Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-11

YESTERDAY, the House of DeIsoates ware
occupied considerable time, on f,e tl,;rI
reading of the bill for authorizing a corooan,,
to be created for digging canal on the South
slue OF James "iVerta canal at Manchester
J he debate was long, and maintained iii,
eNtrem" inConuity-The friends of fae Hi
resisting upon the eXpediencv of the rneas,,r,
ana deriving any Interference with the
vested rights OF the James River Com ,ar,,
which uieyalso coutended had failed in flis'
charging rs duty 20 the public and had snh-
Stanua,ly forfeited its charter. The oDpnnen.s
81 the blil enlarged upon the consequences IL
was calculated 10 have in dainpi-,r the M
scent spirit OF internal improvement-,rLev
resisted TIE bill, both ON the score Of princinle
and eNpediency: and commended flat IL no
company had omitted to do any thing, which
amounted 20 forfeiture offs charter. II was
not the province of the Legislature TO decide
the question, or to act without a previous DO
cision from a judicial tribunal Among lie
opponents of the bill. were MesSrs Smyth (of
NYthe.l Mercer tot - Steenbergen Black
bnrR Robertson fof Z ) and Doddrid9e -Fcr
strong, condensed and argnmentatiye views
the speech Of Mr.. Smytl: and for clear CON
sttutional doctrine on The question of char
tcrs, the speech of Mr. DOddridgc are nor
inferior TO any which we have heard durine
the present argumentative session.-'Tbe oues,
ton was finally taken. by ayes and noes on
the passage Of the billiard the bin was ra
Jected-ayes 60, noes GG.
The Convention Bill-not vet TAX en- w, in the
Senate-The Select Committee In whom if was
referred, have reported. by way ofaurcnt nent
almost entirely new bill he feature of.linr'
tied Convention still recognised The FIJI
lowing (tbe Sth seciion) viii speak for itself
BE IL further eHdcted, Tia, The said Couyen.
ton thus organized, shall nave full mower and
authority TO amend the Constitution Of The
State, BY reforming the representation i'm The
House of Delegates aud the Senate. so as TO
give and preserve, as far as practicable, 10 the
people of every part of the Commonwealth
their Just and proper shr+e Of political power
in each Branch OF the Legislature: and so 10
amend the said Constitution, as 10 provide spch
general regulations as may be necessary and
proper for securing ut all times 10 the pcoDle
of every part Of the Commonwe altll, as far as
practicable, an exemption from any undue nro-
portion of the burn en- ofpubic taxes: pyor;
dcd, horercr, That the powers hereby given TO
the said Convention, shall not be 80 consumed
as to authorize any change in lie RIGHT Of suE
irage, in the election of members of either
House Ofthe General Assembly, as uo,y rerul,
ted ty the Con Stitution, or any increase or di
minution OF the number Of Senators now re-
qurcdby the Constitution, or any increase
or diminution Of the period Of service
either OF the Delegates or Senators in the Gem
eral Assembly; save only such occasional di,uj
mutton Of the period of service ofthe Senators
Us slaN be found con fi.i. Mt, tOr euuazur tile
representation in the Senate, from time to
time.
The Substitute has been printed and will
psObabl. be taken up, this day, im the Senate.