Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-06
VIRGzwEA LEGasEATURH.

u
jEhae the Convention Bill ,c0s unde, discus-
SION Mr.. .i0crae of Prince Ii'iUian, sub
sItfed the tOilOiCing remarks pendip! the
'oaSide, alton Of al. UpshW'S Gmendme5its
>Hr .uacrae moved 10 strike out the Isl seq
ton oi the proposed amendments. In doing so
ie did not propose 10 make a question a. 10 their
merits, but 10 test the OF the House in re-
ference 10 the mode in which the gentleman f,om
Northampton sought 10 attain lis o',jec. Ills
mode was developed in the la section OF the a
nendments which prescribed by anticipation the
81 N OF calling and organizing he Convention to
ahead Ike constitu ion of the state Against such
prescription .Nr. III. solemnly protested however
wise and desirable might be the Object. at whicl
tie gentleman aimed. They annexed a condition,
Upon legislative sanction, to the free exercise OF
tde peoples sovereignty, which usurpation
up ~ cons tltonal right, aud a violation OF the
iIndame tai ard, therefore, imEuiabie PRINCIPLES
%. repubicanisr. lie had ked with deep so-
iie!;ude the progress Of oiinion pending the dis-
cusson OF these ancIdmen :, lad anticipated with
Hiia The resllt OF tsei adoption, in he alternative
o rejection Of The prayer vi the people, or
Nha: lie deemed infinitely worse, dictatoTal res
ponse 10 their call. He feared, from intimaions
which he had received, that these amendments
NO III o5;ain the support OF so many friends of
the o.iginal L as would. In unison with lis enc
s,ies, secure their adoption. lie was sure. that
slou!d they prevail, large maturity of tie friends
o! the bh. would vo'e against i; on priuciple: it,
jsclion wcu.d follow a matter OF cou9se. 4
p!sn hid suggested itself to his mind, which he
Thought woild at accomplish the object
sought by The gentleman from Northampton, and
remove The objections which he aud others ,n'er-
tanned 10 the niOde OF lis attainment. That
p!aI he had reduced to writing ia the form OF an
amendment, the paper which he held ia his
hand: this he would read in his place by way Of
argument against the adoption OF The amend.
nenl. II purpose in moving to strike out the
IS, section, OF the amendments to eGLeavour
to unite The friends and foes of the bill, as lst
pfiac e might operate 10 Influence the votes
o. ether party vixen the question should be taken
upon the passage OF the Ill. lie disclaiJned, for
himself, tue impuiation of any motive in the slight
est degree improper, or un!r!end!y 10 the bill on
the part of the gentleman from Northampton, in
the proposal Of his amendments On the contrary
he approved the object wbich that gentleman had
n view, for i; would be found that his Nil MAG
rae's) plan embraced most Of the pro visions con-
'ained IN those amsndmenis.' And should his
motion TO sgrke out the lst section prevail, he
y oIld then move re-commiimeDt OF the bill 10
Committee Of the whole house, 10 be made The Or
der oi some future day, when he should offer the
amendment which he about TO read. lie did
not propose to argue The objectionable principles
contained IN the PROPOSITION OF the gentleman from
Northampton. These had already been ably and
amply discussed He left tie suggestion present
ed by his own plan to its operation upon the good
sense of the House --.Mr. ~. then read the fol-
lowing,
Amendment 10 The first section OF the bill "con-
corning Convention" Strike cut the first section
Of the bill and insert lieu thereof the following
new section:
I" Section /. Be 1t, therefore, enacted, That
shall be the duty of the several sherfs and other
officers authorised TO conduct elections within tbiz
commonwea lib, at the times and places OF holding
iheir respective elections for delegates TO the Ge.
neral Assembly, in a pril next 10 open two sep
arsie polls, for the purpose Of taking the
0l the people upon the question:, whether they
desire Convention, or not, and the other upon tie
question whether, should it be asceraineJ here
insl er provided, thu they desire Convention,
they will adopt The following plan Of calling and
Organizing the same, VIZ
Il. The Convention to be called for The pur-
pose OF proposing amendments to The Constitu-
ton Of Virginia, shall consist Of delegates
from in ibis state.
- H. The election Or delegates 10 the said Con-
vention shall be held at the Courhou-es, or other
places OF holding elections for delegates 20 the
General .sepbly, in The several counties and
cJrPoraiiohs on iIeir respective court days ~ the
noah Of next and shall be conducted by
the sherias and other officers who authorised
aad required 70 hold ard conduct elections for
msmbets OF Zoe Gencfsl Assembly. TbO,e persons
ohly shall be permitted TO vote At the said elections
% delegate 90 the Cow ent!on who shall be emit
tied under existing laws 10 vote for delegates 10
the General Assembly, ct ilie place where such
election is held. The elections shall be conducted
"a the manner prescribed Tor the election Of dele
gates 10 The General Assembly, 20 lar the same
sasil be appliesbls @ such elections. When The
elections Tor the seveial shall be completed
the sheriff, or other officer conducting the same,
shall deliver 70 the delegate elected certificate
thereof, and shall transmit 10 the Executive, 10 be
lid before the Conventions duplicate Of such cer-
iiicsta.