The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-05

| of "A mans qualification. And the
Democrats are, in the languagCAoi a
member of the committee tired of fraud
and sick OF the necessity of stealing the
negro's vote.
The Committee ON Executive Depart
ments by tie vote decided against the
election oi reasurcr aud Auditor oi Pub
lie Accounts and Secretary of the Com
monwcalth 10y popular vote, instead Of
by the General Assembly. This vote.
however. Is not regarded AZ a t"st
one. Some of the members who voted
in the negative said aiter the committee
adjourned they were not aware at the
time Of their vote that the Auditor aud
Treasurer composed most oi the board
charged with the duty Of imposing taxes
ON the railroads Having learned of
that fact. they were willing these gentle
men said. that these two Officers should
he chosen 10y the people.
Judge Calrencc Campbell. Of Amherst,
spoke in favor of keeping the party
pledge made at Norfolk and submitting
the Constitution 10 represent electorate.
| lie warned the Democrats that il they
did not commit thrmSeivC, to this policy
before the November election II was vel y
doubtful whether Montague 0nd the r
mainder Of the democratic ti"Let would
earl amherst county Not only did be-
believe that To be- tue condition in his
owa county. but he thought tn the
party would be- cmha -raSscd ~ "a 5l the
| WI t. sections OF the State. JuueCj NJ
ben made n strong appcal 70 ia, Demo.
| Gratis in the convention 90 h. p the party
| pledge.
w. Marshall. of Craig. followed Judge
Campbell in asiuilar strain. lie did not
| believe that the Democrats could afford
to antagonize the white people Of the
state by failing TO keep the'- promises
Mr.. Montague is in the convention hall
every day lie j. one OF the closest
listeners To the debates. though he is
much interrupted by members who would
| rather talI with the next Cover lOr thau
hear the repetition OF arguments which
| have so often been made
The cOlored people who went To the
| capitol to applaud Colonel Summers have
di~ anch-cd thcmselye. There was
some doubt until today that the Consti.
tuition would proclaimed. Now, there
! appears 10 he none. several delegates
| who were IN doubt Were so dsigusted
| with Colonel Summers and the action oi
the cOlorcd people they declared them
| selves a. IN favor Oi proclaimng the Con
| stitution. The convention decided o.
take yOt. upon this question at one
o'clock Thursday today That 1t will
be- decided 10 proclaim the Constitution
there is littlc doubt and as sOonas this j.
done the aiming OF the orgaric law vii
be- don" quick Y -P'ch. Cor lndeN-Ap
PEI
The COmmittoa ON E.duction OF EX.
ponzes ms ie two 'mpSrtant repolis to
the convent ON. one Of these recommends
the F1auce Committee 10 prepare an or
| dinance edu' ny the Board of Sinking
| Fund Commissioners 10 retire or refund
a'lof the bonds OF the state bco-ing IN
terest at the rates Of q aud per cent be-
| foisP lyalditiOnal securities of the Stat
| beal ing less interest except IN such
| ca where acOntrG 'tOrag~cement may
prevent the reti ~ or rounding such Il
| end Der cent bonds The other rrpOl
| i.commends that IN the event that the
convention shall adopt me proposed
plan of selecting different subjects of tax
alton 10 be imposed 10y the Sta.e aud the
cities and the counties, then the criminal
expenses shpn be borne by the local gov
ernments and not by the Common
wealth, as required IN the event OF the
foilnre Of the convention to adopt this
separation OF the system OF tax
alton. then the counties aud cities
sheu. the committee recommends, bear
| the expense OF the misdemeanOr 10 :
only.
Fy-Attoiney-C eneral X. \. Ayers spoke
Monday on the question of submitting
the Constitution to the people. HeiavOr-
ed its submission to the new electorate
provided under the Constitution to be
formulated He opposed either a prop
erty or capitation Tx qualification. The
ex-Attorney-Ceneral proposed that there
shall be "a board Of council consisting OF
three from each magisterial district in the
STATE. To be elect ID by this convention.
This board to be seli-perpetuating aud
one member to drop out at the end of
three years. us HuVttHHpl ~ NC WYNN
mended by the board 20 the Goyernorior
appointment.
The plo 1contemplates an understood
| ing" clause; the acceptance OF the voter
is to be upon his character aud comprc-
| bersion of the duties OF citizenship. Ro-
ferring 10 the negro he said has tie ne
gro SHOWN to-day any disposition to
profit by al that we have done by school
and other taxes for his benefit to raise
him to an Intelligent exercise 1.-THE duties
Of citizenship? The answer is that three
times he he's voted in solid phalanx
against any proposition that has been
made to improye the condition OF Virginia
10y means of IA Constitutions ConveD-
ton.
Richmond Washington r z.