The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-09
CONVENTION DEBATE.


The Senate took up the Constitutional
Convention bill at o'clock and devoted
the remainder of the session to its dis
custom
Mr. Tyler offered an amendment. the
substance of which was expressed as fol-
lows: II said convention shall agree upon
an amended constitution on before the
9Th day of October, 1901, and shall decide
to submit the amended constitution to
the qualified voters~of the Commonwealth
for ratification or rejection. then the said
constitution shall be submitted TO the
qualified voters of the Commonwealth for
ratification or rejection
Mr.. Eggleston opened the debate in
speech in advocacy of his amendment OF
fered Thursday. which left the convention
free TO decide whether the amended Con-
stitution should be submitted to popular
vote He declared he was the last man
on earth TO want a party pledge broken:
he did not think his resolution would VIC
late the Norfolk pledge. He declared the
Democrats of the Virginia Legislature
were not The keepers OF the conscience
OF the Democratic party of the State. The
Legislature did not have the pow
er to bind q Constitutional Convention.
Mr.. Eggleston argued very strongly in
advocacy of the bills being amended so as
to allow the people to vote on the Consti-
tuition by sections, and Mr.. Flood. inter-
rupting him, said he was perfectly will
ling TO have the amendment made.
Mr.. Eggleston thought that if the con-
vention'S5 work We're to be submitted at
the November election the people would
not have sufficient time to study its pro-
visions; he also thought that the provision
to have the convention set during the
heated season, made it certain thnt the
members would experience SO much dis
comfort that they could not work to adj
vantage.
lie declared thera WIS danger that men
who would lose pas by reason of re-
vised constitution, and those persons dis
franchised by it, would unite to defeat it.
There was also danger that powerful cor
porate interests would also ally themselves
with the two classes named, and that the
three united might prove powerful enough
O defeat it. He wanted to know why, II
the Norfoly declaration TO submit the con-
stitutioni 10 the people was binding. the
Legislature did not say that the descend
ant of no man who could vote in 1863
should be disfranchised? The Noroih
convention had said thnt.
JUDGES AND THE NIGGERS.
Mr. Barksdale spoke briefly in favor OF
an uneuuivocal declaration in favor OF
submitting the constitution to popular
vote. No matter what was the language
of the Norfolk platform, or what construc-
ton it were sought to place upon II, the
people thought they were to be allowed TO
vote on.
The gentleman from Charlotte tMr.
Eggleston) seems to think the county
judges and the nisGers will make COM
bination which the friends OF consttu-
tional reform cannot overcome. All L
want TO say is that if the judges and the
niggerS get in the wagon together so
much the worse for the wagon laugh-
terl
Mr.. Barksdale said he didn't want to
tso into a, game OF blind mans buff and
draw out OF botch-pot. He wanted
chance to vote on the Constitution; he
wanted every man in the State to have
a chance.
HE WOULDN'T BE DECEIVED.
Mr. Barksdale declared that if he had
thought there would be serious opposition
to submitting the Constitution to the peo-
pie he would never have voted for the
convention. He created much laughter
by his illusions to Mr.. GLASS; quotation
Of poetry i'll a, speech Thursday.
He declared the backbone of the oppo-
sstiop to the Constitutional Convention
was strongest in the First District and in
the Southwest They voted to have a
new Constitution with the understanding
that it was to be submitted to the people.
He declared he had been shocked by the
declaration made on the floor of the Sem
ate that property, as well as people,
should be represented.
'.If the corporations of this State knew
what was good for them they would
oppose having this Constitution voted on
By the people, he said.
A SHARP PASSAGE.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Barksdales
speech. Mr.. Eggleston arose and soiemIy
seconded the nominations made by Mr.
Barksdaie OF William ]. Bryan for the
Presidency and ". p. Barksaale 10 sue
coed himself in the State Senate.
That's the best thing You have done
In a long time" retorted Mr.. Barksdale,
and there was uproarious laughter at the
expense of the Charlotte Senator
MIR. TYLER'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Tyler made a most able speech, ar