Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-02-24
Legislature of Virginia,
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
SATURDAY, FEB. 5.
CONVENTION.

con yENTI9N. :.
Mr. Colston, in parsuaace o. ING oue
ven bv him, called for the cGnsideFaton y ~
bill concerning a Convention. The Din oeihb
taken up, rua
Mr. Stuart moved to suspend the rule 81 Inc
House for the purpose of re-consldering the '"'e
ordering the bill TO be engrossed- II this mo-
ton prevailed. he said he should offer an a.
mendment. submitting three propositions to
the neople. on which they were to be asked
to vote. LIST Unlimited co,rennon I'd A con.
rention NTH certain limited and specified powers.
I'd No contention. Mr. S. remarked that, if
referencs be had to the votes OF the people
last snrino. il would be found hat a large por-
tion ot them were in favor of a limited conveh-
ton. If the bill passed in its present shape,
MANY of them would be reduced to the neces-
sity of voting against a convention. In thIsipre'
dicament. he said, were many OF the people
he represented II his proposition succeeded
the people would have an opportunity OF voting
on the subject, in the various forms whlea ne
bad epumerated-& it would then be known
what was the sentiment ofa majority. Butihe
did not think the bill presented the question to
the people in the properpoint OF view. IL was
under this impression that he made the present
motion.
MIR Watkins of G. opposed the motion. He
thought the enemies of convention had been
already sufficiently liberal 10 the friends OF the
measure, in giving them every opportunity OF
perfecting the details of the bill, The object OF
the member, he thought might be effected by
way of ryder.
The question was taken, and Mr. Stuart's mo.
ton negahivsd.
Sundry blanks in the bill were filed on mo.
tons made by Mr. Sexton.
Mr. Randolph of Alb. offered the following
ryder:
Be it further enacted. That the poll to be ia
ken as directed by this act, shall contain two
other columns, in addition to the two therein
trescribed-ona for the names OF those who
vote in the affirmative, and the other for the
names of those who vote in the negatives; which
two additional columns shall have the word mon
freehoiders' written at the head OF each, shove
the words .Conventon'-'yVo Coauenton;' and
Immediately below the words shat there be a
Convention to amend the Constitution Of his Com.
monweahh:?' aud it shall be the duty OF the She
riffs and other officers presiding at the polls, as
bv this act directed, to take the vote upon the
question aforesaid, of every free white male
citizen of this Commonwealth of full age, whe-
Their native or naturalized. who shall come for
ward to vote upon this occasion; provided the
neyson so coming forward to vote shall be
sworn. or shall prove himself to have had some
6xed Mace of residence for at least two years
nre v;ous to that time, in the county, city or
borough where the polls are held, at which he
offers to vote, besides being liable to taxation
and militia duty, it not exempt therefrom by
law. and the names Of all the said persons who
vote in the affirmative shall be" written m the
first column under the word Convention AND
the names of all those who vote in the negative
shall be written in the second column under the
bead No Conve ntion'-and the said Sherifs
- ah.ll hn habtA m the same
nenaltv for failure or refusal in any thing re-
ouisite to the polls hereby amended, as IN the
former case according to this act: and the SAID
on.freeholde shall be notified before open
inc the polls, or while giving their votes, that
in "a doing upon this occasion, they are seve-
raI,v understood to give their assent to the
or;nciole that upon the question of a ConSen'
ZION to amend the Constitution, no majority
~iess than three fftbs of the whole number oil
4,,es of freeholders and non-freehoiders added
together can safely be deemed sufficient tor a
decision,
Mr. Randolph remarked that every member
of the House must perceive the reason for OF
fering the ryder. Al the I'LL then stood, none
hut freehoiders we've permitted to vote. He
thought the non-freehoiders had an equal right
to vote with the freeholders. They had been
,,,is6ed heretofore with the idea OF being var.
tuslly represented But the bill abandoned
that doctrine altogether. and excluded them
even from a virtual representation
Mr. Watkins OF G. had thought that the
friends of the measure had perfected the bill
sufficiently for their object. But when the
House expected they we're 10 consider one
subject, they were called on to consider ano-
lher; aud he presumed the gentleman iroM Au-
gusta (Mr STUART would offer another ryder
Where, he asked. were these ryders, these
new propositions to endl With the view OF
Stopping TINS course CT procedure, and to save