Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-30
THE CONVENTION.

Yesterday, the Convention, in Committee fths
Whole gotaftera fashion, to the end of the report
on the Legislative Department, having passed by
without finally considering the Sd article, concern
NC free persons of colour, and the 4th article con-
corning Taxation There was some discussion, land
votes were taken in regard to the provision
guaranteeing trial by jury. The committee adhered
to the phraseology of the Bill of Rights, declaring
"that in controversies respecting property, and in
suits between man and man, the ancient trial by
jury is preferable to any other, and ought to be
held sacred" Mr. Scott of Richmond endeavoured
to modify this language SO as TO prescribe jury
of twelve men, but his motion did not obtain
Mr.. Kenney of Rockingham proposed to allow a
smaller portion of the jury than the whole num-
Der to decide civil cases not involving large
amounts, but the proposition met with little ia
your.
In Convention, Mr. Beale of Westmoreland Of.
fer ed resolution that when the Convention ad-
iourns on Saturday, the 18th of June, it will ad-
journ to meet on the -d day Of at -.
Mr.. Williams of Shenandoah offered resou-
ton that when the Convention adiourns on Mon
day next, it will adjourn to meet here Oh the Goth
of October.
These resolutions were, at the instance of the
movers, laid upon the table.
Mr.. Lynch asked correction of the journal,
where it stated that in the election of the Com
promise Committee he voted, on the fourth ballot,
for Mr.. Chiffon He should have been recorded
as voting for Mr.. Miller of Botetourt
The Convention went into Committee on the
report of the Committee on the Bill of Rights, of
which Mr.. Bolts was chairman. The Committee
proposed an amendment, declaring that members
of the Judiciary, like those of the Legislative and
Executive Departments. should, '''at fixed periods,
be reduced private station, return into that body
from which they were originally taken, and the
vacancies to be supplied by frequent certain and
regular elections &c. Mr.. Janney and ether gen.
tlemen objected to acting upon this amendment,
until the character of the Judiciary department had
been settled. The amendment was therefore
passed by. Pending the consideration of another
amendment, the Committee rose and the Con-
venton adjourned.
The following is the amendment proposed bv
Mr.. White 10 the article in relation to free ne
groes:
Sec. 2. No slave who may hereafter be emancpated,
any descendant of such slave born after his or her
ancestor may have been emancipated shall remain with
In the limits OF this commonwealth except as follows
viz That when such slave shall have been emancipated
by last will and testament he she shall be permitted
to remain for the space of three months beyond the
time which, by law, may be fixed for closing the ad-
mnistration OF the estate othe testaor tesatx and
no longer; and when the said slave shall have been
emancipated by deed, for six months beyond the time
OF emancipation, and no longer Should any such
emancpated slave rema in within the limits OF this COM
monwealth, in violation OF this section, the right to
such slave and of such descendant thereof as is above
mentioned, shall revert in the person persons who
may have emancipaed him or her, should such pereon
persons be then living should such person persons
be then dead, the said right shall pass his her
next OF kin in the prescribed by law for the dis
trbuton Of the OF ntestates and in default of
dstributee, the shall in the overseers of the
poor OF the county, city town in which the right OF
emancipation accrued. And the General Assembly
shall pass all necessary laws fol immediate sale of
ch emancpaed slave and the descendant or descen-
dants thereof above described appropriation of
the proceeds thereo for the benefit of the poor of the
said county, city or town.