The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-02-28
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
A QUESTION ANSWERED..
llYnchhnrg \oMs.l

(Lynchburg News)
Does the military service" clause pro
posed To be- put into the suffrage plank
Of the new constitution mean that no
negro shall hereafter have the right TO
vote?
That is the question asked by one OF
the most intelligent. industriousand use
| iul colOred citizens OF Lynchburg, who
| has not understood theeXact meaning Of
| the discussion in the Legislature We
answer that Il does not mean ANYTHING
of the sort II is not proposed by any
/ body To disiranchise intelligent colOred
men who can read the names ON their
ballots. and thus may understand for
what and for whom they are voting
The proposition * To disqualify those of
both races who ARE tOoignorant To read.
making an exception OF those who have
borne arms in defense oi their State or
country. Many persons are not in favor
al excepting any person, white orcOlorcd,
from the operation of the educational
test, hut advocate a rigid and impartial
requirement for white and black alike.
In neither event can the colorcd man be
worsted: for while all of them now have
the nominal right 10 vote. nobody with
three grains al sense attempts any long
er To conceal The iact that in the Black
Belt their votes are not counted ~ in
tended to be- east Moreover. everybody
knows that the constant practice of
cheating the colorcd man has led to the
desperate practice of cheating whitemen
until our political lille u.s. in some sections.
nothing but cheat
Commonwealth Attorney james T.
Jcflries Oi fauquicr county. has an
nounced his candnacy for the Constiu
tional Convention. Hon. Eppa lIunton.
Jr, Is also "a candidate
let us have a. many farmers as posi-
bic in the Constitutional Convention con
sistent with fair general approximation
The agricultural interests oi the state
are the most important she has-cycn
more important than the desire ui nm
qualified politicians 10 sit in the conven
ton. Newport News Press
As illustrative Of the urgent need oi "A
new state Constitution. in order to secure
economy in the administration uf the
laws. it is stated that contest now in
our County Court over nm old buggy
worth about $50 has already cost the
commonwealth 500. and the end not
yet III slght.-Accumac Cor Rich. Dispatch
We are unable 10 understand why some
Democrats should be- so concerned lest
the new Constitution. If submitted Ia a
vote, shall fail to carry Will it not be
just as easy To- carry il az any other meas
IRE viii not all the black counties like
AppOmattOX for instance give their usual
Democratic malorities for the new Con
stitution ?-StauntOn News
Despite the fact that the constitutional
Convention delegates will have To be-
chosen within three months. and that il
will be month or two longer before the
Gubernatorial contest is settled, the in
terest in the latter isconsidcrably greater
with the masses of thepeople Thevoters
are used tocOntcsts Tor the Goyernorship.
they are not 80 well used tO COnstitu
tional Conventions. Still. the question
OF election of delegates is exciting much
popular Unconstitutional Times
tNuAABl - NlNlllN NdNrs liz |
people of Virginia should determine just |
what kind OF Constitution they want. !
Politics should play no part in the selec-
tlon of delegates To the convention. By |
this plan the people will be enabled To |
select the men they wish. aud will be sat |
isfied with the result Ii is a great ques |
ton, and mo- one man should attempt to /
force his personal views on the people |
The Constitution when completed should |
represent the combined wisdom Of the
ableSt and best men in the state
State-C Chairman Ellyson has received
letter in which the question was asked
whether "A man residing in one county
could represent another county A ease
of the sort has never occurred in Virginia
but the act providing for the convention
makes that body the Judge ofthe election
and qualification OF its members, and the
convention would doubtless doas isdone
in COngress-allow the holder Of the
certificate to hold his seat.
The question ofa thoroughly adequate
public school system il one of the most
important that will come before the con
vention.-Norfolk Nirginian-Pilot.