Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-20
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
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MONDAY MORNING, MAY 10, 1851.

RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
MoSDAY MORNING, NAY ~, 1851.
: -
THE CONVENTION ON SATURDAY
Held quiet session. The compromise report was report
ed the convention and the question Of amendment will
come up this morning From indications Saturday,
inclined believe with Mr. Claiborne that the principle Of
this compromise is immovaby fxed and in the language
of the Times that tho people will "quietly and cheerfuy
support the government with the modified form of which
| is to be established"
We glad see, that this vexed question may be
regarded settled that the determined
work ndusousy early and ate and get through their bu
sness by the Goth Of June May they succeed in audu
| 5e an end!
On Saturday, after prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Hoge,
On motion Of Mr.. HAYS, It was
Resolved That the Convention hereafter at nine
o'clock.
The Convention into Committee Of tho Whole, Mr.
Miller in the chair
Mr. III. r. II. GARsErT moved to amend Mr. Chllton's
proposition provide that tho re-apporonmen in
stead Of being made in 1865 shall be made the first
aion after fifteen years from the time when tho cons
tuition shah 60 into effect. Mr. G. said that, yesterday
gentlemen declared their willingness TO give fifteen years.
and he wished hold them their words Mr.. G. asked
the ayes and noes.
The committee refused 10 strike outs ayes Al, noes 81.
Mr.. MASON had wish embarruss the proposition be-
fore the committeebut in wo should adopt oennial
legislative sessions will be impossible to have decennia
reapporonmen of the Senate without changing the Sena
,oria term of four years. Unless the senatorial term be
fixed al wears or at years. the arrangement will not ope
rate.
Mt SUMMERS said that in the present Constitution we
have exactly the same provision.
Mr. TAYLOR thought should fix the senatorial term at
wears, 10 avoid the difficulty.
said fhe difficulty would
senatorial term be fixed either at or 3 years
Mr. TAYLOR reafrmed the position OF Mr. Mason, whch
was necessary remove the difficulty.
Mr. WlsE.-Rather than reduce the senatorial Term 70
wears he would prefer years. We ought to have expert
Mr. JAcos did not like the guise In which this amendment
offered.
Mr. MASON reafTmed his views, eontendng that the Sc
nntorsl term of Office must divsor Of the term of
anportionmep Otherwise Of the Senators would have
10 90 out OF Office before the expiration of their erm
Mr. WISE them suggested that the term OF re.apPorlon
men be reduced to s or increased'lo IL years
Mr. CARLlLE thought the difficulty would not 'hcfeoy oe
| removed >,
Mr. McCoMAs construed the present proposition as euy 10
Mr. FERGUSON suggested tina, be provided that all the
Senators should out on The issuing OF the
Mr. McCoxAs thought the present words meant exactly
| this.
Mr.. SUMMERS hoped ,ha, the Committee would adhere to
the proposition il lei tho phraseology ana matters o aeu
Mr. LETcuER said another reason for that was that
the legislative department would settle thls matter
J Mr.. SHErrEY took similar view.
MIR. MAsoS then withdrew his amendment
Mr. TAYLOR said this proposition was compact ana oar
nv 10 carry e Wods to the first
sion after the apportionment agreed TO- -.
Mr. BORIS moved amend the I'd section by striking OUT
the word biennial When this Convention assembled no
firmly convinced Than himself ot the expectancy
biennial legislative sessions He had since been INFORM
ed by leading gentlemen from those States which had adopt
ad
But above ALL he utterly opposed to giving any man. as
Governor, the power 10 appoint TWO u "
that blank be left leave 1t 10 be properly FILED he!c-
after. :. ,,. ,,o
oueson ~ ernio lepisla -e--ousand he had no OBJ
esH,H motion Mr. Bolts to leave this matter blank
| for ,b- -esen,.
Mr. DAVIS tapSed his colleague for anticipating motion
he himself he'd determined make. In his "way bill he
had nei.y ,sen e ground in favor OF annual % cons
gree especially in view OF the present condition OF the
country.
MIR. BococK moved amend the proposition In doing
he did wish to compete with the gentlemen who had
he svowed himself opposed Ae desired however make
it intelligibe and more reasonable His amendment was
ho in 1865 when the two Houses cannot agree pn-
cpe of re-apporionment of both houses Of house
the question o dsagreement-the issue made up by the TWO
Houses-shal be submitted to the vote of the people In
1865 hoped there would bu less feeling and more identity
of interest Than He trusted there would then be no
difficulty between the East and the Wes-ou, II there
|
MIR Bocock said that if in 1865 House should submit
one basis and the other different one The Governor should
submit both of them the vote OF the people In case the
General Assembly shall fail certify to the Governor the
rule or principle of the disagreement the Governor SHALL by
proclamation submit the question of representation on white
population or of white population and taxation comoineo'
ior one or both Houses to the vote of the people.
Mr. SUMMERS thought it better that the matter be laid
over until committee of revision details can perfect the
matter This had been considered in the committee
and had been found that the proposuon ops'e
badly Mr. Summers doubted the policy OF investing an or
ing specific principle of representation to bs submitted 70
the people, Again. or the other House might De equally
divided and the question of disagreement might not be sub
mit,ed.
Mr. BococK had offered his proposition, to make the COM
| promise less exceptionable. :,
! Mr. FAuLxsER could see no objection to MIR. Bocoek's
proposition which understood calculated to allow
the both sections to make an issue before ne
He thought that hereafter we should hear but little Of h
question Of basis. Mr. F. suggested that the provision
could be nude by slight amendment whoutin inserting MT
Bococks proposition. He had objection to allowing 10
part of the people to submit any issue they may desire
MIR. WISE would probably, be opposed of MIR
Bococks proposition but this was not the proper time 10
propose it. Mr.. Wise glad that this compromise had al
ready exered blessed influence 1t had made the
! dumb TO speak and the lame to walk.
Mr. SAUNDERS referred to Mr.. Bococks alision to the
dead men here. He (Mr s. did not know whether he
dead or alive He had intended in his action do his du
~ 10 his consttuents-snd if he had any vitality, make
this compromise uneXcepuonooo az possible, by voting
I for Mr.. Bococks proposition.
Il MIR Bococx thought that sometimes might be bless
ing that those who speak should De made dumb The gen
power 10 the Legislature allow the people to decide the
basis vet he advocates the position that the same Legsa
,nre of 1865 should themselves decide the same question:
Mr.. W,sar1ELp had agreed to The Committees PROPOSE
ton as compromise should adhere TO 1t long as it
/ ceived majority of the Convention MI. was IN favor
of Mr. Bocock's proposonbut as the rends OF tne COM
promise thought this proper e he should defer until
j that moment >,
,sor in Convention amendments might be cut of by
The previous question But the proposition Of mr. s9eoss
was not matter of form but of substance ana sno1o DOW
be acted upon He thought that the will OF the people, or
large portion of the people 1865 should be carried out,
/ That will is now restricted by the committees pfoposon
Mr. CHIIros replied positions of his colleague
1 Mr.. Stroller. :, al s;dee admi,
Mr. SrAsARp said that while gentlemen on all s!oes & ~
the nroprety of Mr. Bococks proposition they are aeou ~
nu, themselves on record against it. on the ground tnat
matter should not be acted on in committee OF ine Mnoi
verv different course pursued by these gentemen s
n VA since in regard the proposition for the
cities The committee was the proper place io
Sregarded this no compromise eut as an u.ee anu