The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07
ADJOURNMENTOF TIE VIRGINIA CONVENTION.

The Convention of Virginia, which has beer
| sitting at Richmond during the last eight months
have at length agreed upon the form Of a new
Constitution for that State, and brought its SEES
sion TO close The Constitution has yet TO be
submitted TO vote Of the people, but Of It's accept
ance by them no doubt appears 10 be entertained
| The final vote upon IL in the Convention was
taken on Thursday evening" when, on the ques-
ton of its engrossment, which was submitted as
a test question, it was adopted by the following
vote
AYEs--Messrs. Anderson, Armstrong, Bird Of
s. Blue, Bolts, BOwden, Brown, Byrd Of Fred
erick Camden, Garlic, Carter Of Loudoun, Chap
man, Chiffon, Davis, Douglas Edwards, Faux
ner, Ferguson, Finney, Fisher, Flood, Floyd, Fulk-
erson Fultz, Gally, Garland, Muscoe Garnet
Hays Hill, Hoge, Hopkins, Jacob, Johnson, X en-.
ney, Kilgore, Knote, Letcher, Lyon, Lucas, Nc
Camant, McCandlish, Martin of Marshall, Mar
tin Of Henry, Miller, Moore, Murphy, Neeson,
Newman, Pendleton, Petty, Purkins, Randolph,
Seymour, Sheffey, Sloan, Smith Of Kanawha,
Smith Of Jackson, Smith Of Greenbrier, Snowden
Southall, Stephenson, Stewart Of Morgan, Strau'
CHAN Stewart of Patrick, Summers, Tate, Taylor,
Van Wrinkle, Watts OF Norfolk county, Watts OF
Roanoke White, Williams Of Fairfax, Williams
Of Shenandoah, Wise, and Worsham-75.
NoEs-Messrs Mason, (President,) Arthur,
Banks, Barbour Bocock, Bowles, Braxton, Carter
Of Russell, Chamblss Cooke, Conway, Fuqua,
M r. H. Garnet, Goode, Hall, Jsnney, Jasper,
Jones, Leake, Lynch, Meredith, Morris, Ridley,
Riyes, Scoggin, Scott of Richmond city, Shell,
Smith of Norfolk county Standard, Turnbull,
White, Wingheld, aud Woolfolk-33.
The following members had paired Off In the
affirmative, Messrs. Wiley, Wysor, Caperton,
Deneale, Claiborne, Trigg, Hunter, Price, and
Snodgrass in the negative, Messrs. Beale Cox,
\ Gontt If n &aott nf 2srn h.
Treadwsy, aud Smith Of X and q.
Several members, as they gave their votes, made
explanatory statements. Mr. Summers said he
voted In the affirmative as a representative, but,
ss private citizen, should vote against the Con-
stitution
The Richmond Times Of yesterday epitomIzes
some Of the most important provisions Of the new
Constitution as follows:
Nearly all State and county officers are to be
elected by the people, including the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor, the Judges OF the Supreme,
District and Circuit Courts, and the Justices OF
the Peace, Commonwealth Attorneys, Clerks,
and Sheriff.
The Legislature Is 10 be apportioned, the
House Of Delegates on the suffrage basis with q
Western majority Of fourteen, and the Senate
with an Eastern majority Of ten, which arrange
ment Is To continue until 1855, when the Legisls-
ture may agree upon new apportionment, or
submit the question Of basis 10 the people.
Taxes are TO be ad vdiorem, except that slaves
under twelve years Of age are exempted. White
males twenty-one years old are TO pay capitation
tax equal 70 the tar on $500 worth Of land. Slaves
over twelve years Of age are not TO pay more than
the tax on $500 worth Of land. And licenses, In
comes, and salaries may be taxed at the discretion
Of the Legislature.
Seven per cent Of the existing debt Of the State,
and Of every future debt, IL TO be set apart an
nually for the payment Of the interest and Princ-
pal.
The new Constitution Is 10 be submitted TO the
voters qualified under II, on the fourth Thursday
In October the returns made 10 the Governor,
and II he proclaim II ratified, the Legislature then
elected Is 70 be superseded by the new Legtsla-
ture, which will DO elected on the second Monday
in December, and will meet on the second Mon
day In January and thereafter the sessions viii be
biennial.
From this summary reospitulation II will DO
perceived, says the Times, that the prominent
notifications OF the present Constitution consist
10 tho adoption Of the system Of popular elections
10 all departments Of Government In the absn-
doDment Of the principle OF the representation OF
property, and In requiring the Legislature TO pro-
vide for the payment Of the present and every
failure public debt NATIONAL basii,gsge1.