Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-04-26
SATURDAY, APRIL 26. 1902.

The following letter of Senator
Daniel. under, date Of April 18th, APP
pears in a recent issue of the Rlch'
mond Dispatch:
have Just reached here from Rich
mond and have your favor lnqu'rlue
as to my position respecting the suo-
mission of the Constitution TO VeIe
of the people for ratification or re-
lection. 1t should. in my oplnlon'o e
submitted. This was the universal
EXPRESSION of Democratic opinion
prior to the calling of the Conven-
ton. and was one OF those VINO
made the distinct declaration OF favor
TO submission. The people took us al
our word and called the convention;
and we should keep our WORD, no"
that the work is done. AS TO wnat
neople the Constitution should be
submitted to is another questioh'
Roth the Act of Assembly, which re-
lates to the matter, and the platform
of the Norfolk Democratic Conven-
tiop. sneak Of 1.-The people" as the
nroper parties for the Constitution
TO be submitted to, using no manner
of qualification or umitaIloh' ne
call for the Convention was mace
by 1.-The people" without any quail
fication or limitation upon tneir
number or Characteristic that tney
were qualified voters, OF course Inc
submission back to them OF the Noh-
stitution which they elected the Con
yention to prepare, would be accord
ing to the natural and grammS teal
construction OF the pledges made by
the Norfolk Democratic platform
and by Democratic speakers every
where.
Nothing was said in the canvass
about proclaiming one part OF Tue
Constitution and submitting anothsr
part. The pledge of submission 10
the people'' was made as to tine
Constitution" and not as to part
of the Constitution; and performance
should be as broad and full as the
pledge.
There is much good in the new
Constitution, and l shall support l's
adoption, Notwithstanding the TACT
that l would prefer that some OF us
provisions were different from what
thew are. 1.-THE people" wanted the
Convention and called it. II they
want the new Convention they Will
adopt it. II they do not want 1t they
should not be compelled to accept IT,
Our contemporary in giving 1t to
the public INDUCES the hope, that
in the interest of full and free dis
cussion Of the momentous question
that the letter will be read By every
Virginia Democrat.
1t is given to our readers too be"
cause it is their right to have all the
light within their reach on the great
question. We submit, however, that
there is nothing very original or con-
vincing in the reasons Of Senator
Daniel for submission. Accepting as
correct the statement made by him,
that a pledge was made to submit
the new constitution to the people
for ratification or rejection, it is
equally true that it is their right to
waive that privilege. If believing, as
Senat Daniel does, that there is
enough good in the new Constitu-
ton to make them support its adop-
ton" they stultify themselves, il
they insist upon pledges being kept
which are absolutely certain to cause
its defeat.
If they wish it proclaimed there
can be no question that it is their
right so to instruct their representa-
tiyes in the convention and the sem
timent for proclaimiDg is becoming
so strong throughout the State there
seems to be no doubt that this meth
cd will be determined upon.