Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-07-07
Mr.. STUART SPEAKS.
The New Constitution the Theme---ReSolu-
lions Adopted FaNTing Proclamation
of The Constitution,

VI ihS OVhSutuuVllI
Hon. Henry c. Stuart, Russell's able
and efficient representative in the Con-
stitutional Convention of Virginia,
spoke at the court house on Tuesday of
last court to large and appreciate au-
dience, having for the subject of his
discourse the new constitution framed
by the convention of which he is q men,
Der.
This is the first time that Mr.. Stuart
has appeared on the rostrum in the role
of public speaker, but ne showed him
self to be equal to the occasion in every
particular, and gratified his friends by
the able manner in which he handled
his subject. His speech was clear and
forcible, earnest and honest. He de-
clared the constitution which the
the convention has framed, 10
be a great Improvement on the
present one in many particulars,
and demonstrated it by the facts and
figures. He referred to the fact that
the cost of tire convention, which he
said would amount to about S1OO, 900.
had been complained of, when, he said,
the convention had saved to the people
the sum of $3.50, 600 per year.
In the matter of taxation and finance.
he showed that the convention had made
the subject of taxation many million
dollars worth of property which hereto
fore has been untaxed
He referred to the fact, that in his
letter of acceptance, he stated he would
do all in his power to take the public
free school system of Virginia out of
politics, and said: 81 contend that we
! have done it" He then showed how
that the Board of Education, under the
new constitution would be composed
largely of the best educators of the
State-men who could not be politicians
If they wanted to, and who could have
no reason to want to.
The suffrage question, he said, was a
grave and an intricate one, and the man
who thought he could solve it before
breakfast was badly mistaken. On this
question, the convention, on assembling,
found itself composed of the represen-
tatives of two great divisions of the
State-the one composed almost wholly
of the Anglo-Saxon, the other threat
ened with negro domination.
"A medicine that would cure the sick
man would kill the we'll man. and as
both must have the same prescription
the question was, to the sick man how
weak will it cure you, and to the well
man how strong can you stand it." Con-
fronted, he said, with these conditions.
and with the Fifteenth Amendment
staring them in the face, the suffrage
plan adopted was necessarily one Of
concession and compromise. He de-
clared, however, that it would be effec-
tive, and that under its provisions.
which he fully explained, NO WHITE
MAN WOULD BE DISFRANCHISED.
He paid high tribute to the old Con-
federate soldier, and said that under
the suffrage plan adopted by the con-
vention, nothing would be between him
and the ballot box; he could 90 to the
polls and cast his ballot for the man or
measure of his choice, and none dared
to ask of him if he was the owner of
property, or if he could read or write:
to him who had barred his breast in de-
tense of his country, the ballot was
free. This, he said, also extended to
the son of the old soldier. Not alone
to the father, but to the son, is the mil
itary record OF the sire a guarantee of
the right to vote under the provisions
of the new constitution" He explain
ed the understanding clause, and de-
clared that any white man who could
register under the old law as it is TODAY
can register under the now constitution.
and with characteristic earnestness he
said: eff HE FAILS TO REGISTER
WANT HIM TO COME TO NE AND
TELL ME THE REASON WHY" He
discussed all the features of the new
constitution in detail, and explained it
to the satisfaction of all who heard him.
After the speech, resolutions were
adopted commencing the course of Mr..
Stuart as a member of the convention.
requesting him to vote for the procla-
nation of the constitution.
from Lebanon News of May 16, 1902.