The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-27

! course. Mr.. fuller and others NAV take
| a different view. but IT is just here tina
/ the Congress must use its discretion;
, and IL II agrees with my position, IL
| would not call a convention and as
that would be n question purely within
the province of Congress 70 decide. its
! determination could not be reviewed
| by any court
| Again. when Congress comes TO CON
sider this very grave question. II Will
! proe5b bly, take the view that article V.
mad in contemplation that two-thirds
! of the States should at. or about the
same time concur in asking a conyen-
| ton.
1t appears from Mr. Tuller's article
that III this case the applications of
tWenty-eight States have been made
within the period of eleven years.
suppose now. change takes place
In public opinion. that this matter of
election of Senators is dropped. and
| twenty or thirty or nifty or o, hun
dred years hence an agitation is car.
RED on for constitutional amendment
20 prohibit polygamy. Three more
states ask for convention to propose
an amendment for that purpose Would
Congress be obliged to add those three
10 the twenty-eight. and decide that
the requisite number of two thirds had
applied? Is not this another aues-
discretion?
Suppose again. that some Of the
twenty eight States. gaining more Light
UPON the great potentialities of n con-
Ventlon, should adopt resolutions re-
scinding those formerly passed Would
II not be necessary for CONGRESS TO ey
ercise some discretion in determine
whether or not, TO count the resembling
states. amongst the number who have
applied
If 1T be true that twenty.e,gbt
States have at different times
and in different forms. applied to
congress 10 call a convention. is IT
not the duty of Congress TO leg,slate
upon this subject? 1t should mass a
law. stating plainly. arst. IN what
FORM an application should be made BY
a state second. In order TO be sure
that two thirds of the States do COW
cur in desiring a convention viii,
now many years the requisite number
shail pass their resolutions. and send
them to such officials a S NAV be desir
mated to receive them: third whether
II State has made It's application. {,
may be withdrawn before the period
tor resolving the application shall
elapse.
A similar law should be passed. pro-
Viding for the ratification of amend
ments proposed by Congress 1t seems
20 be thought now. that II three
fourths OF the States shall rat.t,. tho
pending amendment concerning an in
come tax. at any time during the next
thousand years II will become part
OF the Constitution
1t is most respectfully submitted tina,
ms ought not to be. II It be. the law
me states should be required TO give
their approval within some definite
time, and during that time any State
should be allowed TO reconsider the
subject, and withdraw its assent.
The assembling of conventions TO
change the Constitution. and the rati-
hcation by the States OF amendments
proposed by the Congress, arc subjects
OF too much Importance to be left in
their present loose and uncertain con-
dition
In conclusion I wish It to be under
stood that I am not advocating anv
action on the part of a convention. bv
which the provisions of our existing
Constitution may he set aside. but
merely expressing my opinion. as 10
what might be done by a convention
convoked for the purpose of amending
the Constitution.