Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15


Senator who shall have attained the age Of thrt
years. and any person may be elected 10 the HOUSE
Delegates who has obtnln=d the age OF twenty
Now no person has ever thought OF putting The cor
struction upon that which the gentleman from hanaWn
suggests. el3sge
/ Mr.. SMITH, of kanawhn was perfectly aware tina
that the language of the present Constitution ou'
think that it would be better to adopt such lah-uase
would be susceptible of amy such Interpretation as
hare suggested Negative language will effect that %
j.ct. .as
4 Mr.TAYLOR. I move 10 strike out from the amend
ment the words my person may be elected senate
who Mt tho time vi his election shall have attained TN
age of thirty Years, and shall BIZ actually resaen
within the district aud insert in lieu thereof the words
No person shall be elected Senator who, al ll!e ta'
Of his election, shall not have attained the nge n ir
years, and be actually resident within the district
und in the fourth line strike the words ANY per
son may be elected n member of the House n De!e
gates who, at the time of his election, shall have Atla
ed the age of twenty five years and shall BE- acii!
resident within the county, Gc and insert in lien there
of the words No person shall be elsctc. member {"
the House Of Delegates who at the time Of h> election
shall have attained the age ftwenty years ard
be actually resident within the county DC.
/ Mr. WISE The proposition before the House in
wolves another question believe which has never been
raised N either amendment 1t is whether ladies' as
well gentlemen may not be Senators and Delegates
Laughter. submit that question to my friend from
Appumattox. (alr. BucocK.)
4 MEMBER. Not unless they qualified voters
| The question was then taken upon the first amend
neut of Mr.. TAYLOR and it adopted count being
had-aves 49, noes 81.
MIR. TAYLOR. Now comes the second amendment.
Mr. WISE The question was taken on both
The CHAIR No: the question was tasen on only
one but the principle being settled in the ole case the
chair will consider it decided in the other unless oe
lection be made by some member
No objection being made, the amendment was agreed to-
Mr. McC.ANDLISH. Will you report Ia" whole sec
| tiom rs it is amended
The amended substitute was then read BY the okcHE
! FAIRY follows:
"No person shall be elected Senator win" nj 'hc time
of his election shall have attained the OF thirty
wears and be actually resident within the district
qualified to vote for members of the Genera! assembly
according to this Constitution Nopcrsn shall be eject
81 member Of The House of Delegates vito, at the
lime of his election shall mt have attained The age 81
wentv five years and he actually rcsdcn; within TIE
county cv town. election district qualified TO vote
for members of the General Assembly and rot d'qnaII-
ned by this Constitution
Mr. GoODE. now propose to amend the ,cctio OF
the report of the Legislative committee by Inserting IN:
amendment Of the gentleman from Madison, Ar bASks
liking the time of the age nj the day of election IL i
in order oppose for the friends Of h" original section
to perfect It.
the CHAIR 1t now reads, Any person may be
elected member Of the Senate who shall ::'e attained
the age of thirty years. motion IS made I" aen 'E
Ill
If election 80 as to make read Any prr'n may be
elected Senator who at the time Of his election shall
ave attained the age of thirt, year,
The amendment agreed TO.
Mr. GOODE will move 4 consequential aIlen''
mont that the sane words be made applicable; 20 mem,
Der If the H~ae y! Delegates
/ The CHAIR The committee having determined 10
apply il 10 members of the Senate. the char VIII con-
slider il applying also to the House 81 Delegates u
less objection be made.
No objection being made il cons Tered agreed TO-
+, Mr. WISE There has been cGn,:,inn in under
standing the motion made by the gentleman from sleek
:enburg (Mr. CnAMnERs) understood him simply u
;rupns. to leave the disqwifcalics ana leave N
The qualifications. The object Of the gent elan vas I"
leave the tsqualihcalons Tor general clause. ''"'
does it read nowi
The SECRETARY reat; the substitute as amsnie'l
Mr. WISE. Why. that is all right.
Mr.. BARBOUR Is in order how to move I" anep'
the fifth section by striking out the word thirty AM
Inserting in lieu thereof the words tweny ye IN re
.at,on to the age S,I"'Cr: before was
The CHAIR No; the motion t" strik
,u twenty-five and insert thirty;
Mr.. BARBOUR. That was in tnr h!'ndment I"
bsritrtc from the suffrage report 70" 'nersi;n
that we IRE upon The clause i'll tic !sSi-"'i's report
rh. CHAIR 1t will be il order I" move tina
!;ncndn:. nj.
Nj BARBOUR l move then to amend the scc:io
of tie legislative report By striking ont the wrd "tiir
ty and insert in lieu thereof the words twcIt. five.
Tie qu.stic. being taken on MIR BARpotgs aIncn;
ulrnt il was agreed to-l count being hai-aycs 81
noes 81.
Mr. GOODE. propose to amend the fifth section o
the report OF the legislative committee Ly adding 10 thu
end of the section clause which is taken from the re
p,rt Of the committee on suffrage, IN thcs' words:
And the removal or permanent change of resd nc
nf any person cccd to either branch of the Gcner,
Assembly. from the county. city town election di+
ric in which he resided at the tim" Of his election sha!
{ he deemed n vacation of the office
Mr.. WHITTLE | would suggest that the word
the removal be stricken out, 10 leave it to dc
, pend upon the permanent change Of residence. I'll.
word removal may apply the cif"cs Of this clause 1
: temporary removal which suppo<" is the oblec
y Mr.. GOODE accepted the modification.
" The amendment az modified, then agreed to-
Mr. CAMDEN moved 10 amend the .iyth line OF Il!
fifth section by striking ont TIE words "tw.ft v-fvc
, and inserting the words WEI :ouc, to max
j persons twenty one years {" age eligible to seat in tn
= General Assembly.
The amendment was rcle2ted-a connt being had
. yeas o. noes 40
MIR. ARMSTRONG. I rice for the purpose of morin
to strike that part OF the lrnviso which dcclar"
that mnst Of the gospel and priests Of every deno
= nation shall be incapable of being elected cithc
house oS re assembly. believe that the restrict ION
= wrong a. ought be stricken What reason can u
gwen for xcluding respectable and n:eilec. elias
Of our CT aens: They ought to be regarded
reemen; hey patriotic, and devoted to the best in
tcrcst Of the State and the subject should he left II
" them all the people, TO say when they shall and shall
not hold seat incur legislative halls II they desired
cvade this restriction. ii w"uld only be necessary fn
IL them to give up their credentials TO the church II
9 WIN, they belong, then they would be eligible hay
: seen elections under such circumstances The minis
Il tiers of the Gospel but little about the Offices o
the country. and while they thus Indifferent abol
tncm why should cast ihis reflection upon them.
y is wrong to say that they worthy of confidence
u while all their efforts are 10 advance The nercat OF ali
II hope the committee will strike out the word haY
i indicated and thereby the restriction Should
= be stricken OUT ii will be doing but what OF tn
States Of this Union have done for most of the Stale
e they enjoy all the rights Of frcemcn The constitution
of the United States does exclude them they ma
60 to Congress, butno to the legislature. In Virgins
e they to be DISTINGUISHED notwithstanding they bea
equal bur,hens OF the government would mot re
N specially ask gentlemen to tell me what evil woud re
suit from their holding seats in YOUR legislative halls
10 surely They do all in their power TO promote tn
IN best interests Of the Stat.
10 But it seems taat h day has gone Ivy when Viz
$ ginia SHOULD stand almost solitary and alone upon h
T. subject There was time when ministers of the COS
pei were looked upon as being opposed TO the best III
teres of the State but it not so now The time ha
been when they have been araisned before the court
I'd of this commonwealth, and have been indicted t"
is preaching the gospel there is such thing now
g OtIIp ryu IN ,pI