The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-03-26
Communicated
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr.. Hunter Thinks Different Interests Should
Be Represented.

To THE FREE LAME:
We are all asking ourselves who WI
shall send 10 the Constitutional Conven
ton. In government like ours, "of the
people, for the people, and by thepeoplc,
the Constitution is the foundation; and
is the authority for all subsequent acts
Of legislation and Of government lts
making is the supreme act OF sovereignty
Ii should therefore come direct from the
hands of the people, and should be in
the best interests Of all sections and all
classes of the people. Who then should
we deputize TO form this grand system
Of rules that il to shape our future
course OF government, and is to protect
us from malIeasance on the part OF our
salaricd servants? Surely. not these serv.
ants themselves; they would not like to
be placed in position where they might
be accused OF using public power to
further private ends. We do not want
foreigners either; they have no interest
in the State. We do not want bosses
our government was instituted to do
away with the one man power. Neither
do we want agents of corporations, for
some of us think that the interests oi
corporations are antagOnistic to the in
terests Of the State And we certainly
do not want politicians for obvious rea-
sons. Now we seem to have gotten rid
of all Glasses who have heretofore been
publicly prominent This is just what
we want To do, and we won't be at a
loss to find men suitable for our purpose
when we come to look for them in the
right place, that is, amongst the sover-
eigns themselyes-the people who own
the State and pay for its government
not the ones who live on the State.
As we have said this is the time for
the true sovereigns To show their power
and to declare that their government
shall be conducted as best suits their in
terests. In the State of Virginia the
agricultural classes predominate, there
fore they should have the larger repre-
sentation. The laborers, the manuiac-
turers. the merchants and the corpora
tions have also large interests, and where
such interests are taxed for the support
of the government, they should also be
represented-not by paid attorneys, but
by the best Of their class. 1t is absurd
to say that we must have men oi legal
attainments to make our Constitution.
The lawyer knows the law, but he pre-
sents only his clients side OF it. IL is the
Judges business TO construe the law to
10 say whether his iellow-servant, the
legislator, has made it in accordance with
the declared will Of their master-the
sovereign people. They are all honorable
positions when honorably filed; but ii
is not the part of the servant to declare
the masters will.
Since the days of Cincinnatus the State
has called on the farmer in her hour ol
need, and has found him not only a
statesman but n warrior as well. Wash
ington and Mason were farmers. Now
we do not need scholars, or even mel
learned in the law, to make our Consti
tuition, but men Of sterling honesty and
common sense; men whose interests ART
with the interests of heirlocalities, who
will be fearless in demanding the protec
ton of those interests, and at the same
time broad-minded enough to see that
equal justice is done to all. These mel
can be found between the plow handles
at the work bench, behind the counter
and in the business office; and | trust
that the people will be wise enough tc
find them, and will send them to Rich
mond to lay for them the foundation o
a better government.
Il. Hunter.
Ruther Glen, Va, Mar. %, 1901.