Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-07
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
SATURDAY. Nov oS.

SATURDAY, Nov oS
The Convention assembled nj clock an,
was opened with prayerb by the Rev. MIR Doug
las Of the Presbyterian Church
On MIR OpieS motion. the Convention re
solved itseIt INTO a Committee OF tho WhoI,
on the Constitulion-Mr Z. 7. Barbour in tn,
Chair
Tn MIR. Msrcsrs motion, the resolutions
which had been passed over. were taken up
he Sh resolution Of the Executive Commit
tee was r. al as follows, viz:
Resolued. That no pardon shall be grant
ed N any case until alter conviction or judg
| ment'
Mr.. Morgan explained the object of this res
olnlion Mr. Doddridge controveIied the ex
pedlency OF such provision. Mr. Morgan lie
clafed himself not very solicitous TO retain il
| but he referred TO the case OF Governor IL
ms country who had paldoncd his son be fore
trial MIR. Doddrdge stated how indispensable,
| II might sometimes be To- grant pardon, MS foI
instance in the case ofthe Western Insurgent,
who had been led into acts of opposition by a
daring ring LEADER; WAS II not desirable 10 ex.
erclse the power of extending amnesty 10 such
persons instead of involving SO many persons
IN the consequences OF treason
The question wa then pu on the resolution
and II was rejected without division
The 81 resolution Of the Executive Commit
tee was taken up viz
Resotred That the Executive Council. ms
at present organized, ought 10 he abolished, and
thal II IS lhexprdient 10 provide any other Tx.
ecutve Council"
! Mr. Nicholas called for the reading of the
proposition, which he had submitted some time
since oy way Of substitute, viz
| - ReSofoed, That the OH and l0ih section,
ot The present Cons tuition be retained, and that
the lth be substituted by the following resolu-
ton:
Priyy Council or Council OF State. consist.
ing of four members, shall be chosen by both
Houses Of Assembly, either from Their own
members or the people at large, 10 assist in the
| administrator of Government They shall
annually choose out of their own members n
Lieutenant Governor, who. in the cnse of the
'rath, inability, OF necessary absence of III
Governor, from the Government. shall act as
hoVern6r. The Governor shall he the President
OF the Council and shall in all cases OF decis on
have the casting vote. Two members with ihe
1VernOr OF Lieutenant Governor, as the cas-,
may be, shall be sufficient To act, and their al
wee aud proceedings shall be entered Of record
aud signed ~ the members present, Ito any
part whereof any member may enter his dis
Se"I) to be LAID before the General Assembly
Tor four Y ais. AT the first election, the Two
Houses shall. 10y joint resolution, divide the
persons elected into two classes. The seats OF
the Councillors of The first class shall be vara-
ted AT the expiration oil the second year o. the
second class at the expiration Of the fourth
yaar SO that one half may be chosen every
second year aud. if vacancies happen by r.
signaIion, or otherwise. they shall be filed by
the two Houses OF the General Assembly. A.
adequate, but moderate saIary, shall he settled
on them. during their continuance in Office aud
they shall be incapable, during that time. oil sill.
ting Ia either House of Assembly"
Mr.. Nicholas proceeded To defend his prop-
osltlon At some length--and moved 10 strike
out the original resolution, and substitute his
own.
MIR. GILES opposed the abolition Of the Exec
uliye Council In reply to n remark of the gen.
tleman from Brooke (Mr. Doddrdge) he CON
tended that The majority Of the freeholders did
not determine TO call the Convention either
to change the right Of suffrage or 10 abolish
the Council that At the time he signed the
Proclamation for calling the Convention, he
was OF opinion that the majority OF freeholders
was moi in favor OF the Convention, He made
some statements II illustrate his position--and
he also commended, whatever was lie state Of the
public mind at The time Of calling this Conven.
ton, that now the majority of ireeholders was
opposed 10 The measure; that they were suf
elently alarmed alro ady; and that the strong
obJectonshad occurred, since its meeting. 10 any
such measure He then proceeded TO indicate
the Council against the objections made against
it-showing that the Governor was not com
manded by The Council-and that they were
both responsible agents; the most responsible
Executive in the world He stated, that zen
ilemen were about TO initiate the Executive OF
the U. D where so much patronage generated n
ruinous system OF electlODeering and correp-
ton. lie called upon gentlemen, before they
pulled down the old establishment, to point out
what edi6ce they would erect 10 iis place that
if il were contemplated to substitute a Council,
composed of the officers Of government, they
would not always he qualified TO give the ne
cessary advice, and that moreover their own
acts would form subject of revision BY the
Executive. He entered very largely into these
views-and finally concluded with a strong APP
peal in favor OF retaining the Council
MIR. P0ueH moved TO divide he question
Mr.. Hendcrson moved the subdivision Of the
questionable effect Of which would be TO de.
termne whether il be TO strike Out the words
+" inexpedient to provide any other Executive
Council"
After some conversation between Messrs.
Mason, Henderson, Randolph, Powell Stanard
Leigh, Mercer, Giles and TazeHell, Mr. Ncho.
las withdrew his proposition and the question
was put on striking out the words inexpedi.
emf to provide any other Executive Council -
carried, ayes 3d.
Mr. Nicholas then renewed his proposition,
and il was re ected--ayes 49, (Messrs. Mar
shall and Monroe for il Mr.. Madison against
.h)
Mr.. Leigh said, il had been in effect deter
mined 10 have an Executive Council, bu, not
u - l.. r
mond, (Mr. Nicholas) He asked gentlemen
TO say what Executive Council they did 70
quire
Mr.. Fishugh pointed 10 the lth section OF
Mr.. Poweli's proposition, to show what sort OF
Council was approved by gentlemen in ihis
House as follows: 1.-THE Governor shall have
power To require In writing the opinions of the
Lieutenant Governor and of the, Attorney Gen
eral upon al; matters appertaining to the dute,
| of his Office"
Mr.. Leigh asked what sort Of Council thi
| ~ ouId he His idea of n Council wac tina, IN,