Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-10-24
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.

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VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. %.
PRAYER by the Rev. Mr. DUNNING of the Presbyt
Church
The consideration of the Rules was resumed, the
| question pending being on the amendment OF MIR. Hop
kins, OF Washington, to the rule concerning the app-
\ cation of the Precious Question.
This amendment TO the effect, that when ma
ority of the House order the previous question, the
shall be taken on the original proposition on the
pending question: the House may direct. The form
OF the question before the Convention was this: The
Convention had voted Yesterday to strike out the 33d
rule as amended, motion of Mr. Watts, OF Norfolk,
to make the previous question bring the House to
a vote on the pending question. Mr.. Hopkins's motion
was to insert words to the effect above stated.
| Mr.. M. GARNETT moved to reconsider the vote
striking out the amended words OF the rule, in order to
renstae them and the previous question govern
| merely the pending question
debate OF some length ensued in which Mr..
WATTS, of Norfolk, and Mr.. VOOLFOLK, advocated
HAVING a previous question, and Messrs. CARLILE,
PRI5E and BoWDEN earnestly opposed having any at all
The latter gentleman conended that in body ofsuch
important and original powers the Convention, no let
tiers should be put upon debate.
remark OF Mr. WooLFoLK's touching the relations
OF the Eastern majority and the Western minority, ex-
BROWN OF Preston retored by abiding 10 the compare
live popular strength OF the East and West. Mr. PRICE
reminded the gentleman from Orange that although in
y fortunate il he found himself so on every question
throughout the session.
The motion to reconsider was voted down.
Different members gave notice OF amendments they
wished to offer.
Mr.. GooDE called the attention OF the House to the
particular state OF the facts in connection with alu-
sons that had been made to the East's forcing gag
law upon the West An Eastern member Mr.. WATTS
proposed previous question which applied only to the
| pending question. That was voted down. A Vest
ern member proposed previous question which allow
pdd ha of fbnn
as on pending amendments, thus imposing much sever
er gag; and, under the rules that now governed the
Convention, no amendment was in order; yet
plants made by Western gentlemen OF the dispo-
sition of the East to prevent freedom of debate.
Mr. HOPKINS, OF w. remarked that it was perfectly
competent for the House refuse to insert his amend
ment, and to insert whatever rule it pleased. He dis
claimed having expressed any apprehension, having
any anticipation that the East would attempt unustly
to restrict the right OF the West to be heard Ii such
course should ever be pursued said his duties as
member of this body would cease, and he would refer
the grievance to his constituents. he stated that he had
particular anxiety to the adoption OF one or another
form of previous question. That which he had pro-
posed he liked better than any other. 1t was no new
thing having been used for fifty years in the Spanish
Cortes
Mr.. FERGUSON, who had first used the expression
gag law" with reference TO the previous question, dis
claimed having any allusion whatever to Fast and
West. He spoke of the effect OF the previous ques
ton as he had observed its general operation in the
House of Delegates He desired to incorporate into
the rule provision that the question of ordering the
previous question, members might be allowed to speak
ten minutes.
After further discussion of the different forms of pre-
vious question: the Convention by A TO 49, refused to
insert the words proposed by Mr. HoFKINS, OF ashng-
ton,
Mr.. HopKINs, of Poyhatan, then moved an amend
men in effect not materially different from that OF Mr.
HOPKINS, OF Washington.
The previous question was ordered, ayes 6l noes CO.
The Convention refused to insert the amendment,
ayes %, noes 81.
Mr.. BowDEN now moved to insert the following
words:
"The previous question shall be wholly dispensed
with"
This amendment was rejected by the following vote:
AYEs-Messrs. Rives, Ro. G. Scott, Bolts, Bowden,
Edwards, Ira Williams, Archibald Stuart, White,
Woook h johg A. carer Andes esq VIM Ws
Lecher, Shefey, Stephenson Fultz Deneale Lionber-
GER Faulkner, Lucas Murphy, James E. Stewart, Blue
Martin. Jacob. Knote, Gally, Johnston, Camden,
Hays Joseph Smith, Garlic, Bland, McComas, Fisher,
Ferguson, Summers, Price, VIM. Smith,, Benz. II.
Smith. Hoge, McCamant, Chapman, Caper ton, Pende-
gore, and Dale w. Carter-6l.
NoEs-Messrs. Mason. PRESIDENT Finney, Samuel
Watts Petty A. Il Smith, Taylor Tuns Ridley Iss
Stanard, Davis M. r. H. Garrett, James Smith, M.
Garrett Braxton, Douglas, Morris, Beale, Straughan
Hall, snowden, VIM. Martin, Tredway Edmunds,
Turnbull Scoggin, Hill, Fuqua, Lynch, Arthur, Gar
land, Southall Lyon, Leake, Bowes Cooke, Barbour,
Banks Janney, Ro E. Scott, Strother Chiffon, Miller,
Moore Kenney, Newman, Samuels Seymour, Cook,
Hunter, Byrd and Wyson-64.
Before this vote was taken, Mr. HAYS expressed his
desire frame the rule so that twohrds must vote for
the previous question in order TO oil debate. Mr.
BowDEN said this could be done by way OF addition,
after the adoption OF his amendment, and Mr. II with
that understanding dessted from his moton.]
Mr. WATTS OF NJ, moved to amend so as to make the
previous question apply only the pending proposition,
and to allow members TO speak ten minutes on the ques-
ton OF ordering the previous question
Mr.. HAYS moved to amend the amendment SO as 10
require Of twothrds (instead Of majority TO
| order the previous question.
| This amendment reected-ayes 62, noes Cd.
The question then on the amendment OF Mr..
WATTS and the same was adopted-ayes 70, noes not
counted.
Then the final question was on the adoption of the
rule amended and it was decided in the affirmative
ayes a. noes so.
The rule, as adopted, is in these words:
Upon call for the previous question, no member
shall speak than ten minutes; unless such call be
seconded by twenty members, indicated by rising, the
President shall put question: but 1t so sustained
question shall be Immediately put by the chair to this
effect "sha the main question be now putt Ii, on
this question majority of the House vote in the atr-
NATIVE tine chair shall theeupon put the pending ques
tion and all incidental questions of order arising alter
motion is made Tor the previous question and pending
the notion shall be decided, whether on appeal or
otherwise, without debate"
Mr. BRAxToN, from the conn ee on the Compen-
sation OF Officers made report to the effect that
the CON pensation of the President be SIS day in adj
diton to his mileage of the Clerk 500 per week; OF
the Sergeant Arms $50 per week; OF each OF the
two Doorkeepers $28 per week; and OF each OF the
Pages Sl4 per week The report laid on the table
On motion OF Mr. HOPKINS of W., adjourned.
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