Evening star., 1901-08-01
DISCUSS PREAMBLE
Delegates IS Virginia Convention
Divided on That Matter.
some WOULD ABRIDGE old FORM
Mr.. Petit Y Wants Work of Jeffer-
sA q, Stand.
THE RHFfULAR ROUTINE

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND. Va. August 1.-The constt-
suuonal convention got to work at noon
today. Eghty-nine members answered to
their names. 1t was reported that move
ment was to be started looking to a re-
newal OF the fight for a recess, but the
opponents Of adjournment. were on the
alert and with the expiration OF the morn
Ing hour Judge Green Of Danville. chairman
OF the committee on preamble and bill OF
rights, was recognized, and he moved that
the convention resolve itself into commit
tee of the whole and resume consideration
OF the report of that committee and the re-
port of the minority. President Goode.
who Is opposed to any recess, put the
question promptlyas and it was adopted.
He then called Delegate Turnbuil Of
Brunswick to the chair, who laid before
the committee Of the whole the two re-
ports.
MI. Petit of Fluvanna, who submitted
the minority report, was recognized. and
he began his speech in favor of his report
He spoke calmly and slowly; his voice was
not strong, but to see his erect form one
would not have thought that he was near
ing the eightieth milepost In the journey Of
Work of Committee Reviewed.
Mr.. Petit began his remarks by review
Ing the work Of the committee. compli-
menting the speech of Chairman Green.
and deplored the fact that the committee
had seen fit to omit the historical preamble
which was recital Of the wrongs at the
hands of George III. He contended that
the bill OF rights was declaration Of in
dependence. He was earnest In his oppo-
sition to reducing the number Of jurors In
any case below twelve. He urged the con-
vention to retain all Of the preamble, which
was part of the history Of the state. Mr..
Petit spoke for nearly an hour, and at the
close was given hearty applause.
Delegate Hatton OF Portsmouth, who pre-
sented an amendment to the preamble fol-
lowed Mr.. Petit. His amendment was in
the main similar to the minority report Of
Mr.. Petit. The preamble had been en-
bodied in all the constitutions Of the state.
The people Of Virginia saw in 1t the greatest
and strongest political Indictment ever
drawn. They saw, in it the handiwork of
Thomas Jefferson. The committee had
taken all Of this away from the bill Of
rights and had not given even the usual
was brief and we were told that New York
and other states had set the precedent
Let Virginia live Or die by her own acts"
He argued eioafientIY for a retention of all
old dominion. Hs Waited to see ' all the @ his ae
torical facts connected with the foundation
OF the state plaeed at the disposal Of every
ploweoy pr r@ III IN vi vifglnia1 MT. Hatton went on
held in virginiA sincs 177e. At the conclu-
sion OF MIR. Hatton' remarks, which were
vigorously applapdea. the committee rose,
spat seposted pEogrss aHd the convention re-
Delegate Ricifhhonsfi of Scott county pre-
sented resolution providing that when the
convention adjourned on the Sd of August
1t be to meet' again on August 21, the
members to reneiverpa for one week
The pending .qyesti9n was ordered and on
roll call the vote STOOD ayes 80: noes, 80,
and ana the convention sagain refused to ad-
Brief Werkim Convention,
The convention wazIin session only about
twenty minutesftoday before resolving it
self into ,comniittee OF the whole
Mr.. Meredith of Richmond asked the ex
tension of the leave of absence to Mr.. New
ton Of Richmond on account Of illness.
Mr.. Quarles Of Augusta asked that the
legislative committee be discharged from
further consideration Of resolution 205, of
which he was patron, and that II be re-
ferred to committee on final revision The
resolution provides for the appointment by
the governor OF three commissioners to
prepare laws In conformity with the new
constitution. The request was granted
Mr.. Hatton of Portsmouth presented the
following, the only resolution Of the morn
ing session:
That no member of any city or town
council. board OF health board of SUPER
visors, board of school trustees or other
like municipal body. shall during the term
Tor which he shall have been elected he
eligible for election by such council or
poard 10 any once. save an Office the in
cumbent OF which must be a member of
said council or board. and be entitled to
vote therein
The convept1on at o'clock adjourned