Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-10-30
COMPLIED FROM THE arcHmoND PAPERS.
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.


into the expediency of restrictions and regua
| tons
Mr.. Byrd from the committee of thirteen made repor
recommending lst committee of twenty FOUR on the ba
sis of representatives., of fifteen, on the right osuf
ape and qualification Of representatives. in the Legislature
3D. of nineteen, on the Legislative Deparment-4ih
one of fifteen, the Court Of Appeals-5th, Of fifteen
on the County Courts Magistrates, Sherfs and County
Ohicers-6h, of fifteen, on the Governor, Leutenan
Governor and Council-7h, one of seven Education
Sth one Of fifteen such parts of the Constitution not
ferred to in the foregoing. The report of these Committees
to be referred to the Committee OF the hole The repo
was laid on the table.
Mr. Brown of p moved additional series of resolutions
proposing restrictions of the Legislative Department
On motion of Mr.. Bolts resolution adopted, requr
ING the committee the Legislative Department to report
a system of taxation on the nd palorem principle.
Several resolutions calling for information of various kinds
were adopted
TUESDAY.-The session was opened with prayer from
the Rev. M. d. Hoge, of the Presbyterian Church.
Various resolutions adopted requiring the commit
tees which may hereafter be raised enquire into the pro-
priety Of sundry amendments the Constitution and OF
recommending the abolition Of the County Courts and the
election of township Judges in their place the election OF
the Court of Appeals Judges by grand divisions of the
| State, sc.
Mr. McComas offered resolution, which adopted,
calling upon the Auditor for statement showing where
most of the money of the State expended-whelher
East Of the Blue Ridge Various other resolutions,
proposing give the Senate Jurisdiction with
the House of Delegates and also, increasing the right of
suffrage and fixing the age of Senator at 25 years. and
thai Of Delegate al 81 presented and laid the table
On motion Of Mr.. Byrd, the Chairman of the Committee
to report plan Of proceedings Tor the Convention the house
took up that report.
Mr. Stanard moved that the lst resolution proposing
Committee Of "a members upon the Legislative Depart
of the Government, basis of representation &C., be
passed BY for the present.
H. D,.l t..
guson and others, and regular action urged all The
| luti0ns.
Mr. Slanard contended that this LIST Committee should be
organized upon the basis of the organization of The Conven
ton ITSELF whereas by the Committees report six
beers taken from each of The four grand divisions ofhe
State. He proposed 10 amend the LIST resolution in this
particular if the immediate consideration insisted upon
The House, by aye and nay and Eastern and Western
mainly, determined TO postpone the present consdera
ton of the ls resolution aud then the remaining
were laid upon the table.
Mr. Hopkins of P. called up the report of the Commit
Rules, which mainly adopted, with the excep
ton of the 3d. regulating the application of the previous
question, which was opposed on the ground that 1t would
operate gag law.
| WEDNEsD,Y.-The Convention was occupied during
the whole Of its sitting O'clock P NJ in discussing
whether that body would adopt, Of its rules,
the application Of the "Prevous Question"
After voting down various amendments IN which II was
proposed 10 enurce the previous question pretty strenuUusy
and also proposition 10 abolish it altogether, the COnven
ton at last agreed upon the insertion Of clause which
would allow debate Of ten minutes upon the Previous
Question"
| The only other thing done during the day, to re-
ceve report from the Committee appointed to take into
consideration the salaries of the Officers of the Convention
The report recommends that the salaries be follow
President So per day; Secretary 500 per week; Sergeant
alarms, $50 per week; Door Keepers-$2S per week,
each and the Pages, $4 per week. The report, for
the present. laid or the table.
THURsDAY.-Mr Ferguson from the committee Print
ing reported that proposals had been received aud it had
been asceraned that Mr. Gully was the lowest bidder for
the printing of the Convention. MIR. G. entered into the
necessary bonds for the faithful discharge Of his duties
! Public Printer.
On motion of Mr. Byrd, the Report Of the committee Of
thirteen taken up and considered.
Mr. Stanard moved the following as an amendment to the
| first resolution in the report:
Strike out all after the word Resolved" and insert
That committee of twenty five members be appointed 10
take into consideration and report proper basis of represen
iaon in the Houses of The General Assembly and
proper apporionmen OF representation among the people Of
| this commonwealth"
The amendment was discussed at length by Messrs.
Stanad Scott, of F., Caperon, Brown Jacobs, Souha,
Bolts, Anderson, Randolph, Byrd and Smith of Kanawha.
AT O'Clock, motion of Mr.. Faulkner, the Convention
adjourned, without coming to vote.
! FRIDAY-The Clerk read The Journal Of yesterday.
On motion of Mr. Pendleton the House resumed the
sderaon Of the Report of the Committee oils the best
plan of proceeding.
Mr. Garnet gave the which would influence him,
Eastern he was, and pepored 90 arlhes for
the resolution of the Committee and aganshe substitute Of
the member from Richmond, Mr.. Stanard.)
| Mr. Stanard then urged at length the adoption Of his
Substitute, and gave the which induced him TO
PROFOUND it.
Mr. Goode fully CONQUERED with the member from Rich
mond, and supported his amendment.
The debate continued through the day by Nlessrs.
Carter, Chiffon Price, Wiley, Janney Brown and Sum-
mers in opposition
Mr. Sannad's amendment to the resolution was then re-
ected 50 to 65 also others offered by Mr. Claiborne and
Hopkins of p.
Mr. Janney offered an amendment, proposing that the
Committee on Basis shall only report the principle regu-
late the Basis instead Of the appointment of Representa-
ton pending which, on motion Of Mr. Robl. f.. Scott,
who had an amendment 70 offer, the House adjourned.
SATURDAy-Nlr Scot of F. addressed tie Convention al
considerable length in support of the 3ulowing amendment
the first resolution Of the Committee Of Thirteen, which
| he offered:
"And aso to consider and report upon all such prohibit
tons and limitations of legislative power, which they may
deem expedent adopt in connexlon with the subject Of
Representations"
The amendment discussed by Messrs McC0mas AN
derson, Price, Care, Faulkner Ferguson Camden, ia
cob and Armstrong; and finally adopted 90 TO 49,
On motion of Mr., Byrd the question taken on all the
remaining resolutions Of the committee at once. and they
were adopted mem. con.
The MILITARY CoNvENT1oN-The Committee to pre-,
pare business for the action of the Convention, presented
report, which was read debated and adopted. The
port declares the present Military system of the State
wretchedly Inefficient and proposes amend in the follow
ing manner:
l. That each volunteer company shall consist of not les:
than as nor more tnan 100 men,
2. That each citizen enrolled in the militia shall
upon payment of 81 per any volunteer company
be exempt from ordinary militia duty;
8. That the fines for attending each militia muster
shall not be less than one nor Than three dollars;
d. That four quarterly mustes per veal be substituted
for The drills and musters required Of the volunteers BY
law;
s. That accurate muster rolls shall be transmitted quar-
erly by The commanding officer each volunteer company
TO the commandant of the regiment;
g. That members failing 10 attend the quarterly musters
shall forfeit and pay for each failure ST. 10 be appropriated
for the benefit of the companies to which they may belong