor of having
drafted the first American constitution
There are some writers who, in late
yenrs have undertaken to rob Virginia
of this honor. one even going so far as to
dignity into a constitution the instrument
written by the Pilgrims on the "May-
flower and thus to give 10 Massachu-
sets the honor which belongs to VIZ
stnia- Indeed, no one could read Viz
g;nia's first constitution and then take up
those OF the other original thirteen States
and give the latter credit for much ORR
gnahty. The constitutions of ali the
States to-day are bur growth from the
constitution drafted by Virginia in 11l6.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
The Virginia Bill of Rights, drawn by
George Mason. and Incorporated in our
first Constitution, is in substance to-day
3n every State Constitution. I once heard
Justice Harlan. of the Supreme Court of
the United States, say that this Virginia
I3ill of Rights was the most perfect emu
,v.,.,
and that it was impossible TO improve
upon ii. either in thought or language.
This wonderful platform of human free
dom though it is familiar to many. it
may not be amisS here to call attention
TO some Of its provisions. 1t declares
that all power is vested in and derived
from the people. and that public officers
are the peoples trustees and servants.
and are always amenable TO them; that
no man or set of men is entitled TO eNclu-
siVe emnluments or privileges from the
people but in consideration of public
services; elections of representatives are
10 be frequent; that the people should not
be taxed or deprived of their property for
public uses without their own consent
or that OF their representatives; that
government is Instituted for common
benefit. protection ami security OF the
people, and that when any government
shall ht found inadequate or contrary
70 these purposes majority OF the COM
1nuniir have an indubitahie, inalienable,
and indeteasible right to alter and abolish
1t: that freedom of the press is one of
the great bulwarks of liberty, and can
never be restrained but by despotic
government; that no free government
or the blessings of liberty can be pre-
served by any people but by u firm
adherence to justice, modcra ton, ana
virtue, and by frequent recurrence TO