Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-19

result In part, and hasten the disposal OF the other ques.
ions that thc COMMITTEES should rise and report tho rst
resolution oil the Legislative Comm. 10 tho Horse
nouncing IL to behis intention suhss auently that
the whole Of the residue Of the business be turned
to small Select COMMITTEES. be chosen by the Con-
venton from ITS most moderate and influential members,
who should be charged with the duty Of reporting the
draft Of Constitution With this under standing, he
moved that the Committee rise
Mr. Leigh opposed the object Of Mr. FITzHUGH
likely to lead TO repetition Of all the difficulties already
ie and in the end to produce greater delay than the
Mr.. DoDpRIDcr concurred in these views; but was
in favor OF the Committees rising reporting the
resolution, that its fate be decided in Conv
And the subject frepr sentaon being disposed
ii might guild, the Convention in the rest Of
their discussions He could not fix upon hi. course
as to the right OF suffrage till he knew what to be
done as to the basis OF presentation,
Mr.. LEIGH opposed the motion 10 riso, and wished
the Committee TO proceed the question Of suffrage
laying the resolution under consideration aside for
the present
Mr.. STANARD took, in substance, the same tiew
and earnestly opposed the motion for reporting
resolution in series OF resouonsa all intimately connect
ed-thls he contendcd TO be wholly without precedent
in Parliamentary usage. Besides, the sense of the
solution to be reported was not fixed The gentleman
from Augusta understanding it to apply only to qualified
as referring to all the Dhie population whcther voters
or not
After some explanations as to the point of order
Mr.. JOHNSON opposed tbs rising of the Committee !:
he thought the two and leading subjects Of repre-
senta,ion and the right Of suffrage ought be slider
GU III WIN eacn Oner. lie was therefore IN
favor of Mr. SCOTS proposal pass the first for
the and to go till the other should be arrived
in order. LII.
he question taken on Mr.. Ftzhugh's motion
for the rising of the Committee, and decided in the
gatvc, Ayes 40. Noes 4s.
On motion Of Mr. LEIGH, the Committee then passed
by the first resolution reported by the Legislative
mittee vz that which refers the basis of represen
ation and took up the second resolution @h IL in the
following words.
esolced, That Census of the population of the State
for the purpose apPoronihg the should
be taken in the 1891 the year lS45, and thereafter
at least once in every twenty years.
MIR. DoDDRIDGE moved 10 amend this resolution by
striking out in the third line all after the word "year"
aud inserting clause to make the whole resolution
read
Resolved, That Census Of the population Of the
State, for the purpose of apperonng
should be taken in the year 1885, and least every
years thereafter, if the Assembly shall deem the same
expcdent and that new apportionment of reprcsen-
totion shall be made after each Census if the state OF
the population shall have been changed require
Mr.. DoDDRIpoR explained his re asons for Offering IN.
Amendment. The State Census. if tAk-n at the periodic
he proposed, would fino the intervals Of the general
CENSUS Of the United States and would correct the
euracies Of that which had in some cases,
been made la very loose manner
Mr. LEiGH suggested that though the amendment
made II Imperative that census should be taken as
the basis oil representation, II did require any assess
ment TO accompany it. IL secured the west all the
dement's Of increased representation but did requ
corresponding increa c Of taxation.
Mr. DoDDRIDGE requested Mr.. Leigh 10 add a clause
10 supply this defect: which he d. Ginning,
MIR. MERCER moved 10 add the clause land an asses.
ment thereof made. He Unlisted that the duty of tax.
ing the cen,n. ought not TO be LETT discre hut
should be made imperative on the Legislature. lie
dweit upon the advantage Of having the census taken
frequently, and 80 made to include variety of static
teal information. the expense would be but small.
After some further conversation between Messr,.
Leigh, Doddrdge AMI Mercer, the resolution was a.
mended by striking out the clause which leaves il
cretionay w the begissurei and after some farther
opposition on the part Of Mr. Stanard, the resolution
~ nj The silpDn M -
present. to give the gentleman from Brooke a better
pproi tunity oil disesiing his proposition.
The Committee then proceeded to the consideration
oil The third resolution reported by the Legislative Com.
miitee, in the words following:
"Re'oped, That the Right Of Suffrage shall continue
TO be exercised by all who enjoy under the .x
sting Constitutions Provided that no person shall vote
by virtue OF his freehold only unless the same shall bs
assessed TO the vaise OF at least dollars, for the
payment oil taxes IL such assessmen mt be required b.
Law. and shall be extended, Is TO every free a h,e
male citizen Of the Common ath re aide nj therein a.
Dove the age OF twenty years, who owns and ha.
possessed for six months who Ia. acquired by mar.
rage, descent, or devise, freehold estate assessed to
the value Of not less than dollars for the nav.
nen' OF taxes, such assessment shalt be required by
law: ~, or who shall own vested estate in Tee in re
nshaer or reversion, in land, the assessed value Of
"nch snail Do dollars 3D., or who shall own
and have possessed ieasehold estate with the evidence
OF hte recorded, OF term originally less than five
years, and ono Of which shall BE- xpred of the an
nual value, or rent Of dolIars: A,b or who for
WE'VE months mex preceding, has been house keep
or election district, where he may Offer TO VOTE and
VINO shall kavs been assessed with part of the revs
niue OF The Commonwealth within the preceding wear
AMI actually pail the Provided IN
the right of suffrage shall not he exercised by any
son oil unscund mind; who sh III be pauper or non
commissioned officer, soldier sailor or marine in IN,
service OF me Onited States, by person convict.
eu OF any Infamous offence; by citizens horn with.
o"t "e oohnonwraith unless they shall have sided
nereh ior hve years Immediately preceding the cleo.
ton at which they shall offer vote and two years
Seding me said election, in the county titj borough
or election district, whore they shall offer 10 vote IN.
mode OF proving such previous residence when d.put
ed 10 be prescribed by iaw) and .ha posse.s noteo.
yer, some one or more OF the quac atoms above enu=
I M Grated. ~ ~
Mr.LEIGH pointed out an effect which lie presUtied
was not seriously intended but which would af.e from
he resolution as II now stood. According the provi
so, no ireeho'der was allowed vote unless bic fee.
no'u was oil certain value mot yet fixed upon;) but
according TO subsequent clause, any house. keep~r
VINO mas p'id any part Of the revenue Of the Com
nonwcalh is allowed TO vote Suppose the value Of
inc Heehed be hved at any given sum, say 40 dollars.
anu suppose ireeholer owns a hOu-e worth 10 dol
lars and suppose farther, that in that house there re
SIDES eoan, who a single horses the re uit will
oe,'hat the Landlord, who the house il forbid
nen 10 VOC, while the tenant who pays tax of cent,
on MS morse, Is admitted TO the polls Could il he ,e
'ousy intended not merely to abolish the ffe ebold
1"sncaion, but 10 make IL less qualification an the
payment OF the very smallest tax! Taking il for grant
ed mat this could no, be the purpose OF the resolution
MT LEIGH moved TO amend il TO make the fourth
9uahncaon read "or wbo for IL months ne NJ prec ed
lng; mas becn bouse-keeper and head of family
"nh 'be county, city, borough, pr election district
"hefe he may offer TO vote, aud who shall bsye beer
ah