Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-06-06
THE NEW CONSTITUTION,

ing had taken the bull by I'll
horns and decided to proclaim tn
Constitution, and not submit it t.
the people for ratification.
This Constitution will make II
a good, safe organic law. n
doubt experience will sugges
alterations and amendments, which
the instrument provides for. Tn
Conventions decision about how
the new law Of Virginia shOulC
become operative, has saved thu
Commonwealth a deal of trOubl,
which would have disturbed the
State from the Potomac to tn,
mountains and from kentucky!
line to the sea, had we been forced
to popular election. Like good
law-abiding citizens we will al
faithfully stand by our organic
law.
There were three methods sug-
gested as to how the New COnsti-
tuition should become operative.
First, submission to the entire
electorate; second, submission to
an abridged electorate third,
adoption by the Convention with
out submission to the people. For
all these methods there were
abundant presidents. The State
Of Maryland, which has always
been distinguished for its cOnser-
vatism, furnishes precedent for
each one. The Constitution Of
177G was proclaimed ~ the con-
ventiOn, and lot submitted to the
people; the Constitution of 1864
was submitted to an abridged
electorate, the qualification Of the
voters being fXe1 by the instru-
ment submitted and which dis
franchised majority of the
people Of the State; and the Con
stitutiOn Of 1867 was submitted to
the full electorate. In Virginia /
the Constitution of 1776 was pro
and that of 1867, the /
present. or Underwood COnstitu-
t on, was submitted to an electorate
which that Instrumental enlarged. /
1t lave to negroes the right to
vote, and provided that they should
vote on its submission. The present
new Constitution Of Delaware was
proclaimed by the convention
which framed it, and was never
submitted to the people.
The GAZETTE, and all the rest
Of thinking people, understand
that a pledge had been given the
people that the new Constitution
should be submitted to them for
But the Conventions
work, especially on the suffrage
.lause, could not safely be sub
nitted To the whole people for
various reasons, and they took a
shorter method, and that action
.annOt be considered revolutionary.
TIE Convention was almost unani-
nously Democratic, and many of I
Is members had been members of |
he State Convention and had
'oted for the platform pledge.
}ut after a careful consideration |
# the matter, it was decided that ;
s the Constitutional Convention
epresents the sovereignty of the
people, it should not be bound by o
he action OF any party Convention. {
The majority which made this o
lecisiOn, however, was small |
ne, and was reinforced by the I
ote Of , Of the II Republican Il
MEMBERS.
Under the provisions Of the new 1
Constitution, a large number Of u
literate negroes will be deprived 4"
{ their votes. If the Constitution 1t
adj been submitted to these, of ID
purse they would have voted It
gainst it, and as the Republican II
arty would have lost these votes, ID
was assumed that the entire p
epublican party would be arrayed
gainst ratification. In ad liti0n IL
this opposition, it was evidently sa
sumed that the influence Of all "
lie great railroads and other ~
would be against cl
LITIGATION, as the corporations 81
e said TO be entirely satisfied
It'll the provisions of the Under CT