The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-06
KING GEORGE COURT
Democrats Elect Delegates Republicans
Cell a ass-Meeting Political Notes
Court Proceedings, Etc, Etc.


Court Proceedings, Etc. Etc.
There was little done mt King George
court Thursday. outside of the regular
court proceedings, except 10 attempt to
hold Democratic mass-meeting to elect
delegates To the joint convention OF Stat
ford and King George To nominate IA can
didate for the constitutional Convention,
and n meeting of the Republican county
committee appointing Saturday, April
18th, M the day for mass-meeting at
the Courthouse to nominate county OIL
GERS and TO select delegates to COX's
Store to convention date tOb he named)
tocOnsider the nd visibility ofnominating
n candidate for the Constitutional Con
ventiOn.
THE DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
ChairmanC. r. purks was not at court,
and he delegated Hon. II. n. Garnett To
preside over the meeting and crack the
whip. When Chairman Garnett called
the meeting To order there were three
participants in the meeting-the chair
man, MIR. Alexander Pratt the Demo
cratic war-hOrse who tx always in the
saddle. and MIR. James +. Rogers, who
said he had never participated ia politics
before. Just then Mr.. William Mcdaniel
came in, and he was captured and made
secretary. Then Mr.. Clifford Ninde came
down from the Treasurer's Office with n
paper in his hand which proved TO I've n
resolution, which was adopted later
and he Joined the quartette, and the
meeting was composed Olive. Chairman
Garnett announced the object of the
meeting, and said nominations were in
order. Mr.. Pratt said: Hold on, Mr..
Chairman. This was intended for n mass
meeting of the people, and only five OF us
are here Send out and beat the bushes,
and bring the people in. We cannot elect
ourselves. IL will be said that our meet.
ing il cut and dried like that of Stafford
and we do not want that said of Demo
Gratis Of King George The chairman
replied: THE meeting has been duly called
and it is our duty To proceed. D." Two
more Joined the number, and voice from
the corner nominated Mr. Pratt. TO this
Mr.. Pratt replied: Wait awhile. lnever
saw anything like this at King George
before. Our people must have some grev-
ance. There must i've something behind
this. What il il? Prominent Democrats
are on the green and not in the meeting
Chairman Garnett said: I'VE cannot help
that. They know of the call and business
must proceed. The following delegates
were elected, and they were empowered
to select their alternatcs:
Potomac Observation-Disclosures Pratt.
John y. Peed.
Shiloh-W. IL. King, Capt. Thomas II.
Powell
Rappahannock-Dr. Y. r. Arnold, q.
Ogle TaylOe.
Mr.. James f.. Rodgers said he wanted
some expression of opinion in regard to
the Constitutional Convention and offer
ed the following resolutions which were
adopted:
Resolved, That we, the people of King
George county, Va. in convention as
sembled. do declare: LIST. That in voting
for n Constitutional Convention we did
so in order to change the existing condi-
ton of things in the interest of economy
and good government.
md. We demand that the Constitution
shall be 50 changed or remOdeled; that
the Taxpayers OF this State shall be- I'M
burdened by the adjustment of every
needless office.
Bird. We demand that the official sys-
TEN of this State shall be- just what it
was under the Constitution and laws OF
1860.
4th. We demand that the judiciary de-
partment of this State shall be so read
iusted, that the Supreme Court oi the
State shall consist of five members, at Il
salary Of $1,000 each, with reasonable
mileage: that the circuits, with Judge
for each, shall not exceed nine in number
in the entire State; the salary OF the Cir
cult Judge not to exceed $1,000, with
reasonable mileage; that the County
courts of this State shall be just what it
was under the Constitution and laws OF
1860. except that its sessions shall be
quarterly, instead of monthly.
9TH. We demand that the number OF
Judges, with the salary OF each, he fixed
by Constitutional provision
9th. We demand that capitatiOn tax
of one dollar and fifty cents for the State
and county be placed upon every voter,
and its prepayment, one year in al
vance be made prerequisite to entitle
any citizen to the right To vote, and this
to I've fixed by Constitutional provision.
eth. We hereby declare and reassert
that all government derives its just pow
ers from the people; that courts and OF
ficers are but the agents and emissaries oil
the people and answerable to the people,
that the humblest citizen in this State
shall have unrestrained right to plead his
cause by himself or by counsel in any
court of this State, nor shall any law be
made or any court fix any costly pro
ceedings that will bar or abridge the
right of any citizen to be heard on his
own behalf in any court of this State;
nor shall any court have power To fine
or imprison for so-called contempt of
court"-ior any act of language-any
citizen unless in the presence and hearing
of an open court in actual session.
Resolved, That in order to secure the
adoption into the Constitution of the
benefits and blessings herein demanded
by the people, that it is the deliberate
Judgment of the people here assembled
that no person directly or indirectly in
terested by TeasOn of his being an office
holder OF lawyer should be nominated or
elected to represent the people in the
Constitutional Convention.
Mr.. Clifford Ninde offered the following
which was also adopted:
That while we recognize the high legal
attainments and Incorporating de-
mOcracy of our countyman,C. II. Ashton,
and would delight to do him honor, we,
realizing the fact that Stafford claims the
right to name the delegates, send our
delegates uninstructed further than ms
indicated by Mr.. Rogers resolutions.
The convention then adiOured
on THE OUTSIDE.
There were distinct mutterings during
the day Of discomfort at the action OF
Stafford's convention blocking the game
for the nomination OF any King George
man by instructing her seven delegates
"a majority of the cOnvention) for MIR.
Thomas j. Moncure, and when the meet
ing was called neither Judge c. II. Ash