Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-03-15
A. c. BRAxroN ACCEPTS THE CALL.
viii Stand for Nomination for the Con-
stIturlonaI ConyentIon.

A. c. BRAxT0N ACCEPTS THE CALL.
Will Stand for Nomination for the Con-
stIturlonaI Convention.
To Aessrs. J. g. F. Bell, John T.
Smith, T. J. Diamond, g. T. Swink,
James n Blackley, w. B. MoChe sney,
John B. Hoge, G. G. Child, and 9TH
ers.
Gentlemen:-Though, at first, had
Intended not to enter the race, I feel
that l should not decline the request
of nearly thousand of my fellow citi-
zens to permit the use OF my name as
candidate for the approaching con-
stitutional convention. In response to
that request, therefore, l now an
nounce myself as such candidate, sub
ject to the action Of the Democratic
party in the matter of nominations.
In doing this, l cannot refrain from
expressing my grateful appreciation
of the good opinion of me manifested
by your call, although my deep sense
of the requirements and responsible
ties of the position to be filled, and of
the learning and accomplishments IN
the science of government which will
| rightfully be expected of the represen
| tatives of the first comfy in the state,
! make me more than doubtful Of my
ability to reasonably measure up to
those high requisites.
| The work OF the convention is per-
manent, and vital to the welfare of the
state; errors therein, resulting from in
experience, ignorance, or crude ideas,
prevailing among its members, cannot
/ no cd lilo a n O otC nf
the legislature, but will remain to
harass and Cypress the people till this,
and probably the next. generation has
passed away. 1t, therefore, behOOYes
the would-be members of that distin-
guished body not to commit themselves
in advance too far upon the many 1p
portant questions that, >as members,
they will have to pass upon-thus, for
the mere purpose Of catching votes,
sealing their ears against argument
and their minds against reason. and
thereby uniting themselves for mem
bership in any dellberative body. The
acts of the self-seeking, time-servlng
politician should find no field for &C.
tlvity in constitutional convention.
This being my view of the case,
shall, if nominated, not discontinue
the study, which, in the course OF my
professional labors, have already be-
slowed upon the subject, but will, with
renewed effort, devote my time and
utmost ability to studying the ques
tions to be disposed Of by the conven
ton, and informing myself, from every
available source upon the interests en-
trusted to me, recognizing that, II
matters of statecraft, as in most others
there is much more to be learned thar
any one man KNOWS, and that thes'
things come to men, not by 1nsplra
ton. but by persistent study and re
Election.
While do not regard my knowledg'
OF these great and all-impOrtant ques
lions as so complete that there is N
more for me to learn, and that l an
prepared to finally commit myself OF
them, yet there are certaiu general pro
positions upon which my views are 81
, far formed, that l deem it due t.
frankness that l should declare then
now.
believe the elective franchise SHOULD
be.restrioted so as to exclude the igno
rant and corrupt element as far a
possible; that provision should be mad
! for equality in the assessment OF real
. ty, and in the listing of personality TO
taxation, 80 that the burdens of gov
eminent may be more justly distribut
i ed than they now are, and each NAL
required to bear his due proportion
them; that the present Judiciary sys
tenn should be radically reformed, wit
q view to materially curtailing tn
number of courts, judges, and cour
i officers, without impairing the efficlen
administration of justice; that the sys
| tenn of county administration now Il
:. force should be remOdeled, so as to re
I duce the number of officers and effec
4 a material reduction of expenses; tina
t the public school system of the stat
I should be so changed as to make i
3 more efficacious; that the legislator
:. should be prohibited from electing an
of its own members to any office or pc
sition in the judicial. or executive
branches of the government; that tn
monopolization Of legislation by pr
vate acts should be prevented; tina
local legislation should be restricted a
far as possible; that the hasty enact
ment of general legislation without du
publicity and discussion, should b
provided against; that provision can
and should, be made to substantial
lessen the criminal expenses OF tn
state. l believe that public corpors
tions, exercising monopOlistlc fran
chises, should be strictly controlled b
the state, and that their deliberat
violation of law should be punished b
the Imprisonment of the guilty Of
ficials, rather than by the mere imposl
ton of fines; that the law should af
ford equal protection to the rich an
the poor alike, but that the prOtectio
of government is needed more by tn
weak than by the strong, and that tn
states sOlicitude should be bestoWe'
accordingly believe that the genera
machinery of government should b
/ made as simple and economical as pos
slbly consistent with the due protec
ton Of liberty and property, and tn
administration of justice; and l be
lieve in the general principles Of gov
eminent ns advocated by the Demo
cratic party since the days OF Jef1er
son.
If the voters of Augusta county an
the city of Staunton shall see fit t
honor me with seat In the cOnstitu
, tiOnaI convention which cOnvenes il
June next, l shall spare no effort t.
carry out the views and principle
above enunciated, irrespective OF tn
, private interests of friend or enemy
| and without fear, favor or affection.
Respectfully.
A. G. BRAXToN.
HYANTED.-A first class wheelwrigh
~ and blacksmith to rent or take al