The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-02-19
Communicated
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Interesting Letter ON the Subject What is
Needed, Etc.

welchs Caroline County. Va
Feb IA 1901.
To The Free Lance:
Our country people are beginning 10
discuss the Constitutional Convention
question. Our wonder is why so much
talk and printing about It's Rrest labor
and cost and the great wisdom required
to alter she present constitutional struo.
ture. The building is now almost COM
plete, the foundation has been for
years laid by the most expert and skill
ful workmen, of the most durable ma
teriel aud is az sound and undecayed
as on the day 1t was completed-no one
80 unwise as TO suggest an alter
alton. George Mason's bill Of rights
Is ss good and true as ever; we can
see nothing needed TO be done, save to
alter the inside structure some little
as it respects the right Of suffrage and
the diminition of office.holders. What
more does the interest Of the common.
wealth require? II we had to have 0
new form of government, different from
the present and new TO US all, and did
not have already. as we now have, a
constitutional form Of government, the
pride OF the country, we could readily
perceive she difficulty Of the work. But
the building is complete and solid,
only needing a few alterations in the
inside, which any sensible mechanic
could change in a very short time.
We observe that there are writer's and
speakers abroad in the land telling was
country people that 1t Is so important
a work that no man is to seek the job,
bat he must wait until those who have
is TO let come and urge him TO under.
take it. and yet. we fiud that very set
olandestinely at work to have them
selves elected TO the Convention. That
kind OF talk may fool some Of rs but
not all OF us Away with this hypo-
critical can't Let Virginia men say
they are candidates and let the voters
select among them The slight changes
that are or ought 30 be made In the
proper new constitution could we'll be
done In twenty days, unless the CON-
vention is so be made q kind Of debat
ing society TO enable the delegates to
advertise themselves 20 the public as
great orators and wise statesmen.
am sure that seven such men as John
s. Wise, of New York, 10 Virginia
man) 81. George r. Fitzhugh and Wis
tar Wallace, OF fredericksburg Hill
Garter and Vim. L Royal, Of Rtch'
mond. and Henry Wickham, OF
Hanover, could. In ten days. or much
less time, write Us out as good an in
strument or q better one than a large
assembly would. Then let them sub
NIT for inspection to Judge John <
Mason. and let him alter and amend
in immaterial matters and perfect it as
he does In the cases of Importance,
where consent DEGREES are handed him
& have entered in suits. and we will
have q good constitution. l do not
mean TO intimate that the gentlemen
named above are the only ones known
30 me shat could fix up proper instru-
ment, for am of opinion / could nsme
some In this county and any other
county fitted for the work The people
ought to be careful as TO sending OF.
fice-holders to the convention If they
desire the number Of office.holdcrs d.
minished. as all appear to wish. You
cannot expect men TO vote themselves
out of Office and go without bread and
butter. Why send any ofice. holder ?
They have had and now have their
share Of the honoFs and emoluments,
and In fairness ought TO decline acce pt-
ing more. There is no kind Of neces
sity for as to elect an office.holder.
In every part of the State we have
non.office- holders, the peers OF those
in office, and in very many cases
far their supsriors do not think we
even need the aid or advice Of either
of our able United States Senators.
The writer OF this is not a seeker OF a
seat in the Convention and it is certain
the office is not seeking him. and will
not E +. G..