Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-18
MONDAY, February 10, 1851.


Mr. GOODE I had the honor on SATURDAY last ~
present report to the Convention from the Oommi.'e
IN the Legislative Department On that occasion nao
the happiness to state the House that tne ucoel'
lions OF the committee had been conducted with hari
nv and good feeling among its members have to re-
ore. that their proceedings have not been marked WIN
nanimiry There were several very interesting subjects
referred to the committee upon which there was u'e
sity OF sentiment and among the the great SUBJECTS OF
taxation and providing for the future extinguishmen or
at least dminution of the public debt On these SUD
ecs as might naturally be expected there was consue
rable difference of opinion, and It Is my misior' ~
differ from the majority of the committee with reeafu "
that. have felt it duty which owe to my cohs..
rnts and the citizens of the Commonwealth, IN relation
10 this subject to throw my opinions into tho form q"
amendments which intend to offer TO the report OF tie
committee the proper occasion submit them now
and ask that they may be laid the table and printed
Tor the use of the members of the Convention
The proposition is as follows:
Privileges OF .H7nb.rs OF the General assembly
At the end Of the clause requiring journal to be kept
And onetenth part of the members present, shall
have right to require that the vote on amy question be-
taken by ayes and uoes and entered on the journal
Each House may punish by Imprisonment any per.
son. member OF either House. for disrespectfu ai'
disorderv behavior in its presence for obSructing the
business Such Imprisonment shall not exceed ten days
Tor any one offence.
The members of the General Assembly SHALL III all
cases except treason felony and breach of the peace he
privileged from arrest during their attendance ut t II
sessions of their respective houses and going to or -
turning from the same and for any speech debate II
either House they shall not be questioned in any otr
place.
No bill shall have the force Of law, until, on three
several days be read in each House of Asssmly
and free discussion allowed thereon unless case {"
emergency the House where the bill shall be pending
nay deem it expedient to dspense with this rule.
TAXATION
Strike out first and second clauses of the article
taxation and Insert
The General Assembly shall have power to lay and
collect capitation tax-tax property tax income
aud salaries licenses law process and notarial seals
THE PUBLIC INDEBTEDNESS, &C
Strike out the article providing for the creation 9"
sinking fund. and insert:
There shall be set apart annually by law from the
enu.s of the Commonwealth, sum equal To- seven Pr
cent oil the State debt existing the lst day Of Jan
1852 which shall be applied annually to the payment
The interest On the State debt and Of such part OF IL,
,rrcpal as may be redeemable Ii there be part d
the State debt Sedeemable much of the thus SCI
apart rs shall remain after the payment of the annual IN
eres shall be applied to the purchase OF bonds or cer
hcaes Of debt of the Commonwealth
An bonds and certificates debts redeemed pur
chased Us aforesaid shall to bear interest on h
.ay of such purchase payment or redemption ana shall
e regularly destroyed by the Governor IN the presence
q. the General Assembly, at the first session which shat
be holden after the purchase payment or redemption
such bond or certificate of debt.
Whenever after the first day of January, eighteen
hundred and fifty two, law shall be passed authorz:
The creation of public debt it shall be provided IN t
same act of money shall be set apart annual
from IN. revenues of the Commonwealth equal to egi
Der cent on the amount of the said debt which shall
appiied annually towards the payment of the nteres
and principal of the debt authorized by the act until lii
entire debt shall be paid at which time the provision +"
a ST trht nar rauf sho pyp
Tie Legislature shall pass all laws necessary to car
~ nto effect the Aregoing provisions of this article
!" The General Assembly shall not contract loans .
caused TO lie issued bonds certificates OF debt, wit
shall be lrredcemable for term longer than twenty
four wears and all bonds, certificates OF debt, wic
shall be issued hereafter shall contain stipulation tina
IN. holders accept OF payments IN conformity witt
The provisions of this article.
The faith Of the State shall not be pledged in an
form for the debts, obligations or liabilities OF any IN
diyilual Joint stock company, or corporation.
No law charging the debt shall take effect and b
mt into execution until after its enactment by the frs
legislature returned by general election after ts pa
sage"
!" The General Assembly shall have power to autho
rz the counties cities and Incorporated towns to lnpoS
faxes for county and corporation purposes but no cou
=, CITY or Incorporated shall borrow money
tract debt more than one year intil such rea
snr. sIn have been sanctioned by majority of all til
holders of real estate such county, city or corporation
be printed.
Mr.. GOODE. The Committee on the Legislative De
artment have had under consideration various resolu
lions to them referred from the further consideration
which they ask to be discharged; to wit: of nemora
Of citizens Of Jefferson and Rockbrig. counties pray
the removal of free negroes from the Commonwealth
and from the following resolutions, viz:
Resolutions offered BY Mr. WHIrrLLR, Mr.. Boris an'
Mr. IroSs respectively. OF the e9th OF October relating
10 the removal of free negroes and muattoes; resoi
,ions offered by Mr. CAMDEN and Mr. SrRAucHAS respect
yel on the 2Sth of October in relation TO the ursdc
lion of the Senate the term or the Senatorial tenure
and the times of meeting OF the Senate; u resolution
Mr. CARIILE offered on the 2Sth OF October, IN rela
t;on Ia the formation of new counties and of taking
the census of the State in 1855 and every ten years
thereafter resolution of MIR. JOHNSON, offered on the
2sth of October in relation to the OF oaf'
Of Public Works: and resolution offered by Mr. Mus
coz GARRETT on the 30th of October IN relation to III
.ratiye Offices ministers of the gospel, and priests
All of these subjects being embraced substantially IT
the general report the committee deem 1t unnecessary
to take separate action on these particular resolutions
and have Instructed me to ask to be discharged IRON
their further consideration.
The motion was agreed to, and the committee accord
ngly discharged.
THE ExECUTIFE DEPARTMENT.
On motion of Mr. BLUE, the Convention resolved it
self into committee of the whole Mr. WATTS, OF Nor
tolk county in the chair the report OF the Commit
lee on the Executive Department
RE-ELlGiBlLlrY XHE GOVERNOR.
The CHAIR stated the question to be on the hrs
clause of the fret article Of the report and the amend
ments pending thereto
Mr. CLAIBORNE. l presume that the sllmness d
the congregation at this early hour will justify me IL
addressing the committee for few moments without
any apology The Importance that has been given t.
the question under consideration, and my connection
with the Executive Committee WILL hope justify
for trespassing upon the patience Of the committee
fear already exhausted by the endless debate on this
subject lnas been my fortune to study the science OF
government only in the history of my own country In
stead of looking back to the mutted columns Of Athens
and of Sparta for examples have sought them IN the
giant strides of sister States in the West When
rst entered the political hut few years back.
attempted Danish from my mind the obsolete ideas of
the past and have sought for information in the prac
tcs experience of the present My first appearance be-
fore my countrymen was as an advocate Of eonstitr
tonal convention for reform and whilst claim to
tertan as great respect for the suggestions of the le
gslature that adopted the original Constitution Of vir
sna and justly to appreciate the wisdom Of few Of
'eo am hound To believe that the Constitution il