Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-11

The Virginian Pilot continues to re-
ceive answers to inquiries made of
democratic leaders as to their position
on the questions OF holding IL conven-
ton TO revise the Constitution of the
State. and OF submitting the work OF
that convention to the people for their
ratification or rejection at the polls.
Below is reproduced two letters, and
the proceedings of several county con-
ventions:
GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE.
Headquarters Department. of the
Province of Havana and Pinar Del Rio.
Commanding Generals Office.
Qucmados, Cuba, April 3, 1900.
Editor Virginian-Pllot.
Norrol. Virginia.:
Sir,-Replylng to your communication
write TO say that having been absent
from the State SO much i'll the last few
years | DO not feel inclined to express
an opinion upon the necessity OF
amending the present Constitution of
the State. In response To your second
question have no hesitancy in say
Ing Tint should Il Constitutional Con-
Nention be called its work should be
submitted TO the people for ratification
or rejection.
! am, Very truly yours
FlrzHUGH LEE.
CAPTAIN CAMM PATERSON.
Editor yirginian- Pilot,
Norfolk, Va:
| favor with all my heart a Consti-
tutional Convention to make u NEW
CONSTITUTION for the State OF Vir-
ginia. l also favor the policy of SUBJ
uniting the work of the Convention to
Il vote of the people for ratification or
rejection ut the polls.
We ought to have not an amended
nut NEW CONSTITUTION for the
following reasons:
FlRSI-T The educational status
should be SO changed that the money
of the white people should be devoted
TO the education OF the white children
and the money of the negroes to the
education of the negro children.
SECOND-The right of suffrage
should be 80 changed that no man in
Virginia can vote unless he owns TWO
HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH of
PROPERTY. real or personal. or un-
less he can read and write the English
language. but Confederate soldiers and
sailors are to be excepted from the OPP
Grafton of this clause.
TIIIRD-All the Judges should be
elected by the peonle--the Judges OF the
Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia
for eight years. the Circuit Judges for
six years and the County Judges for
four years, and ali should be retired
after they reach seventy years on half
pay provided they have served con-
tnuously ten years or more.
FOURTH--No county should be per-
mitted to impose a levy for taxes great
er In amount than the State tax, which
should be limited TO fifty cents on the
hundred dollars. and the State should
not be permitted TO give its aid to any
internal improvements
FIFrH-The Offices OF Treasurer and
Supervisor. Register of the Land Office
and Second Auditor should be abolish
cd.
SIXTH = United States Senators
should be nominated by primaries OF
the people. who should be allowed to
vote for their choice
SENENTH-The Legislature should
not meet but once in three years, and
no money should he appropriated ex-
cent by 4 two-thirds recorded vote.
ETGHTH-All restrictions as far as
possible should be taken away from
the issue OF notes by State Banks.
every such deprivation and restriction
being to that extent an attack upon the
liberty of the people.
NINTH-A two-cent stamp tax
should be placed upon all checks and
the money arising from It devoted ex-
clusively to the pensioning of Confed-
crate soldiers and their widows.
TENTH-Real estate should not be
doubly taxed, as is now the case. but
where deed Of trust or mortgage Is
given upon land 1t ought To be sub
tracted from the appraisement OF the
land and the owner Of the deed OF
trust or mortgage ehoud pay the tax.
AS TAR as I know or believe the
great mass of the people favor NEW
CONSTITUTION" 1t vacars all Off
ces II carried and hence it will be bit
tcrly contested. Human avarice and
human selfshneas alone can defeat 1t.