Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-22

r. they want Convention twenty wears h'hce .,e
have Il. and alter the Constitution rs ne, 'n l.;po
,han hone those who are in favor "i o'enn'
will not suffer them to De- uod that thew will conc
Il n tho nncston directly and vote here 1t 'u, constr.
! nepts wished US to vote when they sen' Us
| have biennial SESSIONS Gu, ~ rJe within
MIR sTROTHER desire TO say n le" %,n' n.;'h ,le
tho ten minutes rule entertain the "P'to, W."
au+,mnn from Harrison MIR CAMpES that te W. e',u
Ir.nt h. nrnnoses il the proper cnc Wv, VIC -
man from aIeckl.nburg and Loud"rii r:s; ~ 10.
nrono-itiou as one invading upon coh's"'na'
! 10 not think so because reghr.l .'.e " -
W.: W., , Ills one Of infringing upon coi"e'tnha
i, h,v, entertained the opinion lha' tie ohec.
f " C,.veption was 10 settle srert principles q constr
t.tiural government, ana 10 ieNe go, IT,
md .xpeiencv to the Legislature, 10 times chang" or
""u come UP nevr- Supposed the :unciicu
&c C,rcnou was to make s;rai!,lscke: ior ri 'u:u
r;,v and 10 ni. within he f:>..!t nn.s Use TriicE
an1 action of failure grnerat'"is 'l.d supposed Ia"
Convention would leave thee qnesIoas .: poi'y alle
~nsrncv to be governed by The necessities anA cx.
,:. of the community under different cl:cr!S:' ces
AMI vby and under Whist circus ahcss. Is II Tint 1t IS
NOT rroper that the present ptope % thiS generation
boJ leave to the generation hereafter Q" c:ie 10 set
ia ,n as,i,a,s Of cx,crcncy fot hcmss'csf We are
nronhets nor the Of prophets, and there
Care we ,ot undertake 10 tell VIII Certainty wAetier
n ti.vrears hence annual sessions ay not lie propA
orJ n.c..,arr Are W. TO force tie le"p.c Of tia ~
,n s he perils of C"ncentonl tnc 1t Tie people Of
Virginia now look upon Convention a'rewha' di:ieT
.n,Ir IRON, what they did twclv% months Ii : Are We
70 eypose them TO oil these peTs hrrty lr tue pur
no.e Of allowing them to change rre resting upon
rp.aiency alone / do not think that ! am here ms .
ru,-disn or the present md the future both BIT
hrr. l., frame constitution in such form will
form TO the interests and views OF the peole, so far
!, is proper to put them INFO fun ;Inrn:al law.
Thu gentleman from Loudouu CIR. CaRlLR) suggest
that this il move intended to defeat by side blow
the proposition for biennial sessions. How en- it do
thai The present people are in f'vcr Of oennal srs-
siors They will have them in this provision. II tie
people hereafter wish to change that provision i: is to
be expressed bv vote of threefourt If their repre-
scutatves in the general assembly. Why. Cannot the
people twenty years hence-hirty years l"nce-hfty
wears hencebe trusted with question st inns sort
when YOU throw upon them the requirement that :wo-
thirds Of tlm shall agree this CHANGE l. T."
me highly proper that upon this subject, and ali qnss
tions of mere interest and cxpc'cirv, tie change n
circumstances should be left as much possible with
in the control OF the people, aud the: should not have
to undergo the Necessities Of C"avcu:i"n Tor these
matters Of trivial Importance in comparison with VIA;
are the true functions of 4 Convert n
I Mr. FERGUSON. b:evs tie amendment is amend.
, able.
The CHAIR Yes sir.
. Mr. FERGCSON move to strike ort the amend
nrnt aud insert tho following prcpns::i1: as cub
stitate:
THE general assembly Shall hnve power. ina ;Ori:y
Of the members elected To each < rcnrlnrilg,
tine after the year 1858, to submit :" the qnali:e
90 ers of the State the question whit or the rcSsl Ms
thereafter shall be annual or benna. AM II M "rit
II the cast upon the que tio lie i'll favor OF anna'
sessions then he eSons ct the general assembly shall
be annual instead Of biennial.
will only say ii it is the purpose Of the Convention
at ali to put it in the power cf the general assembly 10
change this Constitution in any respect according TO nv
humble judgment the only way in winch il can 'cgi'I,
.natcly be done is for them to submit l. 10 the people
themselves. will not give tic wh9't general assem-
biz the power to change any provision OF ;:c Constit:
lion Now, arprehcnd these biennial SESSIONS will mol
sosk WELL tut am willing .ha they have lair change
10 be tried am willing without tie necessity Of call.
ing another Convention that the people mas have the
power correct them upon the question cing submit
led 10 them ] agree with my friend from Orange in
he necessity Of providing in this Constitution IN RI.
gard 10 every question, against the necessity o. calling
auc;her Conventions will not 90 frame this C.s,s;;a
ton that single provision would operate SO dc!eer.
rusy upon the public interest as 10 require t!e to ca
a.oiher Convention 1t is thus with icnnial ses ions
ii the people in future should think pr"rer 10 Change
them would give them that power.
MIR JACOB. | shall not at present vote fer the
amendment Of the gentleman from Logan, hn; harc
not made up my mind that pro-! n -i'a' III prlnc
pie may De proper 10 be Inserted L.: ne Constitution
not ou!y in egar to this matter nut rcrar III regard
20 some others think it is probable HAT may be 'he
a,c ard may find it proper 70 insert clauses OF thai
character in the Constitution. | would not Dc wiling
however, at this stage Ct our rroce Ding 10 Undertake
10 in .erl clause for this purpose a!oHe.
Mr. TAYLOR. VIII the :ScutIc.nan assi-n 10 the ic
sisaturc the power to change any fro':sior' am OPP
posed putting this questions or any other ii toir DIS
crctit H. shall for the amendment of tie cca! e
na from Logan and afrr arus vote yaist the amend
!ent anleHdcd.
Mr. CAMDEN. desire to the gentleman
that am in favor of biennial sessions and ;ha. shall
vote for them But, as stated before, This is irer,
: obi h,yp al in III
Constitution provision by which 1t can be chanEet
. should it turn different from what expect, ant
that may thereby save the calling of another Con
renlon.
/ Mr. CARTER, Of Loudoun. Do l understand thc
1 gentleman to s:atc that lie has changed his opinions
! upon the subject Of biennial sessions;
e Mr. CAMDEN. did not make sHch statement
c stated that came here decidedly in favor of benna
SESSIONS but thai since tie commcnccmcut Of the ii
cuesom Of this question, had era ned doub
r Is to whether biennial sessions wouli work cX
"a pectcd. Now, word about giving the power 10 TIT
IS legislature 10 change the constitution secias TO M
i when that matter is properly considered it moth
ing !, is 10 pcwer given 10 the legislature 10 chang
any great fundamental principle OF the c"ns.ii nion
! IS the gentleman fom Rappahanock :lr. STRorHER
q has stated II is the power decide mere question
J. Of expcdcncy s;hich confer upon hc e-isature
L II merely allows that body by we Of three fourth
of the members elected Of both houses to decide whet'
e er there shall be annual instead OF biennial sessions
# the legislature Now, the l. gsiarc derives all il
\ ~
/ confers upon the Legislature the power 10 decide he
}, tween bcnna! annual Sessions Of the legislature
u mere question Of cxpediency-I hunby conceive Their
.. would be violation Of that instrument for the lcgis
!. aiure to exercise the power conferred upon them.
o The question being taken upon tie amendment pro
10 posed by Mr.. FERGUSON 10 the amendment i, wa
E. rejected.
a. The question then REQUIRED upon tie adoption OF tn
10 amendment, aud being taken it also re iec.ed.
), Mr.. McCOMAS wish to hare the clause ''uncs
q convened by the acting governor &c, stricken out
much prefer the languagendicatedby gcnlcmanfror
r. SHENANDOAH (ilr. WLLAMs) The language used her
by the legislative committee does rot make it manda
tory upon the governor to convene the legislature wine
q called upon by the majority of its ncnhers do
j; but leaves it to his discretion. do not understand
i, test having been made before this house after tn!
~ >, majority Of the legislature shall lave demanded cal
- of the Legislature, whether it is then 10 DC left III
discretion Of the governor, iii imperative upon hin
to convene the legislature. In the amendment pro
posed BY the gentleman from Systematically desire tn
word majority inserted in place Of the words ''threo
=, ffths'' The amendment which propose would the
read but the acting governor, application i'll
of majority Of the members elected TO each hou
Of the assembly shall or when in his opiSipn, the in
terests Of the commonwealth require il, ay conveu