Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-25
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SKETCH OF PRocEEDINGs OF rHE CoNyEN

SkhTCH OF PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTION
MONDAY Dec. 81.
The Convention met at IL o'clock, and was opened
with prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Welsh of the Baps
Church
The returned 10 the side alton of the
Report Of the Legislative Committee.
The LIST Resolution was read follows:
hesoiped' That in the apporiiopnent of represen-
faton in the House OF Delegates regard should be had
to the white population exclusively.
Mr. Scorr moved TO lay il the table, (the plan of
Mr. Gordon having been adopted on Saturday, which
MIR. DoDDRIDGE demanded the yeas and navs and
they were taken as follows:
AYES-Mes.rs Barbour, (President,) Jones, Leigh
Of Chesterfield, Taylor OF Chesterfield, Brodoax.
Dromgoole, Alexander. Goode, Marshall, Tyler. Nj
cholas. Copton, Mason of Trezvsnt Claiborne Urou.
hart, Randolph, Leigh of Halifax, Logan, Venabie,
ADDISON, Stanard, Holiday. Roane Taylor Of Caroline,
Morri' Garnet. Barbour Of Culpeper, Scott, Green,
Tazewell, Loyal, Prentis, Grg-by, Branch Towne.
Martin. peasants, Gordon, Thompson, Massie, Bates
Neale Ro'c Coalter, JOynes, Bayly, Uphur aud Per-
rin-49.
NOES-Messrs. Anderson Cofrman, Harrison, Viii.
Hanson, Baldwin, Johnson, MCoy, Moore, Berne,
Smith Miller, Baxter, Mercer, Fitxhugh Henderson,
Osborne, Cooke, Powell, Grggs, Mason Of f. Naylor
Dona1son Boyd PeDdx ton, George. M'Miilan Canp.
hell Of W., Byas, Cloyd. Chapman NJ athe VS. Ogle.by
Duncan, Laidley Summers, See. Doddrdg-. Morgan,
Campbell Of Brooke, Wilson, Campbell of Bed Claw
tor, Saunders, Cabe and S,uart-i4
The End Resolution was then read viz:
Nes0fued, mat census OF the population of the
State for the purpose of apporonng the representation
thereafter, at least once in every twenty years.
Mr. STUART Of Patrick, moved to amend this reso-
luton by substituting the following:
ihat IN order 10 provide Tor the future equalization of
representation, the Legislature shall in the wear 1910
and every ten years thereafter, make provision by law
Tor a.ceriaining the whole number OF qualified voters
within the Commonwealth, aud shall apporton the re-
presentation among the four districts following I, wit:
LIT, The country west OF The ALLEGHENY mountains
Zn, The country between the Allegheny and the Blue
Ridge-3rd, The country between the Blue Ridge and
In. fiepr b.ln
cordng TO the number Of qualified voters CON aimed in
each district respectvey-And shall, in distributing
the numbers to which each of said districts shall be
titled, secure as far possible least one member to
each countypropided, that the number OF The House
Of Delegates shall .ever exceed 40, nor that OF the
Senate &c."
at this time, moved TO lay this mendmen, the table
lie had offered it,, he said, as presenting scheme
cr future superintendent, and he hoped that other gen.
emen, having propositions intended to effect the
object, would bring them forward that the
might have the whole field before them.
Mr. SCOTT said he should vote to lay the gentlemans
resolution the table, but candor required him APP
prize the that he should vote against taking
up again. Ii tbs gentleman had not made the notion
he should have made it himself After the very decd.
ed vote of Saturday. any attempt bring up that sub
ject again could tend only to mischief.
The motion was agreed 10.
Mr.. SUMMERS said he had voted 10 lay the re-
solution on the liable; but he should TO take it
nup whenever the mover should think il advise able
He expressed his hope OF yet being
gone into, in relation TO future apporiioninent
oil Representations; when that hope should iorsake him,
all expectation Of good from this Conv enon would de.
part with it,
He moved the printing OF the amendment, which
was ordered accordingly.
The 81, 4th, 5lh, 9th, 7h, and Sih resolutions were
then all a follows:
+" Resofoed, That the right of suffrage shall con :.
tinue TO be exercised by all who enjoy IL under the
existing Constitution: Propided That no person shall
vote by virtue OF his freehold only unless the same
shall be assessed to the value OF at least s. for the
payment OF taxes, If such assessment be required by
law: And shall be extended, ls,, to every free white
male citizen Of the Commonwealth resident ihereia,
above the age Of tweutyoDo years, who owns and has
possessed foF six mon h who has acquired by
rage, descent, devi-e, freehold estate assessed
the value OF not less than dollars Tor the payment
oftaxss, such assessment shall be required by W;
2nd who shall vested estate in fee in remain.
der or revetson in land the assessed value of which
shall be dollars; 3D.. or who shall and have
possessed l"asehold estate with the evidence tile
recorded Of term originally not less than five years.
and one Of which shall be unexpired, of the annual
value, or rent Of dollars; 4th or who for twelve
months next preceding, has been house keeper and
head Of family within the county, city, borough or
election district, where lie may offer TO vote, ard vs. no
,ai have been assessed with part of the Of
Tue Commonwealth within The preceding year, and &C
tuAlly paid the Provided nevertheless that the
right oil suffrage shall not be exercised by any person
Of unsonnd mind or who shall be pauprr, or a non.
commissioned officer, soldier, sailor or marine in the
service Of the United States nor by aoy per. on con.
vicied Of any Infamous offence; by cizens born
without the Commonwealth unless they shall have re
SIZED therein for five Years Immediately cpding the
election at which they sha Offer 10 vote and two wears
preceding the said elect ,D in the county, city, borough
or election district where they shall offer TO vote Qe
mode OF providing such previous residence when die
puted, TO be prescribed by law and shall possess more
over some, one or more OF the qualifications above emu
merated.
"Res0Ded, That the number OF me mber RS in the Sen.
ate OF this State ought to be neither Increased nor
diminished nor the classification OF its members changed
Resofeed, That the number Of members in the House
OF Delegates, ought TO be reduced that the same be
lot less Than one hundred and twenty nor more than
one hundred and fifty
"Resoued, That 10 person ought to he elected mel
Der oil The Senate OF this State, who is not at Last tr.
~ years OF age.
'ResoUed, That no person ught to be elected mem
her Of the House ef Delegates Of this State who is not
at least twenty FIVE years Of age
HesofUed, That il ought TO be provided that in all
elections ior members OF either branch Of the Gen.
era Assembly, aud in the election Of all officers which
may be required 10 be made by the two Houses OF
Assembly, jointly in either separately, with the
csption OF the appointment Of their own officers the
votes should be given openly vi0a aud not by
ballot"
These resolutions having been already acted upon
passed by
The 9;h Resolution was then read az follows
"ResOtyed That man shall be compelled ~ fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place, or min.
isry whatsoever; mr. shall be enforced restrained mo
lesed or borthencd in his body goods nor shall 9th
crwise suffer account Of his religious opinions or be-
lief; but that all shall be free 20 profess and by
argument 70 maintain their opinions in matters Of reli-
gion, and that the same shall in wise diminish EN-.
large or affect their civil capacities.
THAT the Legislature shall have no power 10 prescrbs
any religious test whi'@ver, TO establish by Law
any subordnaon or preference bsw cen different Sc q
Han ...l.