The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-30

den was t1pon them to do this, and he
would insist that they produce their au-S
thorities. Mr.. Meredith contended that
the province Of a convention. more per-
haps than anything else, was to limit
and to restrict the Legislature in It's ac-
tons, and yet it was contended here that
the very opposite to this was true.
If there was any limit which could be
placed upon the powers Of the corven-
ton it must come from the people and
not from the Legislature. The people
unquestiona bly, had this power, but tt
must be expressed BY the people clearly
to the convention.
He said the convention undoubtedly
came here with the power to proclaim
and that the burden vas upon the other
side to show that that power had been
restricted.
Mr.. Mredith hero took up precedent az
ter precedent coming down. he said, from
the very time Of che birth Of constitu-
tional liberty to sustain his contention
as to the power Of the convention to pro-
claim, and said he proposed to stand with
the fathers rather than with modern
text-writers on the subject.
LEGAL ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Reredith's argument was largely
a legal one and was especially interest
Ing to the lawyers of the body. but nard-
1y single one of the great audience left
the hail while he spoke.
M Meredith read long list OF South
ern conventions; including enc in Della
ware, that had proclaimed their work.
and said he preferred to take these as
his guides for action rather than the
views of some modern text-writers that
had been cited Mr.. Blair asked Mr.
Meredith If he contended that the con-
vent.on could pass g. secession ordinance
ana proclaim, Quick as q fash MIR. Mer-
edith fcored the uuestioner by replying:
..You will have to ask my little boy such
O. question as that; have not the time to
answer 1t.
There was no perroation constructed
out of flowry language in Mr.. Merediths
great speech, but he closed as he begun.
piling reason upon reason why the body
had within 1t the clear and unduestioned
right to proclaim its work, his contention
in the main having been that the con.
vention assembled, clothed with the great
natural right to proclaim, and that that
rouid onlv be abridged or restricted by
the voice Of the people themselves. clear
w and Enthusiastically expressed.
RECESS TAKEN.
He was frequently interrupted by
Nfessrs. Thorn. r. Walton Moore and q
other s,lbmissionists. but he answeredl
them all inteligentW and eoarteousis
as he always does.
Mr. Meredith concluded his remarks
at o'clock with an earnest appeal TO
his colleagues to meet the emergency Oh
the hour boldly and fearlessly. by H1t.
| Ing iip their people from the throes c1
| fraud and moral degradation. and the
great audience broke into ut OF ap-
| plause, and the speaker was wasmis con-
graduated by his colleagues;
Mr. Flood offered n resolution changing
| the order of taking the vote. 50 as to
| first decide whether or not the Constltu-
| tion should be submitted to any electorate
and so on till all the propositions had
| been disposed of.
Mr.. Keezell presented one providing
| fhat lipon roil-call the members Should
rise and STATE their preference. and the
weakest proposition should b. dropped
ann "a on. Tie body at O'Clock took
recess until O'Clock
Afternoon Session.
rts afternoon session was called to or
| der at d o'clock BY President Goode, and
| Mr. Thom. of Norfolk, was recognized
| IA sneak for submission to the present
electorate
He made profound acknowledgment TO
his colleagues for the extension Oh tiIle
In order to allow him to speak, ana tiieii
he commenced his powerful argument
amid an absolute stiffness on the moor.
There were a great many proiiiii'eitl
visitors the uOOls oliiChS
;ne sneaker John F. Ryan, of Loudoun
and Senator w. 3: Mcll"aiiie' u ''ie
city of Petersburg:
Mr.. Thorn took issue with Mr.. Mere
dith in the very outset on the question:
of the powers Of the convention regard .
less of legislative restriction. anu sala II
the convention had a right 70 put
Constitution upon the people without 'ne
iatters approval; 1t had an eauai fisht
to uproot the very cornerstoaes OK Tree
government.
THE sneaker said he would accept no
do,,btful commission to put ne" gov
eminent upon the people Of his state
TIC sold that it was inconsistent for gen
t1eman to contend that the people should
alect all their officers ana then deny
thsn, the right to vote upon the very
organic law of the State
AENTs OF THE PEOPLE.
Ha denied that the people were assem-
bled in the convention, and argued thae
the members were but agents g .ne
neon,e. sent hither to exercise limited
and restricted powers conferred upon
them by the people:
ua DECLARED that the whole history OF
Virginia: as well as the trend of opiri-
| ion among tho BEST text writer's or the
| land was in support of his view.
Mr. Thorn contended that the people
could do anything III. the way Of amend.
/ ment of the Constitution they might
please to do. notwithstanding the pre-
scribed methods laid down in the Con
stitution; and this contention vas com
batted briefly BY Messrs. Glass and Mere
dlth; who Interrupted the speaker with
questions on the subject. His speech
ana that Of Mr. Meredith wer wide apart
AZ to the relative powers Of the conver-
ton and the Legislature. as indeed they
were on all other points at issue.
Mr.. Thorn proceeding. argued very
ably that the words revise and amend
did not mean the making Of consti-
tuition; but the proposing Of one to the
people, through the Legislature, for rat
ihcation or rejection. He claimed that
precedents set by two great conventions
iii Virginia could be relied upon for. h.s
contention. and he cited them to the
convention.
MORAL ASPECT.
Passing from the lega. to the mora
aspect Of tie case Mr.. Thorn commended
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