Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-31

from Samuel Prices poll of ............. 225
Deduct the number decided 10 be illegal ...... II
And his poll would stand thus .......... 20S
lie committee therefore Of opinion that the polls
should stand linus: r
or Samuel Price. o0a
hoi fIudson vi. DICKINSON, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. I'D
MaJnrity for Price, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Ee$oteed hcr.tore As the opinion Of this committee
that Samuel Price duly elected Deleaa,e u repre-
sch' lc If Faycttc and Nichoas in tho prcsc
Grnerll Assembly,
Mr. VOOLFOLK moved that the rcTor, he referred back
10 Tie coinire with instructions to report calv
On all the Designated by the parties Mr. w said
mr.. D:cAcnson not disposed press his claims to
his seat, onc moment after fairly shew that he
was not entitled 10 II. At Prrsentit was ont Of his po
or 10 say what the r"sult OF full investigation would
be- 1t was well known that the decisions Of The commit,
tee were not altogether consistent; and was desirable
hhl special report should be had order 10 avoid the
Suspicion that party feelings had operated in deciding
Inc matter. This was more particularly desirable as a
Fredericksburg Editor has said that all Questions before
he House were decided IN favor Of tic Administration
family.
MIR. SUMMERS rose to enquire whether the examina.
on OF Tie votes w0s required by the parties 10 the
test-and whether the sitting member was of opinjon
mat ne could reverse the report Of the committee if Inc
reference took place. If So Mr. S. would vote for it,
Mr.. VOOLFOLK said he could not answer this qucs-
ton As TO the expectation of the sitting member that
he could produce different result it depended on prn.
clpcs 10 be scttedby the House. If they settle cc tain
principles IN certain way, he expects to succeed M
Dickinson had desired that The committee should rcpor,
upon those principles but the committee decided TO make
general report and put him 10 the trouble of moving
the House to refer the report back to them
Mr DANIEL said lie had objection to The reference
back to the ccmnttce-several Of The had in his
opinion been decided upon very doubtful principle
E. MIR. DoRMAS asked whether the sitting member con.
sldered that there were sufficient number Of doubtful
votes to reverse the report should the House aside
the decision of the Committee upon them. Ifso he
would vote for the reference; but not otherwise
MIR. VOOLFOLK repeated, that if lie House decided
that they were to DC considered according set
principles the report would be set aside. If the contra
~, it would not
The motion TO refer the report back with instructions
then agreed 10.
TIE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE
The ensrosSed bill to incorporate the stockholders Of
the Louisa Rail Road Company read third time,
and being on lis passage,
Mr.. PARKER said: that when an amendment reported
by the Committee OF Roads and Internal Navigation
providing that the holders OF stock in this comc =
should Ut" be entitled 10 vote for members Of the Gene
raj Assembly upon their stock was Yesterday ,Jopted i,
passed unnoced. lie could sit cntcp: to see such
princPir incorporated INTO joint stJcL company He
asked how this House bad right To- declare in bill
creating Rail Road Company, til the OWNERS ofslock
should not exercise right which they possessed under
the Constitution. He could not cote fer bill which VIC.
lated the rig hts Of citizens derived from line Constitution
OF the State He hoped the Chairman of the committee
void give some explanation Of the provision, and shew
whether it is not violation OF the constitutional
rights Of the stockholders.
Mr. WATKINS said, he believed the object of the COM
milee in reporting the amendment, was to avoid filling
the commonwealth with corporations like Old Sarum in
England MIR. W. was not the mover of the amendment:
but lie thought THAI if the Stockholders had the right to
vote under the constitution the provision could not de-
P7ye Them OF IT, IT. on the contrary, they claimed ii
without the constitutional right, he wished 10 prevent
the continuance of tic practice II individuals come
here and ASH incorporation they be contcned
take our TENS. We do not wish give them what they
do not ask, and confer rights which are already enjoyed
by all. IN ac they did not desire encourage the plan
OF making voters while Incorporating joint stock compa-
MES. lie could easily conceive, that great abuses might
arise ou OF tins princ of uniting the right of suffrage
20 Inc ownership Of stock IN works OF internal improve.
ment J. Tor instance said MIR. W, being rather ""11a
OF motion: might by owning stock in the !lmes River
and kanawha Company, and BY sarting at one end OF
the Improvement vote IT. every COUNT the line from
Richmond TO Ohio: On The strength Of my owning the
stock OF that company. The provision intended 10
prevent these from giving rights to individuals which
they had no right 10 ENJOY.
ir PARKER said that the Stockholders had this
right by The Constitution, they could not vote upon their
stock If they had =, this provision could not take il
He did know but the gentleman from Gooch.
land in the habit speeding his way from
county to county, 10 his vote But such example
made no difference as TO the improperly Of this amend
MELT. 1t you commence deciding III the Legislature
what shall be the qualifications OF voters door would
be opened for abuse. Where would it end If improper
or illegal Votes were given at the elections, the House
could decide upon them afterwards. But this most
perncious kind Of legislation Whcn said Mr.. P, was
this restriction first propo:cd Ii never heard OF be
toie-and il ought now 10 he prevented Let tho quail
fcatlons OF the voters remain they are-and II tile
constitutional arrangement! Of the elective franchise is
violated, let those who !..v: ~ Sa.nlan come
here and have the matter decided. We lave right &c
interfere with II VIC neither add 10 il diminish
it. lie could not but remark upon lhe case with which
such provisions were engraltcd unca bills; for, when
this amendment was intrc.aced not an individual no
tced II but himself He did say This disrcs pcctully
1ai because he presumed every one supposed all was
right. And yet here attack upon right sa
cred the right OF suffrage, allowed pass unnoticed
when, if it had been bill regulating tie 49, Of sufracc
every member would have been all attention. But il
Vas bill for work of internal Improvement and scn
tclnen did not observe it, believing that it was drawn in
the usual form lie trusted the House would allow The
right Of suffrage 10 remain the Constitution had set
tied it, and not inerncddIe with sacred right.
Mr. WATKINS said the gentleman from Nor!hanp ton
trad n, replied to the postum he MT. W. had taken
that if the Stockholders Of these companies had consli-
tuonal right TO vote their stoc provision could
deprive them of il but ifey have not, this provision
might prevent the illegal practice.
MIR. MuLLES moved for the ayes and noes the pas.
sage of the BILL
Mr.. WlrCuEK said the gentleman from Gooch!aEd
agreed that if the stockholders of these Companies had
tile power, il could be taken away by tile Lrgsla-
tu1e He asked if he also believed that il they d!
possess it urdcr tic tonsti!u!ion tie Legislature could
give it;
Mr. WArKrss. No.
Mr.. WIrcniR Then il is slca! thai the provision is
wholly unneccssarytIat in itself it is perfectly nuga-
tory lie should be forced 10 vote against tie BILL in
consequence of this provision.
Mr.. DoRM.. ssd the peculiar patron Of the bill was
so in his seat, and act Of courtesy to him. he
would move TO lay it OH the table.
AIr PARKER had dis position to pursue course by
which tue bill would be lost tie recolccted an instance
last year in which bill to establish Bank Buchanan,
in which there iucautious provisions,
hcfosc the House its passage-and recommtlcd.
Of which naudble TO tho reporter. lie believed it
would be unnecessary to recomnt the bill for the pur-
pose Of expungng this provsion because tho only OBJ
lection 10 is that it is suPeruous. 1t is admitted that
the stockholders of The company have the right of vol
ing we cannot deprive them oft The provision would
lhe rcfor. La i.c than s;uar ,ynud Id