The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-02
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY ., 1901.
Tur SIZE OF THE CONVENTION.

The Times believes in representative
government and believes that every
locality should have just representation
in the government. 1t is right and
proper that each and every community
should have its representative in the
Legislature. because each and every COM
munity has its local interests TO be look
ed after, and a personal representative
should be ever present in the sessions of
that body.
But according to our view there is no
sense in IL and no necessity for 1t that
every little community in the State
should have a representative in the forth
coming Constitutional Convention This
Convention Is not to> make statutory
laws: it is not to pass bills permitting
the Board of Supervisors to build a new
bridge over Goose Creek. or to permit
some magisterial district 10 build a new
school-house. or to permit some town to
increase its bonded debt. The Conven-
ton will have to do only with the organic
law of the State and the organic law
applies alike to ali sections.
The present Constitution of Virginia, is
is our magma charter and guarantees to
the people the enjoyment of life and
liberty the right to acquire and hold
property, the privilege of pursuing hap
piness. &c.
Article IL deals with the Division of
Powers.
Article III. with the Elective Franchise
and Qualification for~oftice-''
Article ". with the Executive Depart
mcnt."
Aticle Y. with the Legislative Depart
ment
Article VI with the Judiciary Depart
meut.'
Article VII. with County orgaaiza-
TONS
Article VIII. with Education"
Article IN with the Militia
Article y. with Taxation and Finance"
Article NJ. with Homestead and other
Exemptions
Article MI. with Future Changes in
the Constitution.
All these, it is readily secn. are ques-
Tons OF general. rather than of local.
interest and concern. These questions
can be taken up and disposed of to the
interest OF each and every section of the
State by delegates at large We'll as by
delegates from any particular section. Il
is net necessary. we say, to have every
voting precinct in the State represented
in the Convention in order that the inter-
csts of each locality may be protected.
Nc do not mean by this to say that the
Convention should not be a representative
body Quite the contrary, but it shouli
;,e composed of men who represent the
general interest and welfare. who repre-
sent the State at large rather than any
particular section of the State. The Con-
vention should be composed Of deiegat
who represent the intelligence, the patri-
oiism. honor, the prosperity and The
genera. welfare of the State.
in this view OF the case it is not neces-
sary TO have tho Convention composed
OF a large number of delegates. The Con-
Sention should he deliberatiye body. but
IL viii not be such if it is orerburdened
with members. Ne believe that a han.
dEed delegates properly selected NO Id
do the work better than two hun7rd
delegates; that ii ty delegates. the yer
best that the State could select. <feuld
do The work better. than one hurdrea
The smaller the Conv ut on the rrea er
the responsibility upon each delegate and
the more kecny will he feel y. TIE
smaller the Convention the mo e at en-
tive each delegate Will be to the wo.k .n
hand, the harder he will work and The
more efficient service he viii rSnd.r. The
smaller the Convection the less lab lily
OF ciques and factions. and the harder
will be for any selfish interests to control
ii.
We are not arguing IN the interest of
economy. for in a matter Of this charac-