Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-10-18
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.



MIR CAMDEN offered an amendment TO the part con-
corning assessments" which was adopted by Mr. T..
Mr.. DOUGLASS moved to strike out portion OF the
resolution; but at the instance OF gentlemen around him.
withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Scorr, of Fauquer, inquired whether it was the
object OF the resolution TO include in the Auditors re-
port the tax on licenses He thought the terms of the
resolution sufficiently broad, but wished the matter to
be perfectly understood. He, moreover, desired un-
Outstanding on the point, whether the present popua-
ton was 10 be ascerained by the OF the census
yet to be completed approximately by extracts from
the materials the AUDITORS office. The late Conyen
ton he remarked, was constrained to rely upon esti-
mates of the population from the habes, and he APP
pretended that this Convention would he under similar
pecessity He utterly epudated the idea of adournng
the Convention in order to wait for the Mr. s..
reviewed the estimates upon which the Convention OF
l929-3O based their action, aud alter comparing them
with the actual results OF the OF 1880, argued
that they sufficiently accurate for the practical
objects OF the Convention. S mar estimates made now
would, he said, be still more reliable; there two
more decennlel terms for comparison. He would
not urge any amendment OF the resolution, If 1t should
be the sense OF the body that the Auditor should repo
forthwith n respect to the population, with such data as
were now in his possession.
Mr.. Faulkner dsclalmed any pQrie object in
NOV ing this proposition. He wanted the information
as ample as possible He had not apprehended any
difficulty in obtaining the results OF the census OF 1850.
In his own district, he repeated, the Assistant Mar
shas had completed their duties, and he supposed the
case was the same throughout the State. He had
held conversation with the Auditor before Offering his
be Immediately addressed the Assistant M arshals-
| He had supposed that answers would be obtained in
the course of two weeks. He was not willing that
Inmates should be adopted OF the population OF his dis
trct when the authentic facts were already in hand
He only DESTROYS that the Auditor should report
the census results so tar as he could.
MIR. SCOTT said they knew what must be the res
ponse of the AUDITOR VIZ that in large portion OF the
State the census had not been completed. 1t would
only cause delay TO wait for such response. He was
now satisfied that the resolution in its present shape
did not accord with the views he had suggested aud
at the instance of his friend from Halifax (Mr Ed
munds he offer ed amendment calling for estimates
oft population by the tthables in 1850.
Mr.. Faulkner said he had objection to the
amendment and the re solution was modified accord
ingy as to read follows:
81 That the First Auditor be requested to procure,
at the earliest day practicable and lay before this Con-
vention the results of the census recently taken under
the authority OF an act of Congress, OF the population
of the several counties, cities aud towns Of this Com
monwealth, for the year 1885, also lay before this
body the results OF the assessment Of the lands of this
Commonwealth made in 1885, also, to prepare and lay
before this Convention, tabular statements showing the
free white, free coored and slave population of each
county, city and town OF this Commonwealth, in the
years $780, 1800 1870 1920, $780, 1910, and 1850 re-
spectvey the assessed average value of the lands per
acre, and the values of the buildings in the several
counties, cities and towns at the periods aforesaid the
amount of taxes assessed for each county, CITY and
town, together with the amount of taxes accruing on
each subject OF taxation for the year 1885, the amount
that would be payable by each county, city and town.
under the recent assessment OF ands at the rate Of
taxation now prescribed by law and the free white
free colored and slave thabes of each county, city and
town. in the year 1885, and in the years 1910 and 1885,
and that he compute the number OF free white, free
Toured, and slave population OF 1850 OF each county,
city and town, from comparison of the tthabes and
population at the periods aforesaid.
50. That the Auditor be also requested, in addition to
such tabular statements in reference to each county,
city and town, to state the information above requested
in relation to the four great divisions OF this Common
wealth."
The question being the adoption of the resolution
Mr. CARLILE moved that the resolution be laid on
the table and printed. 1t was matter of much inte-
rest and he desired to act Understandings.
Mr.. voolfolk saw necessity for delaying the la
bour OF the Auditor. A supplementary resolution
would supply any defect.
Mr.. SMITH, of Ka. said the avowed object of the re-
solution was very unsatisfactory to him. Yet he should
vote Tor 1T but he should not take the information
municated by the Auditor giving the data for final
action He was IN favour OF waiting Tor the higher and
better evidence.
The resolution was then adopted.
MI BYRD moved TO take the following resolution
offered by him yesterday:
Resotced, That committee Of, be appointed to
enquire and report what method will be expedent
in bringing before the Convention, amendments to the
Constitution, which may be preferred.
Mr., WALLACE suggested that this resolution should
go with the rest before committee.
Mr.. BYRD explained that the object of the resolution
was merely to provide mode in which different series
of resolutions should be referred and the whole bust
ness OF the Convention conducted.
| Mr. Brown inquired if the resolution was not SUBJ
stantiay the same with one adopted by the last Con-
vention
Mr.. BYRD said it was literally the same with one
moved by MIR. Chapman johnson and adopted, MIR.
Doddrldge Withdrawing series offered by himself.
The resolution was taken up.
MIR. BowDEN thought the adoption Of the resolution
unnecessary. The gentleman from Richmond CITY
(Mr. ScoTT had offered resolutions providing for four
committees, which met his entire concurrence
Mr. SCOTT Of F. also thought the resolution unneces-
sary 1t was very proper in the former Convention when
the whole matter was res lnfegra. This body had the
advantage OF the experience OF that After the proposed
committee should have reported the different PROPOSE.
tons now on the desks OF members would still have to
be decided upon. lie suggested that the gentleman
from Richmond should move his resolution as sub
stltute tor this
Mr. Brown urged the proprety of examining through
committee into all the plans proposed for the conduct
Of the business. He remarked that there were many
subjects OF reform now proposed that we've dreamed
OF at the time OF the last Convention
Mr. SCOTT, of R., said he had prepared his resolution
alter much reflection both before and since the meeting
OF this body and in accordance with the suggestion of
the gentleman from Fauquier he would offer his resolu-
uon as substitute His object was not to prevent the
adoption OF various reforms. He referred his friend
from Preston to the resduary clause othe fourth pro-
position, deyising all the subjects not included in the
Executive, Legislature and judicial Departments. He
submitted his amendment as follows
l. That a committee he appointed whose duty it
shall be TO report on the Declaration Bill of Rights,
and submit amendments thereto, as may seem wise.
& n coiiilnlee VINO Shall enquire and report whe-
Their any, and ii any, what amendments are necessary
to the existing Constitution i'll the organization Of the
Executive Department.
B. A committee who shall consider and report plan
for the organization of the Legislative Department Of
the Government and prescribing just and proper rep
reSentalon therein.
A.: A committee on the Judiciary Department who
shall report what amendments necessary to that
now existing.
5. A committee who shall take into consideration
the right OF suffrage prescribed by the present Con-
stltuon and all such other parts of the Constitution as
are not referred to another committee by the foregoing
resolutions.
Mr.. CONWAY offered as an amendment to the amend
ment the tolowing which, he said, was offered by Mr.
Iazewe in the last Convention. He said every one
who reads the proceedings of that Convention, must be
convinced that had the resolution been adopted much
time would have been saved The reason which caused
Its defeat then, that it came from an anti-reiomer
KeS0tred That the most eXpedient method of bring
ing before the Convention any amendments to the Con-
s1ution which may be preferred will be, to take up
the existing Constitution or form of Government
OF Virginia. with the Declaration OF Rights, and
regarding them, for the purposes Of examination
and discussion, merely as a plan prepared and re-
ported by a select committee, to refer the same to
committee OF the whole House, be there read section
alter to be dealt with in all other respects as