Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-06-21
TIE NEW CONSTITUTION.

Mr.. James r. CstoD, delegate from
this city sud county 10 the Legislature,
has sent out the f. lowing circular
letter to members of the House ,sod
Sensts which explains Itself;
Dear Sir--The cons ti!utional conven
ton having pJa, ticsIiy completed its
lsbors and the proclamation of the In
strameDt decided upon. am advised
by the pewsDspeIs that the schedule
provides for C)DveUing the General
Assembly 90 July 18th, that the mem
bers OF the latter BODY may De sworn
to support the new constitution aud TO
accept 1t as the fundamental law for the
government OF our people, until
amended. The situation to my mind
is one OF no smsll import, and de-
maDds our mos ebrDest consideration.
NV honest con nviotiops ale against the
power OF the convention, under the
clrcumttinces which brought them
together and the existing conditions,
to proclaim the instrument, and after
careful study OF tae question and the
examination of precedebtj and auth
oritles, feel fully supported in my
Judgment. / am anxious, however, to
ascertain the views OF some OF my COL
leagues in the House, ss well ss some
OF the members OF the Senate, and
ID obtain from them s)me express
sion in the premises not for publ'cs'
tioD, but merely for the purpose OF
comparing nttss and getting the
sentimeLt Is OF the General Assembly.
Ia this communication ! am prompted, 4,
in measure, by publicstions
outlined 10 some of the newspapers.
that the seI tment OF the General As-
sembly was in favor OF proclamation,
With expressions heard by me during
the lest session. Personally, feel that
the instrument should have been SUBJ
mitted 10 the people for their ratifiOe
tioD or rejection, and that It's proclama-
ton is setting precedent which may
come back to plague us iu years to
come. If representative body, W tn
out first being clothed with power to
do 80 by the expressed will OF tae peo-
ple, can make and proclaim q cons.itn-
ton for them and enforce Its accept
snoe by the constituted government
under the penalty that all executive,
judicial and ministerial offices shall be
vscs ted, it would seem that our idea Of
a government by the people Is but a
fiction, and thst their most sacred
rights may be wrestsd from them, and
they without any pesceful remedy 10
the premises. l shall be glad to have
your We've as to the legal efieot oi
the proclamation OF tne new conttjtu'
tion, and what seems to you to be the
duty of the General Assembly under
she circumstances.
M. Cation hes received q number o.
replies, most OF which are unfavorsblt
to his ideas, among them the following
my Dear Sir,-Your valued letter ot
the 14th instant came day or two ego
and would have answered it at once
with my back up, but l happened tC
remember o hint tbst was thrown out
day or two before the convention ed
journed by one OF its most earnest mem
oeIs, about hanging some very CUES
tionable characters, who had assumed
to represent the dear people, and tha
reminder hss made me little caution
ss l was once told by my old coIoret
nurse that was sure to be hung, as
had q mole on my neck; and, SUR
enough, that mole is still there, and
have 10 be careful and not run an.
chance OF having 1t bruised. Some o
you fellows are running an awful risf
| talking as you are. What are yo'
thinking about; havsn't you got an.
affection for your families? Haven
you got any cbildsen ct home that vii
care after you are Strung up? Don
| your neighbors care anything about yo'
thst they allow you to 90 on as you ar
doing without any warning? DidD'
| you hear about the advance In rope
Now what does all that mean. Well
means that the convention mean
businers, airy Observation-Disclosures the
don't rest on anything but stroD
rope. You needh't think that you Ca
hide under that long, bill Tor the relic
OF Confederate soldiers. Some of tber
have already picked you out for thei
special meat. especially those who hs
their arms taken of by q thresbing ms
chine, and they are just hsnkering aftt
q chance to lift you about seven iet
above terra firms. OF course, you me
feel that those who Were fortunate
have bullets In them will be you
friends, but there are 30 few OF the'
left that they DONE count when tn
great army gets after you. And If 20
don't care anything for yourself 90
haven't got any friends. you ought
be sorry for rs who have. Now, no
would you like to see our ample speai
or dangling TO the end OF about sevs
feet OF hemp, with WIthers sr
about @ dozen convention fellow
| pulliog on the other eDd2 1t 10
makes my flesh crawl to think OF
| No. cir, we have just got to walk up
the captains Office and settle, no fl
lunch this time; settle right up, and
growing about it. Haven't you beal
about the Richmond Office fellows; th'
are ell running to take the oath, pus
ing by each ether. learn that th'
like it 90 we'll that they want to take
again as soon as we meet and gi'
tnem chance. Although they toe
their dose befo re 1t was ripe, they 81
" aont grip bit, and they ere no