Year: 1871


they will find him lion in their path at
every turn, no matter how devious may
be their ways.


The Game of the Heather Chinee--
Twenty.four Aces In One Sleeve.


We have before us a bill reported by the
Judiciary Committee Of the House of
Delegates, TO provide for submitting to
popular vote the question Of holding Con-
venlion to frame a new constitution, and
iithe proposition for Convention should
carry, to provide for tho election of dele
gates, 1t proposes that the question of a
Convention shall be submitted an the
fourth Thursday Of May. The Governor
is appoint three Commissioners for each
county, who arc to snperintend the elec
tion in the county, These Commissioners
are TO appoint three persons at each voting
place in the county to judge and conduct
the election. All of whom take an oath
to support the Constitution Of the United
States and of the State. Noperson offer
ing to vote Is to be icd,unless, upon
challenge at the polls, 1t shall be made to
appear that he is minor, or pauper, or Of
unsound mind, or under convection Of
treason, felony or bribery in an election,
or that he has not been Il resident of the
State one year and OF the county thirty
days; or unless written charges of some
specific act or acts of disqualification veri
fled by the written affidavit OF some quail.
fed voter shall be preferred; nor
then unless the charge shall be
clearly established by the oathS OF
two competent witnesses to each overt
act; and the person offering to vote shall
not, on oath or otherwise be required to
criminate himself. The returns are to be
made to the county commissioners; who
certify them TO the Governor. who counts
the vote and makes proclamation Of it.


II the proposition TO hold convention
carries, then month alter the Governor
proclaims that TACT, IN election Is 10 De
held for delegates, Of whom there are to
be five from each Senatorial district, with
out Limitation as TO what counties OF the
district they shall DO residents OIL Ihis





election Is to DC held by the same Officers
aslhe first The Votlns AT each Is 10 DC
by ballot, as that mode Is expressly pre-
scrlbed in tile constitution


The reader Will observe 'hat thlS
scheme carries us right back to lSOl' IL
lsOld Virginia over again. IL taxes Tue
holding OF these elections entirely Out OIL
the hands oi tho election officers chosen
by the people, and puts IT. wholly IN the
hands of the Executive 1t has been n
matter ot indignant protest win
our Democratic friends hitherto that the
registry law snbordinated the individual
rights Of the citizen to the will Of the Ex-
ecutive, because the latter appointed the
commission in each county who examined
and decided upon the qualifications of
the voter under the law. And It was not
tobe denied that there was some reason
for the complaint But here is a scheme
under which the executive will appoint
not only the officers who examine and
pass upop the qualification Of the voter,
bu, who conduct the taking of tho votes,
the record of them, the return of them to
the court house the counting of them
there md the certificate of them TO the Gov.
ernor. WIN In turn makes the final count
and announces the result The inspectors
ndsupervisors chosen by the people to
represen, them md protect their rights in
elections are ignored altogether; and three
men or Gov JAcon's appointment will
have the election In the county wholly in
their hands from first to last, without any
other authority or warrant than the Ex.
ecu,iye will


Now We desire To submit to the voters
of this State, in all candor, If there is not
a sort orclosc corporation flavor about this
that smells of contemplated iraudg Ev-
erybody will vote who chooses. Ii the
amendment Is ratified beforehand, rs
we hope 1t may be, there would
be only tho ordinary restrictions on
suffrage. hut the old yirrinin nlan