Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22
TILE CONVENTION
RICHMOND.

To sense, ns to the haunted mind.
Imagnaton's dream S.
RICHMOND.
THE CONVENTION.
On Saturday the Convention met tho usual hour-the
journal of Friday read and approved.
Mr. Bolts stated that with leave Of the Convention he
would offer during the day amendment 10 the Report OF
tho Committee the Basis Of Representation; which, the
Convention agreed should when offered be printed and
Icrcd 10 the Committee of the Whole whom referred
The said Report
On motion of Mr.. Edmnns the Convention was resolved
into Committee Of the Whole the pending question
Mr.. Miller resuning the Chair
Mr.. GooGe continued his remarks in behalf Of the Mixed
Basis After Mr.. G. had concluded, Mr. Bolts moved that
the Committee rise which motion was agreed TO. Mr. Bolts
WILL therefore, occupy the floor to-day (Monday) his pro-
position, which is 10 be read
4 To the Editors Of The Enquirer:
\ SELLING WHISkEY TO SLAVES
That Whiskey ardent spirits in whatever shapo which
was dcs gned ut fret to be blessing 10 our has by
abuse become curse, ] presume will deny; and il
viii continue To DC so, 10 alarming extent, 50 long as
there is much of IL made and rcailed there through
length and breadth OF the land for there always will De
many who will drink il as long as they get it.
There is one class of persons in our country all of whom
with but few EXCEPTIONS exceedingly fond Of it, and
drink H. in many cases 10 their ruin mean our slaves
II is known ioo that their masters in view OF their health
and morals 90 not like for Them to drink much of it, ana
particularly opposed 10 the custom Of selling II 10 them as
pctised many OF or merchants and barkeepers Indeed
there severe law against selling the smallest and
most innocent article slave without written permission
from his How then The tralcers in this poison
article sell il TO slaves ndscrnnacly when the mas
Of the negroes yoeaty opposed 10 IT, and the law
SO senuolsly orbds 1t! Are such offenders obbing
Us of our property, or at least committing most grieyons
cspass upon rights Do they defy the law of the
land By thus reading under their feet Ought This thing
bc allowed and these 90 unpunlshed who
thus corunt class Of the community who, Of all others
wien consider the relations which they sustain to their
and their ignorance should be kept farthcs from the
holds of corruption
Row idcous TO the sigh, 10 see doggery" barroom
crowded Sabbath morning. with blacks swallowing down
their few had-carned pence In draught for which they
ueny results in their masters loss and their own dcstruc-
non And strange may s:rm this thing happens from
Sabbath Sabbath, Immediately under The observation OF
some OF good justices OF the peace and they wink At H.
should not be surprised 10 hear hat Of them gull
" Of not the Sabbath least al night in the week
When will this black traffic cea>Y ALEXANDER
April (: 1851.
\ OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY.
Resolved, That although uuler the charter Of 1872 aud
the act Of March, 1851 hr Aldermen and Councmen eloct.
ed in Ap 1851 continue their services until their sue
elected and Qualified the Council deems II proper
that the election OF those should not be postponed
longer than The said requires and also deems il npor-
tan 10 the city TIN. such election be lawfully held ana mace
and the said In The vote bU Tor IT, not clearly ori.
DING who shall hold The election for the persons required
bv the charter of 1912 be elected from each Ward nor who
are 10 be- elected by trey-sers from among themselves
the Attorney the city hereby required nnd the Ator
uev General for The State s requested to furnish the council
nm nnicn in writing upon the question: whether IN case inc
act OF 1851 ram1n part OF the charter the Sergeant sti
n conduc The election re SAID nine PERSONS and what in
10 such election will be the respective powers and du-
,iee of the Sergeant and OF the persons whom the Council
NAV appoint superntcnd aad r"cord ana also upon inc
who are be elected by the said from
among themselves and wa TO be the number Of the Coun
cilmen" :, c,. c,
rhe foregoing IL copy Of resolution Of the City Conn
IN compIiancc with the reQuson contained therein
have consdered the subjects submrd and preliminary TO
INV opinion upon either Of tho questions proponndod sh1
EypH Hri,lpc ht IchIn S.altl
armed when any ohscuriy in the tutu renders construc-
lion necessary be admitted 10 be the case in this In
| stance. ,,,. a..
NAV hest answer The intention which! the makers had in view
Thing which is whn tho Intention Of the makers OF me
,lantc is as much within The statute il ii were within
rho rtter and thing which is within the letter oil statute
il no, within the statute unless De- within the Intention o.
the makers ought sometimes 10 have sIch eGu
able construction as is cntrnry TO lis letter. foe ''c7
rnos see Bacoa's ABS, Titles Statues.
Vheneyer the intention which the makers OF sntuc en-.
,crtanci can be discovered il ought to be followed IN rs
ructon course Cunsonant 10 reason ana
although such construction may bt contrary 10 the letter OF
The Statute See collection Of Rules toE he cohsfuc'
,inn oC Statutes, by VIM Robinson, l.. L. ID.
There can be no doubt the intention 0i Inc LeesEl-
e in pnssing the act of 1851. expressed in tho hrst
ctcn in uncquvoca terms that the election oy the
o of The officers therein specified and think II e'ay
or from that and the act of S42 heing IN par mag
M ;hev are be taken ogctter) that The Legislature uo
moi intend either to enlarge or TO lessen me II
council Of the city Can this nteaon be carried Out III ~
can and the act Of 1851 remain part oi Inc chaef VI
% bv the vote to be taken its rejection, the questions
"t,nted by the City Council become important nave
therefore endcayored give them that consideration
their importance demands and upon the st q,es
in The foregoing resolution, am Of opinion tha II t.
of 1851 remain par. OF ne ChaTte G e f c5nncmen un-
der the net 1912 is superseded and that II WIN
the persons whom the Council shall appoint 10 udnr the
nnd record the election OF Councmen ana ouce''' N
| Sd section Of the act OF 1921. ., :. oircn 10
ars as lhey now stand "Councnlen IN inc o. atu nv
/ th. pf
twenty. seven persons referred 10 in the ot
of 1912 The Council is 10 appoint the place VI J Tho
They to appoint persons 10 aan,ncted the supern-
,ndenis are 10 assemble and notify the councne % V h
cns of their election, and summon them " ppnsn npp n
City HALL 10 qualify; and they are noeoei, ~ c. nf he
,hn council tie certificates Of election lhesc csI
CnunriI and Supentendents, required oy ''e ~. " ,n
do in my opinion supersede me M "c, Of 1851 there re-
bnp non this subject the Sergeant to 90 nocr
the act Of 1872 ,f soma difficulty SUI,
nc ias' qs. n rnu.;rI,on which have CITED. and
~ 3,ica,nn OF hen in Carrying Out the man oo!ec' Vi
Ibs arr of 1851 and thereby giving etiec. 10 Ia;
,hc Teaslaturr am of opinion thai inc e.so y. ts
hn cv conncil may be held, and they respective
IT, orcsnzcJ into court and council! WITHOUT oeians's ''e
body Corporate b. cnlargins either me ci ~ s %
the ,ro,d are 10 be residents Of tie ward in
h; tnev ar. yo.d for nni are 10 DC 'o,ed LOT os c re-
psctt ct IF ISL the Recorder is 10 be elected by
uo or rhe CITY al large 50 that 10 that extent aHl
,,,. of 1851 rcpeal5 me act OF lcf- We
OF @ rc,ss an equal distribution Of magistrates and
Of apns The n b %a5eI So5e OF Hc
ciy sec PorIrr though voted for BY the voters of The
as elected rs Of the magistrates Of the ward in
s that s scon and s he sss
ion r,arL.r and the eight other persons having the
so oi votes in tha, ward should be returned
| with him. ,,.;or - hs oivan 10 ,he
1 .cs ,oksn together. and by it. the intention OF The
I"o ;ie a viii bo fully carried out. with equality and jus