Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-11-02
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS
Pro Bono Publico Argues Against
Their Adoption

tional amendment for the relief of
county treasurers and commission
ers OF the revenue.
The first reason we shall assign
for our opposition TO this amend
ment is that it proposes TO destroy a
part OF the constitution of our State.
The constitution is our organic law,
and should be treated in all law
making with the utmost respect. 1t
took the last Constitutional Conven-
ton VI Virginia nearly two years to
frame the present constitution of the
State. Besides costing the State a.
the way to one hundred thousand
dollars in money, and now notwith.
standing this vast expenditure of
time and money, and although eight
years have elapsed since the adop-
ton OF the constitution, the Legisla-
ture that adjourned last spring have
submitted to the people four differ
ent amendments, the effect of which,
if adopted, will be to increase the
power of the office-holding class OF
people and thereby to that extent
destroy the liberty OF the voter.
The members of the convention
never dreamed that their work was
to be treated in this frivolous imaH-
ner.
The vicious proposition to strike
out" certain parts of the constitu-
ton of Virginia is Of itself presump-
tuous; compare, for instance, the IF
teen amendments of the constitution
Of the United States: not one OF
these amendments in any way de-
tracts or takes awsy from the origi-
nal instrument.
In the second place we oppose the
amendment because the idea OF
amending the constitution in this
respect did not originate with the
people who were anxious for the
public good, but did originate with
the officeholders who are only anx-
ious TO so frame the law as to con-
tinue their lease of power. Your
writer therefore submits it, whether
it would be wise to vote away the
solemn and organic law Of our State
which has been made for protecting
the liberty of the voter, simply to
benefit few designing men no are
only concerned about their immedi-
ate welfarel A good. or evil. law
always comes from the spirit with
which it was enacted. Your writer
will ask your readers TO think OF the
great democratic principle of rota-
ton in public Office. Mr.. Jeffer-
son wrote 1t, and William ]. Bryan
has preached it, that the only safe
rule in a republican form of govern
ment is in rotation OF public Office.
Human nature is the same now as
it was in the days OF Jefferson; he
was twice President of the United
States, and the best legacy he
left to the people of our coun-
try is that the strongest check the
people could put upon the office
holding class was frequent re-
currence to the people for the Office.
Back to the people" were his
words Of admonition.
The peculiar relation that the
county treas lrer and the commits
sioner of the revenue bear to the
people at large gives them power
over the voter that no other candi-
date for Office opposing them can pos
sibly have, and knowledge OF this
} fact is the reason the members OF the
Constitutional Convention so wisely
put the restriction q the constitution
that operates as bar to their sue.
cessiOn. And if we now pull down
the bars, and unwittingly remove
} the restriction, cannot we foreset
what the future Legislatures of Vir.
ginia will do? Our constitution
was adopted in the year Of 1909, sud
! the way it now stands the coun ty
treasurer is elected for four years
and can hold his Office for two con
secutive terms. but no longer
hence It. is necessary at this time
to change the constitution IL
IN oil t4t-