Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-08
NUMBER 20.

Ing:
Slaves under the age of twelve years. shall be cxenp,
from taxation"
The pnouscd amendments were discussed at length by
essrs SrRoTnER BRowS and Others but they being with
drawn win the approbann OF the cummt'ea, Mr. WIsE
presented the following substitute for the first second
sections OF the report:
l. Private property shall no, be taken for public se with
out Just compensaon and the emancipation of slaves snail
not be deemed public Tor which private property NAV
be taken, with or without COMPENSATION unless with The
consent OF the owner. And owner slaves shalt b per
ned TO enhncipatt them in any form whatever
providing The for their colonization beyond the limits
OF the United States, in such shall provided
by luw.
3 Slaves shall be taxed otherwise than per capita; and
captatoa tax shall be equal and uniform throughout the
State upon all persons subject the All free mules
over The age Of wenty-o years and uadet the age
OF forty five years, and all slaves over the age ot
twelve years. and under the age Of sky years shall be
subject cu,ion ax and other shall be subject
10 such Provided that nothing herein contained
shall prevent exemptions OF taxable polls heretofore pre-
scrbet by law, in case OF bodily nhrnity.
s. All other property than slaves shall be assessed and lax
et al ralorem excepting apparel than ewcy
implements and tools pertaining husbanGry and The
he value of pertaining the household nuh and private
charities the property OF churches universities colleges
denies and Schools public and private Daries medicines aud
such other articles OF Tie sare class Of exception suc
pertain 10 labor and are unprOaactse BE enumerated
BY law.
A. The Legislature shall provide bv law specifically for ,ha
asScssnen levyng and collecting OF all taxes III III provide
sinking fund for the payment Of the principal u Tie pusc
debt and rom time time shall provide may be r'lur
interests accrung and 10 thereon
Mr.. WISE proceeded discuss his proposition OF amend
meni, when having occupied the floor for the title
one hour-o which members restricted by resolution
of The Convention, the Chairman Of the Committee
Whole apprised him of the fact. Whererpon Mr.. WISE
fused his assent 10 the rucreteed as ne stated he would
do when tic rule adopted, against its application
him. He denied the power possessed By CUnycu-
ton such rule and announced his purpose that
il forced upon him. he would retire from his seat return
10 his constituents, and let them decide The freedom o
speech should be restricted or Off He had been opposed
10 such limitations all his life and ever would be.
motion being made 10 grant the member leave 10 pro-
cced with his remarks he stated that he did not ask il from
the courtesy Of the body but demanded his constitution
al right in his representative characer-as his privilege
freeman. He raised the point Of order that the Convention
had no power tn restrict debate.
Mr. VOOLFOLK moved the resembling Of the resolutions
restricting discussion in Convention aud committee
hour TO each member.
Mr. SrnorHER desired tina, the member should have
to proceed.
Mr.. Boris went for enforcement OF the rule.
Mr.. WISE did desire be indebted to the courtesy nf
the House. with all respect 10 it, for continuing his remarks.
He rad little more TO say Hc demanded The freedom of
speech due his constituents and their rights. He rails
ed that point Of order
On motion of Mr. WooLFoLk the Committee ard
into Convention whelcupon he moved that the
hour rule be rescinded.
MIR RvEs conendcd that the one hour rule had been en-
forced upon him. but when in contact with r gal
liant and distinguished member from Accomac the Cunrcn
ton in most pigeon ivered way and with the courage o:
Faslatf had risen from Committee Of the Whole avoid
its enforcement upon him.
After much more discussion without taking the vote the
Convention adjourned until Saturday att o'clock.
SATURDAY, JrLY 5, 1851.
The Convention met pursuant TO adjournment. After the
journal Of Thursdays proceedings was read and approved
Mr. GoopE announced the deccnsc of Mrs. Henningham
H. wife of James Lyons, Esq, delegate from Richmond
city, and expression OF sympathy and coincidence,
moved that the Convention take recess unli! l. O'Clock
for the purpose OF attending the funeral which was agreed
The President having resumed the Chair at twelve
O'Clock stated the question before the Convention was
up6nis od hus IHh
u rescnd the one hour rule
Mr. WISE stated that, ~ the advice Of his friends, he
would prers his p9I Of order that he was satisfied,
not the time to ain cool nnd deliberate drcs-
ion of tho question ehe such power was possess
ed BY the Convention TO rs'rct debate fle would ncqni-
escc the rule 1t had been passed by the Conscnon
but time entering his protest sg",nsf ~ e de-
sired Mr.. WooLFoLK withdraw his motion for repeli
Mr.. WooLFoLK, with the leave Of the Convcnoh WIN
drew his motion.
On notion the Convention resolved itself into Committee
of the Whole on the Legislative report.
Mr. WISE offered the following modhcatlon OF ms own
proposition to inserted after the word same in the Ind
section which reads "SlavGs shall be taxed not otherwise
than per capla and captao1 tax shall be equal ana uni
form throughout the State upon all persons subject I" thc
same Sci and shall not be less per cach po nmn Inc TAX
levied assessed for the time two hundred dollars value
of land"
entire 2nd section of Mr.. WIsEs proposition:
s:To yatinn shall be equal and uniform throughout the
State and no one species Of property shall be taxed h9her
than another species Of properly upon when TAX K w DC
linn 10 s value to be ascerancd directed by law except
slaves under y years of and such ohe properly ms
majority of the members elected TO in the House oil
General Assembly may deem proper 10 exempt from TAXA
ton" :.
Tnon this substitute Mr.. WISE continued bia remarks
commenced on Thursday-this being new question.
Pending the consideration of the amendment INC e'Nl
mittce rose and the Convention, on motion, adjourned.
The following are propositions OF amendments, "hicn
MANNERS aaye nocc that the proper time, thcy would
submit.
N. FyRcusoS submitted the following:
l. Taxation each subject thereof: staN DC UNIFORM
throughout the Commonwealth
slaves shu be taxed per CAPITA but such tax shall not ex
ceet four times the imposed upon each Siuu worm
land provided slaves under IL 6nd over bU sa
be exempt from taxation.
Mr. V AN W1SKLE submitted the following:
"rnxes upon prupey snail be according 10 value thereof
For the purpose of taxation all the property n the iac no"
hcrcin exempted or which shall not be exempted tv vote ol
maturity of all :he members elected to each House Ut the
General assembly, shall oe arranged in cassC and c Fae oi
taxation upon the value of the property nhNc IN ea'h
class so be the same but lands and slaves shall always
bn included in the class and slaves under The nge m X
years and household property the value o. t~o hundred
and rty dollars in the use any family individual snail
be exempt from taxation.
Extract of letter the Editors Of tho Enquirer datcd
| Mecklenburg Va, June 30th, ISL:
uNow as to the weather 1t has been cool and very hy
from the ls Of May with occasional small ci"u. ~
tobacco crop promising as IL was s'st yG'' "
the droupht shall last few days longer there will be almost
total failure in the tobacco crop. O whea there IS an
CROP The crop will not average "nc-.ourh OF
ron The corn is very small but has been 80 hoF"uahW
cultiyatfd if il should become seasonabc VIII yt MAKE
nood crop At this time II is excessively hoi ne the!