Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-06

the state, ass PROVIDED by the plan Of Mr.. Gordon
am masking 'eo' the maximum number OF the House
Noquestlon was taken, the 81 article being fer
the present, passed by, the ariicla Arranging
senatorial districts, ut the suggestion ut Mr. Towncs
The 9Th article being read, Mr.. Leigh of Ches.e--
held moved to amend II by inserting after the wor,s
provided that" clause. excluding all persons hold
ing lucrative offices from seats in the Lcgslaturc-
ana the amendment was adopted. .-. .
Mr. Leigh moved 20 amend tho 9Th article bv re-
str'cting eligibility to seats IN the Legislature e.,
Ife'hohhrs-urgirg that there ncomputi-
billty between this restriction, and any extension OF
suffrage that might be agreed upon--and the amend.
mont was agreed To. 20 ., o. ...it, l'I ..-s . ~
The 9th section bong rc3,l, Mr.. Chapman mov,I
to strike on, the words EITHER House may ndiopr,
! itself respectively" aud tn insert Neither House
shall during the sion cf the Legislatures without
the consent ofthc othcr, adjourn itself fr moro than
three days, nor to any other plscc than the one mt
which they are sitting. In support of this amend
mcnt. Mr. Chapman stated the prGr ice of tie
Senate TO adjourn for length Of time and that great
Inconvenience resulted from il. Another reason was
that by the provision as it stood. one House mipbs
SIT at one place and the other at another--or one
might adjourn finally aud leave he other in session
He thought this highly inexpcdout, and tina, it
ought to be provided against 80, -.. t -a,f
| Mr. Leigh of Chesterfield. said that the proysion
as stood was n part of the old Cons,itution-,hat
there had always been good correspondence be-
tween the two tiouses--and that tho power Of pro-
rogalon ought to be vested somewhere and h. c,u',f
conceive circumstances which would render the ey
crcsc OF such power highly balu,ary aud npnr-
| tani. =.
Mr.. Nicholas did not conceive the power in oues-
t'nn OF one house adIournng itself without the con-
sent oil the otirr, as properly prorocation Tint
was exercised upon the whole Legislature aud nv nm
independent authority, He had lon; been of opin-
ION that the p-oviSioi OF the gentleman from Giles
| Mr. Chapmnn) was necessurv-iar besides the re-
tarding of public business BY the habit Of the Scna.
10 take recess, placed in the power of either
mouse oy me privilege "i ndJnurnng itself to defeat
| the most important measure.
Mr.. leigh said that the Senate or the House az
Delegates had 1t IN their power To roget any ncn-
sure, and thus Of defeating IT, without resoriinp 10
adjournment for that purpose. That WINS bc ,nnt !,
complete answer To that objection as 10 the power
! ut prorogatIon-it required twn houses To make "A
Legislature; and IT either adjourned itsel it was q.
Iquvalcnt To prnrognton. No case had occarrad in
our history, whcr" t had been expedient To exercise
this power, but Mr. l.. stated a case where its v.r
else might be cXpedicnt and valuable. He cop,ro-
rertedhe idea that the habit ufthe Senate to asnrn
Ia tnc early part OF the acsson, had retarded the
public business, the loss of tine bcino more than
made mp by the greater despatch with which tho So
nate did business from its small numbers &c
! Mr. Nicholas briefly replied to Mr.. Leigh!
Mr.. luZeweii sud that this power had existed Ecr
! 81 Years-no inconvenience had resulted ON n hut
on the contrary much convenience, and u+y sbouI5
! 1t be- changed But this w9s not all. The =, nn,,.
IS made the court of mncachisn,. and if this power
was not given the House nj Delegates might be
compelled to remain in session, until the Srnaie h. d
/ finished the lmpcachmcnts. Whore WAS the rcastu
Tor 'n'S Iherc was now greater necessity Tor ci-
thcr House to adjourn itself, than formerly.
! Mr. Chapman III reply 10 the idea that no evil had
occurred from the power, SAID that it ought to be- n
sufficient Inducemcnt to make the change he propos
ed that IT might prevent future evil But he unedp.
cd that IN tact, evil had occured-snd that bur for
the recess oil the Senate, Governor and Co,nc,lj,
would have been elected before this time and lie
public business expedited DELAYS annually occur
4 red from this cause to the public Inconvenience anil
dissatisfaction. Mr. Chapman adveried TO he words
hrrH l,l, 81. IL
sent of the other. either house might adjourn. pi,i
thus obviated tic objection made by the gentleman
from Norfolk (Mr. Tazewcn.)
MI. Johnson SAID two evils had been antoipotc,,
from the power of either house adjournnp tself-tbc
one the delay caused by temporary
other the more serious evil of either house adiourn
ing hscf permanently. without he consent Of The
other In reply to the first he said ne had hoo, 6 -
some time member of the Senate and as had becn
statec that body was in the habit having pothin IN
40 OF taxing iortnights HOLIDAY in the beainnn0
81 the session. He knew that dissatisfaction Lul
existed from this cause but lie denied that tbeye a, M
the least reason for II, that had ever in fnct ~
layed the public business Members of the TIonso Is
Delegates were disposed to themselves TO tho
people ior long session by trnnsie ring the blame
| to the Senate. AS to the evil unprecedented fr,,n
permanent adjournment. Mr. J. argued 10 prove IN 4.
the apprehension was imaginary.
Mr. CoaItcr reflected upon The long sessions of
me Legislature winch, he SAID, badahad as much
effect as the odous judiciary nStnllipg the (,on,on
flon. The blame was thrown by enc House mr. ON
the other, and the people 10 remedy tho grievance
had called us together To take away the apolorv
ah'rGed by the annual temporary adjournment of
The Senate,lIe should vote for the amendment
MI GILES believ cd That there some reason for
the complaint OF the Senate's annually odjourpnp.
and that 1t originated from the Senoie's having -"
power to originate bills and thus leaving them fire.
queny nothing TO do Greatly attached 10 lin,
old constitution, he yet was in favor OF ovin0 ,Lr
Senate this power i'll all cases oxccpt money hill
when the cause winch produced their temporary ud-
Jou nmcnt would be Withdrawn. Mr.. Giles o.ircss
ed the opinion, IN reply to the argument Of Ir TnZr
well, that the House ofDelcgales bcnp tho pro co.
cn'oFs' must remain in session during The trial Of
mpcnchmcnts. ~
Mr.. Randolph said he should vote nrainst TIM a
mcndment upon principle that had always govern,
ca ln mat 1t was unwisc TO disturb s.liy tLinn f.,
rest ana from which 10 practical mischief INV
g., lie should vote against 1t on smother oround
Whatever opinion there might be the snic,y fu,L
III multitude of Cuun sellers, hc believed tLcrc q 90
n'' one opinion as 10 the evil OF multiplicity of laws
he would do nothing to expedite their ncrGn,e III,
Dch'yed mat more was TO br npprrhcndcd 10 'ccc