Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-18

- ~oAS jugs " eieOAuS OF the
people Judge for the counties en-
bracing q senatorial district also,
elect one Commonwealth attorney
for each district as above. The Com
monweslth's attorney TO receive fees
for the cases be wins only and not
for those he loses.
To clothe the counties with au-
thority to put prisoners confined in
Jail under sentence, TO breaking stone
in the jail yard, and this metal to be
used In repairing the county roads or
dispose of to turnpike companies.
There are other features of our
constitution that can be improved
upon, but our lack of space precludes
our giving same.
1t may be said that these changes
IN our organic law could be accom-
plshed BY our Legislature. The
Richmond Dispatch answers this
question in the following admirable
editorial:
The constitutional convention
proposition is being generally dis
cussed now. People are beginning
TO take interest in It The fact that
Senator Daniel has said il is of the
utmost Importance 10 our State and
party that such u convention should
be held has made deep impression
upon the public. Yet we are con-
stantly hearing intelligent men ask.
Why call q convention: Why not
let the Legislature propose the chan
ges needed:
The answer to that is Because
the Legislature has thrown up the
Job and appealed for a constitutional
convention.
This whole subject has been dis
cussed time aud time again in the
Democratic caucus Of the General
Assembly. Mr.. Flood was the first
to move that q convention be held.
Other gentlemen suggested commits
slons. or committees, 10 prepare
amendments TO be submitted to the
two houses, and By them referred to
the voters, by what is known as
the piece meal process.
Intense thought was given the
whole question by the majority OF
members. Time aud again did the
caucus meet with closed doors aud
go over the ground in detail. The
knotty point was the suffrage question.
The desire 70 restrict negro suffrage
was general, but how: There was the
rub. The conclusion reached by the
caucus was that a constitutional con
vention Is absolutely necessary, and
that the Democratic party of Vir
GINA ought TO assume the RESPONSE
bility of calling it.
Now, who better than the mem
bers Of the Legislature know how
the revision should be made. They
know that, crowded with other duties
as they are, they could not give the
necessary time to Constitution max
iug;hence they have recommendations
the people choose men who are DUAL
flied to be Constitution makers and
give them the needful time TO dis
charge their duties thoroughly.
Yes; the Legislature has thrown
up the job. Its members say our
State Constitution should be revised
that need is of long standing and is
urgent now, and the right aud prop
er thing to do is to commit the task
to a convention elected for the pur
pose.
And now the simple question is,
Will the State Democratic Conven
ton sustain the Legislature, or not:
1t looks as if it will. Certainly the
returns from the counties which have
thus far elected delegates to the
Norfolk Convention show a decided
majority of delegates instructed to
sustain the Democratic caucus of the
Legislature.
III the people are governed by Tax
payers" argument against the con
vention. new constitution will never
be had. Certainly, it will cost the
State something, but nothing like
100000. We believe the amount
saved from tue State expenses IN sew
eral years, if the changes proposed
are made, will more than pay the cost
of holding the convention.
Who will compose this convention
and revise the constitution:
The people elect delegates to the
If the people cannot
trust themselves in selecting men to
change our organic law, they should
ss we'll establish a monarchy and
place the control Of our affairs in one
head. There are some men in this
State intelligent and capable enough
70 draft new constitution, and the
people have enough intelligence to
between honest and in