Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-15
STATES RIGHTS
SUPREME
lhe Constitutional Convention
Ignores the Federal Constitution.
INTERESTING Observation-Disclosures
NoIaw-AFIo Time-The No Yet
XVIII NO 2e

The Constitutional Convention met
Wednesday, June z. 1901, ct noon in
the hsllIof the House OF Delegates.
Out Of s-membership OF 100, only two
were. absent.
The result of the the discussion as
to whether or not the delegates should
takeJth oath developed the fact that
the eolored people need expect moth
ing ut the hands of the convention, the
rabid element holdiog Q substantial
majority.
Gov. ]. Hoge Tyler, when he signed
the bill authorizing the calling of q
constitutional convention exclaimed,
"God'Ssye the Commonwealth I"
GLOOMY ouT5ooK.
By . vote Of Sc to 81, IL was decided
not to take any oath to maintain and
support either the Constitution of the
United States or the present Const to-
tion cfViEginia.
The discussion on this question wss
interesting.
SenatorJohn w. Daniel called the
body to order and Col. w. b. Petit
was chosen temporary chair man and
Mr.. ..JosephtEuteons temporary eeeEss
ssry. Rev. DIR. Mcllwatne praysd.
Mr.. Hunton moved to procet TO the
election Of permanent president. Mr.
Thorn. ofNorfolk, raised che point of
order that no business-could be prop{
-erly transacted until the oath of office
had been taken by she members. He
made O brief'bnt sble speech in favor
.of,his point, and upon the withdrawal
Of Mr. Hunten's molten. Mr. Thorn
made oae in accordance with his point
OF order.
,DIDNiTSsSANT'rHE GATH.
Mr.. Rraxton took ,issee with Mr..
Thorn and contsnded that under the
VirgiRis Constitution the members of
the convention,were not oHcers. Mr..
BraHton argued that there was no pre-
cedent for-sweAripg the maznbers and
he saw mo necessity OF it. II it was to
be taken what wonld be the oath, he
asked. The ,nsnAl oath, he-said, was to
the effect that those taking it were
bound to support the Constitution OF
the State, and yet the body had met
here tG alter and amend that t'Constitu-
tion. No. H .AWs
he c0ntende6 shat this was q reVolu-
tion1y body and its work woEld over
ride the present Constitution.
Mr.. Thorn thea changed his motion
so as to provide that wathout going in
TO the question as to whether she body
was bound by the provisions OF the
present Constitution, the oath .p-ovid-
ed by section 9, be taken.
Nar BoUasD by Law.
Mr.. Braxtoa thought il the members
were to tske any oath, it should ,Gnly
United States and 10 perform theirau Ia
ties faithfully as delegates.
Mr.. Hamilton ably keconded the mo
ton of Mr.. Tkom and said that as @
matter of precauti0n. the oath should
be taken.
Mr.. Hill Garter followed along the
same line in an able speech and re-
ferred to Judge Wellford's opinion;
that the members we're ofEeers.
Mr.. ). o. Wysor, of Pulaski, sup
ported the motion OF kr. Thorn, in an
able speech, in whieh hs took the
ground that the members we're officers
in the eyes of the law. Mr.. Wysor's
remarks were loudly Epplauded and
Judge Bergman Green followed hia
in opposition to Mr.. Thom's motion.
THR EQUALITY OF ALL MEN.
He contended that the purpose OF
those who advocated the motion was
TO bind the convention to submit the
work Of the body to the whole people,
as the oath referred to, recognized the
equality Of all men before the law.
Judge Green said Shere was no dam
ger OF q reversal by the courts, but il
there should be danger, the members
should do their duty fesrlessly and
fully.
Mr.. Wysor replied briefly, and he
and Judge Green engaged in Q pleas
ant eolloquy which highly entertained
the convention.
Mr.. Braxton again spoke against Mr..
Thom's motion and appealed to the
convention not to require the men,
bers to take any oath, as It was entire
ly unnecessary in his Judgment. He
reiterated that no other convention
had been required to take oath and he
understood tnat the members OF the
House Of Lords took no oath.
Senator Daniel spoke next. He con.
teod d shat the members Of the oou-
vention were not officers in the eyes
of the present Constitution:
BE had no obteetion 20 taking the