Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-06-20
CONSTITUTIONAL CONyENTIoN


transportation companies to mem.
bers of the Legislature, State, county
or district officers.
The body took recess until
June 25th, when the members will
return for the purpose of signing
the new Constitution. The new Con.
stitution is completed and in the
hands of the committee charged
with its engrossment.
The Tazewell Republican makes an
awful prediction about the Conven
ton members. Itssys: "The mem
bers of the Constitutional Con vention
who vote for procla;ming the Cousti-
tuition will, if they live few years,
be calling upon the rocks and the
mountains to fall on them."
Who will sponsor the new Consti-
tuition? Will it be known as the
Goode Constitution, or Withers Con-
stitution, or Braxtou Constitution,
or Wysor Constitution? That is the
question which is being asked by
members, who desire some name in
contradistinction to the Underwood
Constitution.
The new Constitution goes into
effect July 10th ard the Legislature
is to be assembled on July 18th to
recognize the new Constitution and
10 conform the laws of the State to
suit the new condition of things. The
Legislature will at this time choose
the new district judges, who will 90
into office January 1st, 1904. 1t
was also the sentiment of the COM
mittee that the Convention should
remain alive for at least another
year. The object of this is to be
ready to reassemble in event of any
political disaster in the State.
A sensational episode of the Con-
vention took place in the discussion
of the question whether the members
of the Supreme Court of Appeals
should be required to take oath un
der the organic law. Judge Berry
man Green, in opposing this idea,
took the ground that if the Judges
and other officers refused to abide
by this Constitution they should be
declared in open rebellion against
the Government. Suppose" asked
Mr.. Braxton of Judge Green, "that
Notwithstanding the conceded regu.
larity of the adoption and procla
nation of the new Constitution, the
Governor and the judiciary should
refuse to recognize it and put it in
force, what would you do about il?"
MIR. Green-"Well, sir, If / could
lind sufficient number of followers
L would arm them and drive the
scoundrels out of the State of Vir-
ginia." Continuing Mr.. Green said:
Il would hang them as high as
Gov. Wise hanged John Brown, sir.
They would be in as much rebellion
against the State of Virginia and
against Its sovereignty as John
Brown was in rebellion" The Con-
vention adopted the provisions re-
quiring the Governor, members of
the Supreme Court, Legislature and
all other officers to take oath under
the Constitution. All officers re-
fusing or failing to do so are to va
cate their Offices.
Judge Moncure, of Caroline, raises
a nice point in connection with the
oath required of all officials under
the new Constitution. He writes to
the Fredericksburg Free Lance as
follows: 'The Constitutional Con-
vention spent one week in discussing
the question of taking the oath of
office, and then decided to take no
oath, either to support the Constitu-
ton OF the United States or that of
Virginia, or to perform their duties
as members of the Convention honest
ly and to the best of their ability.
In other words they refused to take
an oath to give usa good Constitution,
or the best that they could, and vet
they have made Constitution for
us and said that we shall have it
whether we wish it or not, and every
office holder in. Virginia shall take
an oath to support that Constitution
whether he approves it or not. This
may be all right. Surely that Con-
vention must have been sovereign
indeed. 1t seems that it was the
most sovereign body that ever assem-
bled in Virginia or anywhere else in
the world"
THE NEW REGISTRATION.
The ordinance requires that the
registration shall take place prior to
October 18th of this year, but it may
begin at different times in the various
counties and cities, provided In no
place any board shall sit for more
than fifteen days, unless the time
shall be extended by the county or
corporation court. The per diem of
the members shall be So. Twenty
days notice shall be given of registra-
ton in each ward and district in the
State, and when a voter is denied
registration he has the right of an