Evening star., 1901-08-29
DAY OF ALL TALK
No Resolutions Offered in Virginia
Convention TODAY.
DISCUSSION OF BILL OF RIGHTS
Several delegates Oppose the
Proclamation Proposition.
APPEAL TO THE GALLERIES

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
+ RICHMOND. Va, August 29.-The de-
bate on the preamble and bill Of rights was
continued In the constitutional convention
today. The hall was packed with visitors
Attorney General Montague was an inter-
ested listener. The galleries were filled,
and there were few vacant seats on the
floor. Ntnety-four members answered to
their names.
President Goode- called the body to order
at noon. Prayer was offered by the Rev.
DR.. p. B. Price.
Not single new. proposition or memorial
of any nature was presented the first time
such thing has happened in the conven-
ton. -
Chairman Ayers of the committee on
prisons and public institutions, asked and
was granted leave. to visit the state hos
pitals at such time as the committee might
desire.
Mr.. Carter Of Hanover presented a mi
nority report from the committee on legis-
lative department. stating that the minor
ity was unable to concur In the recon-
mendation prohibiting the passage Of any
law whereby private property shall be
just compensation" The report says the
present provision is ample on the subject.
In Committee of the Whole.
On motion Of Chairman reen Of the COM
mittee on bill OF rights and preamble the
convention went into committee Of the
whole and resumed consideration OF the
Wysor amendment.
Colonel Cameron, arising to question Of
personal privilege, said that justice de-
manded an explanation OF an apparent In
consistency in his speech OF yesterday. and
that on the oath question he had used an
unguarded expression he had expressed
doubt OF a reference to his speech by Mr..
Wysor, but the stenographers had him ac-
curately. He believed justice and honor
demanded this explanation, because, after
mature deliberation, he had changed his
position.
Delegate Richmond of Scott was the first
speaker. If he were forced to vote on the
question today he would favor submitting
the constitution to the present electorate.
He had been taught to believe that the
people are sovereign, and he believed that
all power was vested in and derived from
the people.
The members OF the convention were
here by consent Of their masters. He was
was white man, represented white con-
stituency. and If the suffrage plan did not
disfranchise any material part Of his con-
stituency he would sacrifice himself and
dozen others and come to the rescue Of his
brethren in the black belt.
Question by Mr.. wysor.
Mr.. Wysor."Wodld you not vote to SUBJ
NIT to an abridged electorate even If it
sacrificed more than dozen?"
Mr.. Richmond-"No, 1 would not say fif-
teen. for fear I might disfranchise the gen.
tleman from Pulaski
Continuing, = Mr.. Richmond said that he
was in favor Of 0stponing vote on this
question until theaconvention had some
thing to submit.
favored the poll tax. as that was only
condition requisite'eto voting and would
not disfranchfses any one. The suffrage
committee had, according to the news
papers. agreed and disagreed and now they
were in as much Of tangle as ever, why
settle this question now? We were in the
dark and it would be a leap in the dark to
vote.
Delegate Pedigo's Speech.
Delegate Pedigo Of Henry followed. His
speech was carefully prepared, and was
read He began by saying that in the con-
confidence in the people. Outside there was
q growing want Of confidence In the con-
vention.
He drew his inspiration from Thomas
Jefferson, than whom the world had never
produced superior a political prophet.
He was alone the representative OF the.
policy which favored enfranchising the
negroes He quoted the vote on the veri-
GUS constitutional convention propositions
to show that the constitution was satis-
factory with an unfair and fraudulent bal
lot the convention had been called after
being made party measure.
Less than one-ffth Of the people had
favored the convention. and two-thirds OF
this from the black belt.
Delegate Summers Of Washington fol-
lowed. He was not prepared to 90 on with
his speech. but he outlined his argument in
a direct appeal to the gallery occupied by
the negroes, paying them a tribute which
evoked a round Of applause.
His speech was remarkable for its de-
nunciation of the democratic party and its
laudation of negro soldiers at San Juan.
It was not concluded at 2 o'clock, when
the committee rose and the convention ad-
journed.
Delegate Summers' Talk.
Delegate Summers Of Washington coun-
ty began one of the bitterest speeches
against the democratic party ever heard.
He publicly addressed the gallery occupied
by negroes from which round Of ap-
plause came in reward for his reference to
the negro soldiers at San Juan Hill, when
Joe Wheeler told the 7th New York to
stand aside and let the negroes get at the
Spanish flag.
Ladies In the eastern gallery turned
their faces when the speaker began an ap-
peal ito you woman, whose husband has
no representative here" he urged all to go
home, that the members of the conven-
they would be deprived of their votes"
The general opinion Is that the speech
was lurid and weak.
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Naval Orders.
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