The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-27
CAPTAIN WISE AND
Mr., WOOD BOULDIN
They Address the Convention on.
the Main Question.
HOLD ITO DIFFERENT L: VIEWS.
HOLD ITO DIFFERENT VIEWS
The Former for Submission to Present
Electorate. and the Latter for Pro-
Standardization Speeches Dealt
Largely With the Legal Phase

sessions yesterday, and further argu-
ment was heard on the question OF pro-
claiming or submitting the new instru-
n1ent.
Mr. WISE of Richmond city, spoke at
the first session for submission to the
present electorate, and in the afternoon
Mr.. Bouldin. Of Halifax, argued for
proclamation
Sixty-four members of the convention
answered to roll CALL and a number of
prominent visitors were on the floor,
among them being Northumberland
Joseph e. Willard, of Fairfax. and Mr..
Charles l. Wade ca shier of the Bank OF
Christiansburg.
Delegate Woodhouse had returned from
the bedside of his sick son, who is better,
and was in his seat, as were also Messrs.
Ayers, Wysor and Crismond, who had
not been present since the recess.
The Final Revision Committee held a
brief meeting prior to the assembling of
the convention, but disposed Of no i'm
portant business. The speaking yester-
day was largely of a legal character,
and was, therefore, Of chief interest to
the lawyers of the body. Captain Wise
denied in strong terms the right of the
convention to proclaim its work, and
Mr. Bouldin, on the other hand, con-
tended that to his mind the right of the
body to proclaim was clear.
It is likely that Mr.. Pedigo Republi-
CAM, of Henry. will speak for submits
sion to the full electorate to-day. and
then he will be followed by Mr.. Thorn,
of Norfolk. on the same line. The body
meets at 10 o'clock this morning.
THE SESSION IN DETAIL.
The body was talled to order at
noon by President Goode and prayer was
offered by DR.. w. f. Dunaway, the
member of the convention from Lancas-
ter county.
The roll-call disclosed the presence of
sxty-four members, and the journal of
the last days proceedings was read and
approved. The chair laid before the
convention several petitions in relation
to the terms of court clerks, and they
were referred to the Final Revision Com
mittee. A number of leaves of absence
were granted ana at 1915 o'clock P. M.
Mr. Wise, of Richmond city, took the
floor to speak in favor of submitting the
Constitution to the present electorate for
ratification or rejection.
Mr.. Wise laid down the proposition that
all governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent of the governed, and
he argued ably on this line for while.
He declared that he would vote and work
for the Constitution, should it be sub
mitted. He made this statement so that
it could not be charged that he was at
tempting to defeat the instrument.
He then took up the act of the Legisla-
ture, calling the convention. and discuss
ed its declaration in favor of submission
In connection with the pledge alleged to
have been made by the Norfolk Conven-.
ton. and contended ably that the con-
V6ntion had no moral right to proclaim
the new instrument. Mr. Wise spoke
with his old-time life and fire and his
voice rang out clear and strong as ne
walked back and forth in the open space
in front of the Presidents chair ana
swung his long arms high in the air
He ridiculcd the mass meetings held IN
Richmond, and became engaged with Mr..
Meredith in a brief colloquy as to how
The CLAW Ward meeting had been called.
NOT SUFFICIENT for HIM.
Mr.. Wise said there had been no such
action here, as he felt was suft1c!ent 10
relieve him of his obligation to vote for
and he proposed to carry out
his original intentions regardless OF the
action of such meetings as the one IN
Clay Ward. Mr.. Wise read the resolu-
lions adopted in the Clay Ward meet
ing held, to send delegates to the Norfolk
and he declared that the
latter body had acted under instructions
from the Democrats people OF the State.
$50 help me God!". exclaimed the speak
or, ''I would never have voted to call
This Convention. except with the distinct
that the work of the body
was to be submitted" He argued that
The Legislature had the absolute right
to bind the Convention. in the call, to
submit its work, and said the latter body
was clearly bound by the act that called
it into being.
He then took up other conventions held,
md contended that the provisions of the
legislative acts, calling them, had been
invariably obeyed and the instruments
The speaker here took up the legal
questions involved and argued that the
could not legally be pro-
claimed, unless the legislature, (which
called the convention into being, should
confer the power on the latter body to
He challenged Mr.. Kendall, who had in
errrpted him. with 81 question, to pro-
luce authorities to bear out the opposite
Jew, and then the speaker cited a great
Many text writer's on the subject.
$50 from the power having been con-
erred upon you to proclaim this consti-
uiion,' said Mr.. Wise, in proceeding on
his line. you are expressly forbidden to
10 SO, i'll the legislative act. which gave
.ou life and being" and he again APP
,ealed to authorities to sustain his con-
ention.
Mr.. Wise said Mr.. Kendall had cited
he Underwood Constitution to break
:own the argument offered by himself
Mr.. Wise) on this point, but he refused
. accept that as authority and he and
The member from Northampton engaged
n another brief colloquy.
Mr.. Wises speech was a strong one
and was loudly cheered as he resumed
his seat It was 1:50 O'clock P. M
Ind on motion of Mr.. Walker, the chair
was vacated until 4 o'clock P. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session Of the conven-
ton was called to order at clock, and
Mr.. Bouldin, of Halifax, took the floor
and spoke briefly for proclaiming the
new Constitution. He said his people
had taken no action on the subject, but
that from what he could learn, in differ
ent ways, he was convinced that they
stood overwhelmingly for proclamation.
He contended that the convention had the
right to proclaim its work, and that he
should vote to proclaim, unless the dis
cussion should reveal some reason why