Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-07-07
VIOLATED PLEDGES.

one of the trainers of the constitution
to vote for submission of that instru-
ment to the people for ratification or
rejection. His party, in convention as
sembled at Norfolk, had made posi-
tive pledge that it should be submitted
to the popular vote; and Mr.. Stuart as
a candidate for membership in the con-
vention not only re-affirmed his party
pledge but made personal pledges to
vote for submission. He also accepted
membership in the Constitutional Con-
vention under the provisions of the Act
of the General Assembly which contain
ed mandate for submission. So. in
voting for proclamation of the Consti-
tuition, Mr.. Stuart violated the pledge
of his party, his repeated personal
pledges and the statute laws which call
ed him into existence as a member of
the convention.
In justification of his gross infidelity
as public servant and the wanton usur-
patton of the sovereignty which is
lodged in the people, a plea is offered
that Mr.. Stuart was released from every
pledge and all obligation to respect pre-
cedent, fundamentals and constitutional
and statute law. How was he released?
On this same page, in another column,
we publish an article which appeared in
the Lebanon News of May 10th, 1902.
1t gives a synopsis of the speech deliv-
cred by Mr.. Stuart to a Democratic
mass meeting, which requested him to
vote for proclamation of the constitu-
ton.
That this meeting was procured and
held for the purpose of giving Mr. Stu
art some excuse for his already appa-
rent purpose of voting for proclamation
is very evident. But in his speech at
the meeting he very carefully avoided
any reference to the question of procla-
nation, with the purpose, no doubt, of
making it appear that the resolutions
were offered without his knowledge or
procurement. And the call for the
meeting was deceptive. In the Leba-
non News of May 2, 1902, the following
notice appeared:
Hon. H. C. Stuart will address the
citizens of Russell at the court house on
Tuesday, the 9Th day of May, 1902,
court day. on the new constitution
Let everyone come out to hear him.
There is no notice given in the above
of any intention to have the meeting
act upon the question of proclamation.
That it was intended to mislead the peo-
pie and conceal the real object of the
meeting is further evidenced by two ed
itorial paragraphs that appeared in the
Lebanon News on the 2nd of Nav, in
the same issue that the call to hear
Stuart speak was published. They are
as follows:
During long and eventful career
the Democratic party has established an
untarnished record as being faithful in
fulfilling its promises. This record it
cannot afford to sully at this time In
reference to the question of submitting
the new constitution, its duty is plain
There is but one course for it to pursue
do what it promised"
''All governmental power comes, or
should come, direct from the people.
The members of the Constitutional Con-
vention were not delegated to frame
document and proclaim it to be the or
ganic law of the land. 1t was distinctly,
clearly and Internationally understood
that the result of their labors could be-
come effective only by the solemn seal
and endorsement of the sovereign peo-
pie through the ballot box. The idea
of proclamation is in direct opposition
to every tenet of Democracy"
The Lebanon News at that time was
the recognized organ of the Democracy
in Russell county, and the chosen ex-
ponent of Mr.. Stuart's political opin-
IONS Yet, few days after the publica-
ton of the above paragraphs, Mr..
Stuart permitted small gathering of
his personal and political adherents to
relieve him from the binding effect of
the promises of his party, of his earnest
pledges, and the mandate of the laws
that authorized him to sit as member
of the constitutional convention. He
quickly asseDted to tarnish Fan unfair |