Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-23
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.

I MONDAY, July l4th.-It was decided thai III
Governor should not be re eligible without an in
! lervenng term, and that he shall be native bar,
cllzen Of the United States.
| II was decided by one majority that the Secreta
| nv of the Commonwealth Shall be elected by tn
people, and hold his office for two years
Ii was conlended that The Presden. of the Sen
ale and Lieutenant Governor was an executive, an
not a legislative officer. and a motion was made I
strike out the section giving him The casting vot
IN the Senate, In case OF tie. Failed.
"Five thousand dollars" as the salary of tn
Governor was stricken out, and after many motions
and suggestion OF minimum amounts, the House a
greed IL leave the matter to be regulated Oy law
and then took recess until Al O'clock.
| Mr.. Scott, of f., presented The memorial of tw
citizens now confined in Jail, and who have beef
for some time, praying the abolition of in,prison
ment for debt.
TUEsDAY.-The consideration of the Execuiy,
Report was resumed. One or two unmportant
mendmenls were made. The vote of Monday il
reference to The Governors salary was reconsider
ed, and it was determined "that the Go1erno
shall receive the sum of $4,000 for each year Of hi
service" II was alsu determined that the Lieu
tenan, Governor, as President of the Senate, shall
have no vote, and that the Secretary Of the Com
monwealth shall be elected by The Legislature in
stead of the people.
WEDNEsDAY.-The Chair announced the Com
mtIee on ScheJuIe-the Committee which is IL
prescribe the appendage TO the Constitution, which
is 10 put the new Government in motion.
The Chair also announced the Committee on
Revision and ENDORSEMENT, of which Mr. Shelley
of Augusta, is chairman.
The Report on the Right of Suffrage was then
taken up.
The Convention struck out the clause saying
that any man who votes more than once in the
same election shall De forever disranchissd, so as
to leave the penalty for such crime ~ the Legs-
lalure.
motion for The pre- payment of tax before vo-
ting, laed.
The motion of Mr.. Wise, of Accomac county.
mol 10 require a naturalized citizen of the United
States To take the oath OF allegiance to The State of
Virginia before voing, was agreed to.
The report of the Committee on Suffrage was
then ordered to be referred to the Committee on
Revision
County Courts and County Organizations was
then taken up.
THUR,DAY-The Convention, was diligently
occupied in considering the Report Of The Commit
lee of The Whole on the subject of County Courts
and County Organization. Various amendments
were offered, INST Of which were rejected and Fl &.
naIly the Report was adopted nearly in the shape
in which it came from the Committee.
FRlDAY.-The consideration of the Legislative
Report was resumed. provision relative to the
coercion of payment from Internal Improvement
Companies and Colleges for amounts due the State,
for anolnIs due as loans or otherwise, was stricken
out, and the matter left to the Legislature.
Twenty-Five instead Of thirty years was fixed
upon as The age of Senator; and twenty-one in
stead Of twenty five for Delegate.
The Balance OF The Legislative Report, with its
guarantees Of per capita taxation on each white man
over the age of lwenty-one years, exemping slaves
under twelve years ofage from ad valorem taratiOn
and providing that other slaves shall not at any
time be taxed more than $500 worth Of land, was
cuncurrei in.
Al the evening session. Mr.. Wise moved to strike
out The ar'i -durlng clause Of the Constitution. -
He mad aE eloquent speech in support Of his mo-
liun, an against The huniang an i'm moral char
acter of lest oaihs. Motion rejected--ayes 81
noes 65.