Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-27

Mr.. JACOB. address myself to the gentleman from
Southampton mir MAsoS.) l wish to know whether
the object is to remove the difficulty to re-cassyng
or reapporonug correctly the senator's or wheth
er the object to fix now what shall De the term OF the
senatorial oficei If the object is to fix the term Of
material Office let settle that That is grave ques-
ton and then very easily frame the work to
make it accomplish purposes to future apportion-
ments do not think that under the guisc OF Produ'
cling harmony consistency in the matter oil future
portionments ought to settle the grave question OF
the terms Of senatorial service should be In favor OF
Mr.. MASON. / do not think it is very important
matter. have suggested the difficulty because, &C
cordng to my views it Id fundamentally denonstra
lille that this part Of the Constitution could not be
ried into effect Now, observe. The purpose s, tc
classify the Senate aud to give term OF four years
Your re-apportonnens are to be decennlal Now, al
the end of ten years from the first election the Sc
nate will he divided into two classes while the terms
of shaf of the will have expired, the terIs
of the other half will have two years to run. Well the
Legislature enters upon the task of reapporonment
They must either adopt precisely the apportionmenl
they had before or if they make new districts YOU will
have larger number Of senators than the Constitution
gives you the Offices of one half OF the sena
tors who had served two years. and who had two years
vet to run.
MIR. WISE. ] see the idea. l think the gentleman
from Southampton is perfectly correct We can retain
the of four years for the Senate and meet the diff
6cuy. by making areapportionment every eight years
Mr.. MASON. Every II years The proposition is
self-evdent that your term of service must De dvl'
sor Of your term of apportonment, otherwise. when
the period of aPportonment comes, there s portion
of the body that have uneHp red terms. Now, II you
provide that the senator's whose terms unexpred
shall continue to serve those counties are unrepesent
ed for the time being 1t Is matter suggest in spl-
t of candor and fairness towards the authors of the
proposition because it is obvious to me- that great ncon-
venience will be found to exist in practice, whenever
sou come to apply it.
Mr. CARLILE. If the senators are divided into class:
es suggested upon my left and onehalt are elected
every years would not the difficulty occur at
the end Of eight years. would ut the end Of ten
years.
/ Mr. MASON. The difficulty is the easiest thing i'll
the world to avoid The effect would be, either to en-
large the term to divisor Of ten. and that is FIVE. or
you reduce the term to two years when there would he
no classification The whole senate would be vacated
as we'll as the house. to make reapportonmen
Mr.. TAYLOR The effect would he to have all the
seats vacated at the same time.
Mr. CARLILE. Then there would be this objection
Instead Of having one-ha Of the Senate who might b,
considered having experience III previous legis
atiOn, YOU would have entire new Senate Mt the e&'
| piratOn Of every four years to which am opposed
| Mr. MASON That would be the effect unless you
enlarge tho term. Ny proposition does not effect the
question of appointment 1t will be observed III the
proposition itself that the preceding section fixes the
.
regard to the Senate does not fix the term Mt ALL except
in tina; part TO which referred. 1t would be the
lest thing in the world for gentlemen to fix the term
beg leave reply to the question propounded BY
the gentleman from kauawha. Mr.. SUMNER 1t true
that the eSistin. constitution embraces the prnc
pie because the Senate Of Virginia now organized Ii
fact divided into four classes If the Legislature had
exerted the power given to of re.apportnng Mt the
eud Of years there would be three classes with un
expires TERMS In regard to the inquiry why it was
~, I AZ ihut,t
very imposing argument 1t il au orgumcntwa mi homi
nrm. | will only say my attention wa not called
TO it. 1t never struck as existing and am nov
satisfied it is an objection.
! Mr. McCOMAS 1t seems to me, that if you reap
portion at the end Of eight years have class to
run years. and those elected at the end of years
will have only four years to When YOU reappor
lion at the end Of twelve years what is the result: Two
go at the end Of two years while those elect
cd in their places will have ten years aud thus there will
be unexpired term of two years.
Mr. FERGUSON. | have proposition to submit
which will perhaps obviate all difficulty in this matter
Let the Of all the Senators be vacated and new
election be held and if desired classification to be
made Mt each session thereafter. The only difficulty
would be, that portion of the Senators would hold
office Que two years Instead of four. They would
have session instead of two but that is DO great in
convenience can to any body and would obriate
the necessity of changing this report
Mr JACOB. ! desire to make personal explanation
When was up before, said that did not desire t"
see the grave question of what should be the Senatorial
settled under of settling what should be the
language with regard future appointments. 1t has
been suggested by friends ME, that the language
might be possibly construed to apply to the motives OF
gentlemen who may have taken part in this discussion
had not the slightest thought Of any such thing.
meant literally what said and nothing else.
Mr. CAMDEN. rise to ascertain exactly what is the
proposition offered by the gentleman from Southampton
The proposition read.
Mr. CAMDEN. | am in favor Of shortening the term
Of the members Of the House OF Delegates and of the
Senate. Ii it would be in order would make motion
to that effect and thus obvate the necessity of taking
up the question in future However il ID suggested
that it can be done we'll ut other time, will
leave il.
Mr. SUMMERS. beg leave to suggest that if il be
the pleasure Of the committee Of the whole to report
the proposition that has been inserted III The blank t"
the Convention and if it should meet the favor of that
body presume the necessity will arise to refer the
matter to committee for the purpose of making the
appointments contemplated by both in the Senate
and in the House Of Delegates. Now would remark
that the committee that reported this proposition did
expect Mt all that the phraselogy here employed
would be strictly adhered to- ne it drawn up some
what hurriedly. The Convention was understood at
the time to be waiting for their report and of course
sufficient time was not allowed the committee 10 place
it exactly in the form in which this Convention would
approve it. imagine that if the question of majority
and time can be settled, there will be no difficulty III
reference to the matter OF detail and phraseoogy
hope therefore, it will be the pleasure OF the commit
tt. to adhere the report is and as to the al
teraiun of phraseoogy they be attended to here
after. hope the gentleman from Southampton will not
ud himself constrained to press the amendment now.
BECAUSE will be considered hereafter and there will
be no difficulty apprehend in putting it in proper Ian
guage There other slight amendments of phrase.
Ulogy that my become necessary. think the better
course is to adhere TO it and if them after of priu
cpe settled the matters of detail bs easily
ranged afterwards.
Mr. LETCHER. There seems to be another reason
Why that course should be pursued The legislative
committee has regulate the terms Of office of the
House aud Senate and say whether it be for two four
years Upon this report this question will come up il
this report should be in opposition to the adjustment
made in committee of the whole or the Convention. IN
regard the legislative departments this would have OF
course 10 be changed to conform to it. 1t is better it
seem, to me- let it pass BY for the present to take 1t
up when the principle is settled
Mr. WISE. | care not at what intervals your ap- |
port ionmeuts be made this whole difficulty can be set
tied By simply providing that the first class of Senators
shall serve but two years instead of four.
MIR MASON That is the effect of my amendment.
Dir. WISE. The effect is TO reduce the term OF the |
Senators from four to two years.
Mr. MASON. The first class two aud thereafter four.
Mr. WISE Sou can oroyide that Mt the comm encc |