Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-08
TO FRAME NEW CONSTITUTION.
Leading yirsin,ans Will Soon Undertake
The Task.

Il A correspondent of the BaltimOr
| News from Richmond, JAN. 80, says
The coming constitutional convention
arguments for which are being mad
by the Virginia Legislature, is the pc
litical question uppermosti in the mind
of the people of the State at the pres
ent time The precise date on whicl
the convention will assemble has no
been decided upon. but 1t Is general.
thought that it will meet in the early
spring. The one aim and object il
view is to frame a new constitution tt
take the place of the infamous Under
| wood Constitution framed during the
dark days of the reconstruction.
According to the programme every
part of the State will be represented
in the convention and every delegate
will have q say as to the makeup OF
the constitution. However. it is gen.
orally understood that the work Of
framing the constitution must be left
to a select few, as the average dele
gate knows but little of law. OF course,
every delegate will have a say and a
vote; but iu the work of framing the
constitution, wisdom and care are
needed. Lawyers well-grounded in
constitutional law are more needed
than politicians. Every clause and
every sentence must be weighed in the
balance and subjected to rigid ex-
animation to see if it is found want
ing. Large bodies of men are apt to
be swayed by popular impulse and are
i'll fitted for the work of framing a
constitution. The cool, calm deliber-
ateness of wisdom is what is needed,
and for men possessing such qualities
Of conservatism, knowledge and wis
dom, Virginia is now seeking.
Among those who have been prac
tically decided upon as the men best
suited for the task of framing the con-
stitution are Attorney General A. j.
the Hon. Armistead G.
Gordon of Augusta and the Hon.
Woods of Albemarle. In the
opinion of the leading men of the
State these three men are best suited
for the work OF framing such a con-
stitution as Virginia should have. OF
course, they will be assisted by others.
out it is thought that the great body
Of the work will he entrusted to them.
Mr.. Montague, Attorney General of
,he State, is one of the most prominent
awyers in the State. He is yet young,
out is recognized as one of the fore
most of bis profession in the Old Dom
nion. Mr.. Montague defeated all
rivals for the high Office for which he
lolds, and is a strong candidate for
the next Guberatorial nomination.
Armistead c. Gordon is generally
as one of the most learned !
constitutional lawyers in the State.
His knowledge on constitutional ques
lions is profound. and he has the IN
terests OF his State a heart. On ques |
lions relating to Virginia and Virgin
ans, Mr.. Gordon is one of the best |
Mr.. Gordon is yet in the !
prime of life, but be has fought his |
way to the front rank in his chosen |
profession. He has also served Vir-
GINA in other ways, for years being a |
member of the board of directors of |
The University of Virginia. As an |
orator and author. he is also promin |
,nt. At the dedication of the new
buildings at the University of Virginia,
after the memorable fire that wiped |
out of existence many of the structures
here, Mr. Gordon was chosen to com
pose and read the commemoration ode. |
The Hon. Micajah Woods of Albe-
narle is also one of the most prominent |
urists in the State. and is generally |
zed as one Of Virginia's most
earned lawyers.
To these three men will probably be
the work of framing the new
for Virginia In the
opinion of the most conservative men
in the State, the work could be left to
no better bands.