Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-01
VIRGINIA CONV ENTTON.
WEDNESDAY. DEC. so

VA CONV EN lloN.
WEDNESDAY, DEc. so
The Convention met at II o'clock The Presi-
dent ANNOUNCED The Select Committee o.inrcd yes
tcrday, viz-Mcssrs. Dodjrdgc, Madison, 3I.-slail.
Johnson, Leigh OF c., Tazewel and Cooke.
NJ. SrUAar moved. to take up and consider the
resolution heretofore offered by him and laid on the
table, in relation to Duelling.
MIR. STUART proposed 10 amend by extending
the provIso the resolution to seconds.
Mr. LEIGH was IN favor of the act of amnesty con-
famed IN the resolution, but opposed euurait
ing pc manenly the Constiu diaquai fication
OF the KIND contained Ill the rcsolu ion.
lie Thought II vas not good policy to deprive the
l'esisatnre of the power of pardonIng in such ca
scs There was no other instun of crime in Which
the power Of pardOning utterly taken away
why place this crime, which is most usually com
united by The young and unwury from mistaken
81 you piease) principle of honor, upon foot
ing than other the most atrociouS crimes, The Leg
stature ought to have the power to to useful
,sS, the mai vhI my IN his Il have off;.neel,
but who by his future life, perhaps of ten twenty or
thirty years. has shown his fitness for the
of his country. The prncipie of objectionable crime
Is opposed to all principles of just government.
Mr.. L. moved 10 st ike out all the resolution en-
cept that granting amnesty.
MIR NAYIoR thought he held amendment in bis
hands which would obvate the objections of Nr.
Leigh. lie was very ANXIOUS to have Il caustitu-
tlonal provision, because he had trcrnb,ed for the
exist encc o! the law that law which under divine
providence, had been the mans OF sa wing SO munv
vaIuahl; lives. 1t necessary include such u
provision in the Constitution, because the law has
been attacked rs unconstitutional. Mr.. Naylor then
offered his amendments which authorised the Legs
lature to pass law similar 10 tho present duciny
act.
The President decided that the amendment of Mr.
Naylor was not at present in order.
DIR. STUART Thought that constitutional proyi
sion was necessary, because he believed, that the
doubts of the consttuonality of the act of Assem-
bly,, had prevented the net from producing all the
beneficial effects it would have done he was oppo-
std to giving the Legislature the power Of pardon,
because every young would believe his own
Of such peculiar circumstances MS to cntle
him to he interposition of the Legislature and thus
it would operate check at all. The power
would probably be exercised with partially.
Mr.. NCoY thought tho provision ought not TO
exist unless 1t was also adopted by neighborlng
States. It at present Illuminating to citizens OF
this State. He admitted the law had done some
good, but he opposed TO Inserting cOnsti utioi
81 provision on this subject.
MIR. WILSON spoke briefly in favor nf the provision
in reply to Mr.. M'Coy, and said this Legislative
provision had produced honor to Virginia instead Of
humiliation.
III. ~ Cox briefly replied.
Dr.. STAsARD was opposed to the resolution, aud
proposed to amend it by inserting after resolved"
t,le words "that tho Legislature shall have power
tn provide by law" &c.
mr. DoDDRID6E was in favor Of the amenducn,
proposed by Mr.. SianarI
Mr.. MADISON said, in high party times the power
Of DISTINGUISHING was most dangerous power to vest
be taken not to give the general power.
Mr.. RANDoT PHI said he thought the act Of the Icr
stature was subversve of every principle cf free
government That the provision proposed by Mr.
- dnaTd you'd 10 principle, authorise the Lccisa.
tnre to afix aoy other disqualification. II an oath
ought to be required TO one crime, why
not tax" an oath agains the whole crimes Of the dec
aIogue! religious Or party test oath might be next
required. He opposed TO any consi' ulOnnl pro-
VISION II was better TO leave it to the Legislatures
and if the people were dispose to submit TO this
unconstltution1l aid oppressive enactment, so be it,
Mr. Randolph impaired this enactment 70 the Span
ish inquisliiOn, and throughout very cl0uutTlt
Mr.. STASARD admit cd that he principle mpt be
extended to the full far Mr. Randolph had de-
cared hat that the adoption oftFa resolution ~ offer
ell would be negltion Of the right in all Other ca.
H0 did hippo however that The amnesty would
tie adopted whatever might become Of the residue of
the resolution
Mr.. NArLoH justified the principle Of the act orthe
Legislature against duelng
Mr. Leon said he should vote for The amrnilueDt
Of Mr.. Stanard because hc preferred it the orr
ginsl resolution
Mr. S;anard's amendment was then carried.
Afr LEON then moved to strike ont the first
cluse Of The resolution.
The question was divided, leaving the provision
for taking the oath for subsequent; d, cison.
And the ayes and D1cs were ordered
Ave Mcs.ss. Jones' Leigh of CHI. TAYLOR Of Oh
Giles DramgoUle, GoOde, Marshall, Ciopton, johnson,
M'coy, Beirne, Miller, Mason of s., Claiborne Ran
doipb. leigh Of ~ Logan, Holiday, Mason of F.,
thews Duncan, Summers, Morgan, Barbour Of g.,
Green, Tazeweh, loyal, Prents, GrigsDy, w. Camp.
bell branch, Townes Cabell, Martin, Gordon, Thomp.
son. Ms.se, Ba'es, Bayly, Peyrin-35.
NoRs-Messts. =. y. Barbour, Brodnax. Alexander,
Tyler, Nicholas, Anderson, Coiftnan Harrison, vii.
Hanson Baldwin, Moore, Smith, Baxter rrczvant,
Urquhart. venable, Madison, Stanard, Mercer, Fiz.
hugh, Henderson, Osborne, Cooke, (iriggs, Nsyor,
BontldsIn, BOYD, Pcndleton George, MMllin, Byars,
Chapman. ogiesby, Laidly, See, Dotdrdge, A. Camp.
bell wilson Scott Cyio, Saunders, Stuart Plessants,
Rose Nesde. Coder, JoyneA Ul5nur-dS,