Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-27
THE coNyENTIoN.

The speeches 10 the constitutional
convention yesterday favored the right
of the convention to proclaim the con-
stiiution. Rev. DR.. w. F. Dunnsway
said be was opposed to discussing the
proclaiming or submission OF 8 oopsti.
tuition until he knew what kind OF
constitution he would have to vote
upon. He expressed doubt OF the
present discussion being effective to-
wards bringing result, but said that
since 1t had been started he had views
to express. He made strong speech
against the Wysor amendment to the
bill Of rights. He declared that he did
not feel bound by sny pledge made to
the people by the Norfolk convention,
and that he was not the Representative
of the Norfolk convention, but Of the
people Of Lsncss or and Richmond.
Talking of precedents, he said he
brushed aside az unworthy OF notice
the Underwood convention, and that
the others could be cited In his favor.
"The question Is: Was the Norfolk
resolution q pledge to submit the con-
stitution to all the suaragaus of the
State?p he said. "The word people
does not necessarily include all
the suffragans or refer TO them.
Jefferson did not consider the
TWO terms synonymous. The authors OF
the resolution and those in the conven-
ton certainly did net take that view.
l am not here as q representative OF the
Norfolk convention. am here ss
representative OF the counties that sent
me here. If other gentlemen feel
bound by the Underwood convention
do not. deny that 1t was free con-
veDtion. There we're members In that
convention from South Carolina, New
York, Maryland, Nova Scotia, New
Jersey, Illinois, Ireland and England.
Twenty. four negroes got there. l die
miss, therefore, from my mind anything
Of binding force coming from that Un-
derwood convention. | am u0slterably
opposed to saying that the vote OF
10000 negroes snail determine the
character OF the institutions which the
white people OF Virginia shall maintain.
Great applause. 1t is great pity the
convention was made party measure,
but since it was. the party responsible
for it should have the privilege OF know
ing what its constituents wanted"
Mr.. Hill Carter, q member of the
committee on prermble aud bill OF
rights, defended the recommendations
of that committee. Mr.. Carter ssid !:
"Since King George died the soldiers OF
Eogland have marched side by side With
Americans in China and stood with US
in the war against Spain. Let US stop
fighting dead men and let the matter
rest" The speaker then referred to
the Wysor amendment, and said be he'd
40 doubt as to the legal power Of the
convention to proclaim the constitution,
although he did not care to commit
himself now as to what course the con-
| yention should take on that subject.
He made profound legal argument In
| support of this contention. He was
frequently interrupted by Mr.. Wysor
and some OF the republican members.
His repartec was as quick as light, and
he made capital out Of every Interrupt
ion.
| The attendance on the convention oil
members yesterday was 81. Several
memorials on the subject of homestead
exemptions were presented. MIR. Bar
ham, of Southampton, offered resolu-
ton providing that after the adoption
OF the new constitution the legislature
should not be permitted to create any
new office except by two.thirds vote ol
both houses.
Mr.. Stebbins offered one providing
for the keeping OF records OF all corpor'
atoms, foreign and domestic, doing
business in Virginia.
The judiciary committee had q long
session yesterday, and many speeches
we're made on the new judiciary sys'
TEN. The committee was about equal
| liz divided for and agsinst the single
court system.
The suffrage committee had two SEES
sions yesterday, but failed to agree on
any plau. It seems certain that there
will be two or more reports from the
committee to the convention. Senator
| Daniel expressed to friends the opinion
| that there must be some report made to
the principal body soon. The majority
report is quite sure to favor the plan
that all persons having permanent
attachment 10 the State and who ex'
plain the officers duties for whom they
vote; sll Confederate and Federal
soldiers and their descendants. all men
over go years old aud those who pay q
poll tax of 81, are eligible to vote. This
Is to be the temporary plan and to be
10 operation but short time, say six
months; after that time the understand
ing clause is to be omitted.