The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-31
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Doings Of and Sayings In and About the
Great Virginia Body.

The Judiciary Committee has agreed TO
hear representatives of the Bristol Bar
next Monday night in opposition to lin.
| iting Corporation Courts to towns oil
| not less than twelve thousand five hun
| bred inhabitants.
The Legislative Committee submitted
its report This provides for quadrennial
sessions Of the General Assembly and the
election of Senator's and members Of the
| House for four years Ii prohibits any
State or local officer from holding seat
| i'm either body. There are many other
less important changes recommended.
4 vote was reached on decomposition
of the Board of Education. After con.
siderable discussion for and against, n
majority of the committee voted that the
hoard should consist Of the Governor,
Attorney General Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction and the heads of the fol
lowing institutions: University OF Nir-
ginia, Virginia Military Institute, William
and Mary, Normal School at Farmville,
Polytechnic Institute at Blacksburg.
The Richmond Times requested dele
gates to the State Democratic conven-
ton to give their views rs to whether
the new Constitution should be submit
ted To the people for ratification. and II
submitted whether to the present electo
rat. or those who will be entitled to vote
under the new organic law. Following
is the result 40 far: Total number of del
egates heard from 800; for proclaiming
the Constitution, III for submitting the
Constitution to new electorate, 100 for
submitting il to present electorate, %;
in doubt as to course that should he pur-
sued. IL
The Suffrage Committee has practically
agreed ON a plan. ltpermits all personst To
vote who can read or understand a sec
ton of the Constitution. Thisis to be OPP
eratiye until January, 1908. After that
date there is To be a permanent plan.
with a $3.50 property qualification and
n 81 30 poll-tax prerequisite. The voters
are also subjected To the Australian ballot
educational test Senator Daniel and
some other leading members are strongly
opposed to any property qualification:
Ii is proposed to have an educational
test or an alternative.
The Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions further considered the contested
election ease of Treat VIZ. Gregory, from
King William county. The committee
has taken no final action on the matter.
but vote will probably be reached at
the next meeting There was an attempt
made by the counsel for the contestant
To have the committee throw out the en-
tire vote of Cold IlarbOr Precinct, in
Hanover county, because of the irregu
Iarities in the marking OF the ballots,
which caused the committee to throw
out twenty-seven of the ballots east. The
original vote. IA returned by the judges.
stood: Gregory, III; Treat, ~. Twenty
seven of the ballots were improperly
marked. and the committee threw them
out, making the vote stand Gregory,
l75; Treat. l26.
The hall OF the convention was crowd
ed 10 the doors 10y prominent people To
hear the speech of eX-GOy. W. f.. Came
ron on the question of submitting the new
Constitution. Mr. Cameron spoke for
more than an hour lie took the ground
that the convention has the power to
proclaim its work or submit il to either
the present or an abridged electorate.
Passing TO the argument of the subject
under consideration. Mr. Cameron show
ell that the convention Of lS29-3O and
that 1850 had taken the ground that
they had the right To submit their work
To any electorate they saw tit. His ap-
peal to the members from the white see
tons to make sacrifices, il necessary. for
the benefit Of the eastern counties. was
eloquent and evoked frequent and hearty
applause. He secuted the idea that this
convention intended tOdeprive any white
man of his vote After his speech Mr..
Cameron was nearly exhaused from weak
ness and it was feared he was about to
faint. He, however, succeeded in reach
ing his clearinghouse.
Thursday the Republicans took part
in the discussion on the question OF sub
hitting the Constitution to the people.
Mr.. PedigO, the only member Of this body
who served in the Underwood convention.
opened the debate for that side. His
most significant declaration was that il
the negroes had not been enfranchised he
would agree to give them that right
now. Ne approved of the pOst-bellum
amendments to the Federal Constitution
and all of the reconstruction acts. The
speakers reference to the Moses OF the
convention" who wasevidently Senator
Daniel. brought down the house in up
roariOus laughter The Moses" he
said, was on top of the mountain with
the Suffrage Committee and his followers
were without leader in the meantime.
The most bitter speech of the cOnven-
ton was made by Colonel Summers, the
Republican from Washington. He REFER
ed to the convention as 'piebald
tyrants." Turning to the male visitors in
the corridors Colonel Summers said that
this body proposed to disfranchise you
who do not own $3.50 worth of
property" His tribute to the negroes,
and especially to the colOred regiment in |
their fight on San Juan Hill, Cuba, called |
forth applause from the colored gallery |
The speech was the most bitter and
partisan delivered in the convention
Col. J. b. Richmond, Democrat,
preceded the two speakers named in
speech against the Acknowledgement of
any whites.
MEASURES INTRODUCED.
4 resolution has been introduced in the
Constitutional Convention providing
that all wives, widows and female de- |
scendants ofCOnfederates soldiers be allow
ed to vote at a separate poll, which |
shall have women judges OF election and
clerks.
Special Excursion to Buffalo Via.
B., T. Up. R. r. $il.6o.
For Pennsylvania Railroad train leav-
ing Washington 500 A. NJ. September |
9TH, 18th, 18th, and Goth, October End,
Sth. 18th, 23rd and 29th, the Richmond,
l. 4 Do oil Ill |