Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-05-07

I u
whether we should call convention. q"
The Richmond Dispatch gives the
following report of the counties in
Virginia for and against proclsma-
ton; Counties heard from, 60; for
proclamation, 81; for submission, s:
doubtful, 10. a majority of the enc
hundred counties of the State have
been found by Dispatch correspon-
dents to favor the proclamation of
the new Constitution. Thirty one
counties are yet to be heard from.
Ia the majority of instances, the
correspondents assert that the senti-
ment was so strong as to leave no
doubt as to the minds of the people
of the county.
W. c. Kennerly; "In reply to your
printed circular, would beg leave
to state, that, so far as l am iudivi-
dnally concerned, | unhesitatingly
advocate the proclamation of the new
constitution, from the very house
tops. | would take no chances. of
having the whole winters work Of
the convention annulled by the
niggers and Republicans and sore
head Democrats of the State. As to
any pledge of the Norfolk convention
that the new constitution should be
submitted to the voters of the State
for its ratification or rejection, more
unmltgated rot never fell from the
lips of men, the opinion of the
great Jno. Daniel, to the contrary.
Notwithstanding. BY what process
of reasoning, the conclusion can be
arrived at that. because party
(state) convention called for the
purpose of naming Delegates to
national convention and incidentally
recommending call for state
constitutional convention, could bind
the action of the sovereign people of
the State, as TO their acceptance or
rejection of the constitution. when
once made, is more than | can see.
When, IN obedience to the recommen-
dation of the constitutional call. by
the Norfolk convention, it was sus-
tanned by the people of Virginia, and
delegates elected and sent to Rich
mond. to frame "A new constitution
for the State, the power was gwen
to those delegates, by the people Of
Virginia, to make this new constitu-
ton, aud, SO far, as they, the people,
were concerned, there the matter
rested. If We were not to have "a
new constitution, why should we call
a convention and elect delegates ia
it? and then incur the risk of having
the whole thing knocked in the
head: We all know, tina. after the
candidates, for the convention were
selected and after the election, it was
universally conceded, that, that body
would be composed of the purest,
and ablest and best and most conser-
vatiye men of the State and it was.
members Of both branches Of the
National Congress, former governors
of the State, and judges of our courts
to say nothing of the leading journal
lists of the commonwealth, and still
you tell us that the work of these
men is to be submitted to the tender
mercies of besotted ignorance and
bestial incapacity. The bare con-
temptation of it is absolutely shock
ing and Repayment to every instinct
of refinement and culture"
Thos. NJ. Nelson; 81 am absolutely
in favor of submitting the constitu
ton to the vote of the people"
L. V. Stole, carriage maker:
"Submt it"
John w. Gubbs, county constable:
Submit it,"
Joseph Hart, Butcher: proclaim
it"
Jas. a. Lawyer, farmer: "Submit
it."
A. b. Wyndham, merchant: "W,
put those fellows there; they ough
to know what to do with it."
Hon. Marshall Mccormick: 81 hav,
your postal. If the new constitution
is to be submitted at all, the submis
sion should be to the whole peopl,
and not to an abridged electorate
, am opposed to submission at all, bu
am in favor of proclamation, for th,
reason, that / believe that the new
constitution is a decided improve
ment on the old, and no unnecessar,
risk should be incurred in the mat
ter of its ratification"
e 5. A. Duling: 81 favor proclama
, ton"
S j. +. Royston, farmer: "Proclain