Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-22
VIRGINIA COW NTION.
FRIDAY. Dec 49,

The Convention met at II O'Clock.
Mr.. FIrzHUGH from the Committee appointed 10
enquire into tho compensation proper TO be allowed
the officers of the Convention, reported the follow
ing resolution, Resolved that The of2l dollars,
be allowed the Sergeant at Arms, for informing Ro
bert B Taylor, by express, of his election to this
Conventicn-which agreed to.
The amendment proposed by the Committee of he
Whole the eighth section the Legislative report
vas agreed to. TO wit:
s.Resolved that it ought to be provided in the
Constitution, that in all elections this State, to any
office place of trust, honor profit, the votes
should be given openly, or viva Voce, and not by
bollot.'
Phe Convention then took up the first resolution
Of the Committee.
Mr. LEIGH objected to taking up that question
till the Convention be full. AS there objection
il was passed by for the present.
Yhe second resolution also passed by for the
present, for the same reason.
Fhe third resolution as amended was then taken
UP and considered.
Mr.. LEIGH addressed the Convention and moved
to GIL the blank in the resolution with three months
before such election at which he offers TO vote" to
obviate frauds which he had heard existed in the
west, though he was now happy to say, they were
since denied and not believed by him to exist.
Mr.. SUMMERS thought frauds would not probably
orcur--possession and value Of the lease, and tn Q
length of time necessary TO give the qualification,
would be sufficient safeguard, besides the oath of
the party could be required at the polls. He had
heard of no frauds in the west, except in one in
stance. He doubted not frauds would exist in the
East the West; he did not to be understood
as asserting that frauds cXistcd-he doubted not
they did; but nc knew nothing of them.
Mr.. Leigh said it suggested to him. that 8
months might be too long time, as leases very gen
orally in parts of the country commenced in
January. Mr.. Leigh then referred to what Mr..
Summers had before said, and lie understood him as
denying explicitly that frauds existed in The West.
ln:ess some time previous 20 election was reuui
red for recording the deed, leases would bc made on
the day before. tho very day Of election to
make voters. lie moved to fl the blank with two
months.
Mr. SUMMERS explained, and moved 10 insert orc
month.
Mr.. DoDDRIDGE said he believed that in some in
stances frauds did exist ~ the West. He concur
red with HIr. Summers in proposing month
lie thought that every ought to support fnea-
sure which should restrain fraud. Mr.. D. said that
almost all the leases in the section of country lie was
from commenced on the LIST of April. tle spoke OF
the town of Wheeling, aud said that such was tic
case there.
The .question was then taken OF filing the banl
With two months, and carried.
The question then REQUIRED or adopting the 81
resolution as amended, and this question the ayes
Und noes were called for.
AYYs-M cssrs. Clopton, Anderson, Coffman, Harri
son, Williamson, Baldwin, Mccoy, Moore, Cooke
Beirne, Smith, Miller, Baxter, Madison, Mercer
F'tzhugh, Henderson, Osborn Powell. Griggss, Ma
son Of T. Naylor. Donaldson, Boyd, Pendlcton
George, Mcmillan, Campbell Of W.. Byars. CIoyt
Chapman, Mathews. Oglesby. Duncan, Laidley
Sammers, See, Doddrdge, Morgan, Campbell c
Brooke, Wilson, Campbell OF Bedford, Clayton. Sauu
ders TowGes, Cabel, Martin, Stuart, Pleasantt
Gordon, Thompson, Massic, Jcynes, Bayly, Upshu1
and Pernn--56.
NoEs-- Mcssrs. Barbour iPrcsdent) Jones. Leig
e Taylor oF Chesterfe.I, Giles, Brcdaax, Drongool'