The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-24
Unfettered Delegates,
Editor Of The Times

Editor Of The Times:
Sir-I do not wish to pose before your
readers as good convention timber; l do
not wish to intimate hereby that l
would become sacrifice for the public
good, as SO many patriotic statesmen
have Very modestly limited.
But l have views and opinions on the
nucn-confused Constitutional Convention
question, and I think them all the more
pronounced from the fact Of my being
read out of the Democratic party for the
last few years on account of the TeNed
silver question.
For if there is any one thing in our
work Of Constitution framing which will,
more than another. tend to smother and
repress statesman-lke convictions, it will
be the sentiment Of immolation to party
fealty.
Any man who seek the place Of dele
gate to the convention thereby attests
his untitness for the right performance
Of the delicate and responsible work
which will come before that body. No
true and trusty man will submit to be-
ing forced to declare his position in adj
vance for the sake of gaining a nomina-
ton. l am sure that no man, as yet, has
a well-defined, clear-cut and matured
conviction of what a suitable organic law
for Virginia should be.
No qualified, conscientious man Will,
urqualifedly, submit to instructions, Tor
from one hundred districts there will be
4 Babel of instructions. Every delegate
should go so unfettercd that, if needs so
REQUIRE, he can adopt the noble Senti-
ment Of that grand old Wing, James Z.
Rives uttered on the floor Of the United
States Senate: In taking this course, L
know, Mr.. President. 1 shall incur the
E n,.f, hut Gil
country to serve as well as party to
obey
In this case feeling of individual re-
sponsibility will be a test of devotion to
duty, I am opposed to the pronuncla-
ments of the Norfolk CCnI ention TO the
effect that no white man shall be DIS
franchiscd, but negroes shall be by
wholesale 1t is bad political ethics. to
saw the least, and is a broad declara-
ton that VIC will fix it somehow, the
Constitution of the United States to the
contrary. Notwithstanding. An educa-
tional qualification for voting Will not
suffice Schools and churches. combined
fail to develop first-class citizens. What
is reedful for excellence in society Is
caste, arising from a pride and selt-es-
TEEN which are the result of owning
property. This caste the negro, as
rule, is destitute of, which fact stands
to his great disadvantage. cannot favor
and endorse the grandfather clause. 1t
is highly defective from the fact that
blood will deteriorate, and often IN the
course of a generation or two it is known
TO become very much vitiatcd.
write as an old soldier and for and in
behalf of veterans who followed the for
tunes of Lee from the beginning to APP
pcmattox, and say, unhesitatinSly and
unequ;vocally, that the military service
feature in franchise or election law
will not begin to do.
In our poor service for our country. We
simply did our duty, and we do not claim
any monopoly of fitness and qualltica-
ton for the use OF the ballot from the
use of cannon, sword and musket IN the
times agone that tried mems souls. of
course We want to be appreciated ana
have proper consideration shown us but
as a class we wish no undue favorltiSm
bestowed upon us in the way of blessings
and responsibilities of advanced citizen
ship as a vested right. We desire no
yatent royal as to elective franchise on
which our children can bank. There is
a stimulus incident to the knowledge
that fitness therefor must be the result
of their efforts and lives.
know tho negro-know his virtues and
his weaknesses. We owe him a debt. We
owe It at least to him and the Federal
Constitution, to which we have bowed
and given our allegiance to treat him
right and with Justice. Giving him no
privilege that he Will merely abuse-still
We should throw round him every safe
.r.~d Am satiydsd that eligibility 20