Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-06-13
THE CONVENTION.


the constitutional convention was
plunged into debate lasting two hours
before it was permanently organized
yesterday. The question was whether
or not the delegates should take the
oath prescribed 10 the Underwood con-
stitution. Men of giant intellect spoke
on each side.
Senator John W. Daniel, Mr.. Carter
Glass, Judge Bergman Greene, X.
Walton Moore and other leaders took
part in the debate.
Carter Glass and Judge Greene
were particularly ardent in their OPP
position 10 the motion. Senator
Daniel ssid the committee were
not officers in the eyes OF the
law and could therefore subscribe to
the oath without compromising them
selves on the suffrage question. Mr..
Moore and others favored subscribing
to the oath. The bone of contention
was whether or not the members
would, by subscribing to the oath, com.
promise themselves when the question
Of DISTINGUISHING the negro vote In
Virginia came up. One side held that
it would, while another claimed that
the refusal Of the members to subscribe
to the oath would not stand the test OF
the United States Supreme Court.
| Carter Glass held that II the oath
was subscribed TO the convention
! might as well adjourn. 30 far as
the suffrage was concerned. He inti-
mated that il the motion was carried he
would quit the game and 20 home. So
did Judge Bergman Green.
The motion was lost-57 to 36-and
the convention refused to take the oath.
The convention was called to order
at noon by Senator Daniel. Colonel
w. B. Petit was made temporary chair
man, but soon surrendered the gravel to
John Goode, who was on Tuesday night
nominated as president OF the conven-
ton. He made speech full OF fire and
oratory, treating OF the conditions OF
the suffrage and other questions In Viz
ginis.
Mr.. Goode emphasized the importance OF
the work before the convention, and said 1t
should be approached in the fear of God and
with determination to make q constitution
which would be bsnediction to all the peo-
pie and blessing to generations yet to come
de referred in euloglstic terms TO the per-
sonnet OF the Old time conventions, and COM
| ing to that of 1869 be discussed 1t briefly, and
said the white people Of Virginia had no
prejudice against the negro, but the people
looked to the convention for suffrage reform.
They demanded too, that there should be q
tax reform and the reduction Of the expenses
Of government. The old soldiers and the in
mates Of the hospitals OF the State must have
better attention, and numerous other reforms
were looked for by the people. He declared
that Congress had committed crime against
civilization when at the point OF the bayonet
the people of Virginia were forced to sub
NIT to universal negro Suffrage. "The negro
eould have been better of, F." Mr.. Goode de-
clared "had the intelligence Of the land been
permitted 10 rule" He said that the Fifteenth
Amendment to the u, s. Constitution must
be respected, and that, therefore, the question
was a difficult one. Mr.. Goode then re-
vie wed at some length the suffrage clauses in
constitutions OF other southern States, and
said that OF Mississippi, which WAS copied in
the main by South Carolina, had already stood
the test of the courts. He said 1t was the
judgment OF well.posted men that there
should be poll tax provision in the Virginia
constitution, the people were expecting the
convention to verify the ballot, and said the
safety Of free institutions depended upon a
pure ard higs syslSsp 81 election; Trusts
should be inaugurated. Mr.. Goode closed his
address with u beautiful veneration, in which
he said the people OF Virginia had much to be
proud Of and more to hope for in the future.
All the members of the convention
answered to the roll-call except Judge
J. s. Kendall, of Northampton, and
DR.. John w. Lawson. OF Isle of Wight.
1t was Immediately after roll call shat
the discussion above referred to occur
red. Governor Tyler was waiting to
be invited to address the convention,
when the secretary of the convention,
Joseph Button, was elected and the
convention adjourned. The heat was
intense, and there Ia much talk OF an
adjournment, after the committees are
appointed and get to work, to some
cooler place or to later season.
The democratic members OF the con.
veDtion last night nominated the SER
geant-at.arms and doorkeepers OF that
body. Frskn Watkins, of Charlotte,
was chosen for the hrst-named place
after hot fight and on the fourth bal
lot. His opponents we're Moses Green,
OF Fsuquier; DIR. Num-, OF West Point,
and John w. Carpenter, of Rockbrldge.
The vote between Watkins and Green
was A to Al.
4. E. Lipscomb, OF King and Queen,
and Arthur Sullivan, of Montgomery,
two one.legged ex-Confederstes, were
elected doorkeepers.
The caucus nominated w. A. Ander-
son, of Rockbridge, ss president pro
tenn. OF the convention.