Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-10-17

superlors, rather than the servants of
the people. And then and there Gener-
al Ayers and his democratic associates
determined that they would usurp SOW
ereignty, make partisan, dishonest in
strument and proclaim it to be the or
ganic law of Virginia. They stood bold
ly to another assertion made by Colonel
Cameron in his speech, to-wit:
has sny power on earth, prece-
dent or present. the power to de-
clare how we shall use that portion
OF sovereignty Of Virginia which
has passed to us?'
Was not this violent encroachment
upon the rights Of the people? Yea,
was 1t not criminal usurpation of the
rights of sovereign people of Virginia?
There is another question or attribute
of American citizenship. upon which
General Ayers and his party in Virginia
have record that is not in accord with
his present claim that the democratic
party, throughout all its history has
steadfastly resisted all encroachment
upon the rights of the people. We re-
fer to the suffrage question.
At an early period of the first session
of the constitutional convention, G-ner-
al Ayers made a lengthy speech upon
the report Of the Committee on Pre-
Rmble ard Bill Of Rights, and an amend
mont offered by Mr.. Wyso-, Of Pulaski.
80 the concluding paragraph Of tn pr.
ambie. That amendment as offered by
Mr.. Visor was as follows:
I'VE, therefore, their delegates
so elected ard in convention assem-
bled, do propose to the good people
Of Virgiuia the following revised
and amended constitution as the
form of government for this Com
monwealth."
The chief aim Of General Ayess in his
very lengthy remarks. apparently, was
TO defeat the amendment offered by
Mr.. Wysor. This amendment was d.
rected to submitting the new constitu.
ton to the people. General Ayers hay-
ing already voted himself and his demo-
cratic associate members as superior-
and masters; and having usurped the
sovereignty which rests ever and al
ways with the people, they being the
source of all power, indicated his Dur
pose to vote for the proclamation of the
constitution. He afterwards so voted.
and defantly violated his pledge as p
candidate, the pledge made by his party
for submission, and the mandate Of the
Act of the General Assembly which au-
thorized his election as a member of the
convention. Was this not a violent en-
croachment upon the rights of the peo-
pie; and violation of the fundamental
principles underlying the making of all
constitutions?
In this same speech General Ayers
gave expression to very conservative
views on the suffrage and registration
questions. We quote from that speech
the following:
LAS it is, Mr.. Chairman, in q per-
fectly constitutional manner, not In
violation of the Constitution Of the
United States, not denying to any
man the elective franchise on ac-
count of race, color or previous con-
dition of servitude, am in favor of
restricting the negro vote.
81 would, Mr.. Chairman, grant to
all persons of fair character. who
understand the duties and obliga-
tions of citizenship under a repubi-
can form of government the right
to vote. would not create any re-
quirement in the form Of a prepay
ment of capitation tax, a property
qualification, or educational qualif- {
cation, but would provide that a
council be elected, in the first inst
ence by this convention, to consist
OF three members from each maeis-
terial district in each county in the c
State, one of whom at least should O