Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-26
THURSDAY MORNING., NOV. 20. 1923.
THE CONNENTION-

tnc offered by Mr. Pl .asants to the resp,n,;o NJ tho
Legislative Colnnittce, as to the basis for the Sen
ute.
The question being on the motion undo n, NJ
i'rodnaX to Increase the Senate to 48-Mr BayIv
loi Accomac. moved the number 40 and addressed
the COMMITTEES at some length in favor of the, prop-
osuioh and or tile const utiOn and powers OF tile
Senu!e, generally.
Mr. baldwin indicated his wish that the Commit
tee would PISS By the various motions to fix tho
numbers OF the Senate in order that he ,:anh; ,nova
To amend the substitute offered by Mr. Pleasans nv
the words. that i'll the apporlonmeat Of renrcsen-
taon- the House OF Delegates shall be based on the
troe "mie basis and the Senate on federal numbers
anu stated his object to be to the consideration
oil both propositions Mr.. Mercer made a few oh
servat!"ns In It's favor. Mr.. Leph Of Chesterfield
concurfed IN the hope that the would be Ia
ken not tn the object mentioned but that the con-
Sldsratlon OF the Whole subject might be post poned
for few days, IN order to give him time for matu-
ting scheme III which he hoped all sides of the
House would concur Mr. Coaier addressed tho
Committee length, and expressed his wish
that the motion 10 pass by might prevail. Mr. Bald
win then Withdrew his motion. hTr Gordon prem
sing the solicude he felt at the of things, his
anxiety to see 1t adjusted and stating that he could
not Vote for tic substitute offered By his ccllea rue
Nh P!easants,) read plan of representation
IN the Legislature and of compromise which he pro-
posed To OtIcr at proper time. This plan avoided
the question of the character of The basis by allo
ting fixed portions of representation in both Houses
TO certain geographical divisions and is briefly that
the country of the Blue Ridre shall have 10 SON
egates to ccr.=:t Of 100, Of which the trans .lleca
ny to have 90 the valley 81 the country between
the Blue Ridge and tide 81 the country below tide
80; giving 5Omcmbers to the monIanc and 10 TO
the c!s-montanc Country. Mr. Gordon laid his pyojei
ON the table for considerations whcp the question was
put on Mr. Baldwin's motion (wIo had renewed it,
to pass by the question of representations and carried
atflrnativcly, ayes 6l Mr.. Brodnax then nropo-
sod to taile the report Of the Executive Commit
rec but u was negatIved MIR. Brnadnux then mo-
ved to take up the 9Th resolution OF the erisIative
Committee, requiring the voting in the IoGisot,,rn
lXcept IN the election of occrs to be by era roce
he resolution was accordingly taken up when Mr.
bTodna% moved to substitute it. by requiring that all
elections made by the General Assembly (except of
Its own oiccrs) be by vira Mr.. B subsequent
~ modified his substitute, by striking out the cgcep
ton" Mr. CIaytor, while he approved the principle
OF rtoa 00ce voting generally objected to striking the
exception relating to the election of officers Of the
Legislature, from the substitute. Mr.. Brolnax
spoke for some time in favor of enforcing sun voce vo
ting IN all cases. Mr.. Johnson concurred oeneroII,,
IN the superiority OF ctUn voting, over the mode
by ballot, but opposed imposing it as duty on
the Legislature, thus to elect its own officers The
question recurring on permitting Mr. Brodnax
modify his resolution by striking the erceptjou from
1t, Mr.. Randolph hoped in common courtesv the nri
vege would be extended to him. and SUPPORTED tho
superiority OF ve coce voting in all Mr. CLAY
tor disclamed the disposition of being wanting in Par
liamentary courtesy; when, after some remarks from
MI Johnson and Mr.. Brodnax, the latter Withdrew
his request to modify by striking out the exception
ana Tie question being taken striking out the en-
r.,
tor then moved 10 amend the substitute by reinsta:
ing the eXception THAT is, that all legislative cleo
tons shall be by viva voice. except those of officers of
the House, and Mr.. Scott seconded the motion whom
the question was put, and the motion to amend re
Jected.-Ayes 43-noes 40. Mr.. Brodnax's substi-
tute was then carried by large majority
The ninth resolution of the Legislative Committee
guaranteeing religious liberty, being next read Mr.
BrOadnX moved to amend it. by declarInr those who
disbeIievc III God incapable of giving testimony;
but subsequently Withdrew it. MIR. Cooke then
moved to strike out the proyiso to the ninth resou-
ton, rendering ministers Of the Gospel or priests in
capable of serving in the Legislature. Mr. bod
bridge supported the motion strike outs declaring
that the disability contained in the proviso was at
war with the principle announced in the resolution it.
self Mr.. B.odnax opposed the motion, and defend
ed the policy of excluding the clergy from LEGISLATION
and Mr.. Doddridge rejoned Mr. Cooke briefly sup
ported his motion to expunge, considering the proy
so at war with the spirit of our institutions Judge
Coaiter and Mr.. Brodnax further opposed the mo.
ton, and Mr.. Cooke and Mr.. Morgan supported it,
MIR. Moore briefly addressed the Committee against
the motion, and Mr.. Randolph more at large when
the question put, and the motion nepativcd bv
large majority.
MIR. Brodnax then moved a proyiso, autlorsiup
the Legislature TO grant charters of Incorporation for
relgous or charitable purposes, when to them SEEM
co proper or cXpedlent Mr.. Giles most earnestly
opposed the adoption Of the amendment pointed out
the nschlofs TO the community which resulted from
corporations, and reprObated the whole system. Dir.
Brodnax replied at some length, The amendment
was opposed by Mr.. Campbell, of Brooke, to whom
Mr.. Broadnax replied, when the question was put,
aud the amendment negatived by great majority.
The 10th resolution, that bill of attainder, er
post frcto law, law nparing the obligation of con-
tracts; and the eleventh that private property ought
not to be taken for public uses, without Just compen
sation, then read, and no amendments offered,
thereto.
The twelfth resolution, ordoining that any law IN
creasing the compensation of members of Assembly,
shall take effect until the end of the succeeding
session, being read Mr. Nayor moved to amend it by
striking out the word end and inserting
Mr.. Chapman objected, when the question was put,
and the amendment rejected-Ayes 81.
The thirteenth and last resolution of the I,episla-
tive Committee, excluding members of Assembly