Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-16
STATE CONVENTION.

TUESDAY. July IS, 1851.
The Convention met pursuant TO adjournment and
after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Love- Of tine Presbyterian
church, the Journal OF yesterdays proceedings was read
and approved
EXECUTIVE REPORT.
The Convention then resumed the consideration Of
the Executive Report it being the unfinished business.
The second reading, on Yesterday had been proceed
ed with as far as the 5th section.
In the 9th section, which enumeraes the powers Of
the Governor, Mr.. STANARD n we'd to strike out the
words cor commute capital punishment" The effect
of this amendment would be to deprive the Governor OF
authority TO exercise that power when, in his opinion, it
was necessary.
The Convention non concurTed in the amendment
ayes 4s, noes 6l
Mr.. CAMDEN moved to strike from the 9Th section the
following words
"'To remit fines and penalties under such rules and
regulations az may be prescribed by law 10 grant
eprlves and pardons after conviction, commute ca
pltal punishment, except when the prosecution shall
have been carried by the House of Delegates or the
law shall otherwise particularly direct"
And TO insert the following:
TO have such power only as shall be conferred upon
HIM by law; to remit fines and penalties; grant reprves
aud pardons, or commute capital punishment"
A division was demanded that the vote be first ia
ken upon striking out the words to remit fines and pen
aes under such rules and regulations as may be pre-
scribed by law"
The Convention agreed to str ike out the words ind
| cated--ayes 62, noes 50.
Then question then required division being deman-
ded, upon striking out the words, ITO grant repriyes
and pardons after conviction"
The convention refused 10 strike out the wodsayes
IS, noes 100.
The question then required upon striking out the
words, cor commute capital punishment" Disagreed
to, ayes At, noes 60.
The Convention refused to strike out the words Eek
cept when the prosecution shall have been carried on by
the House of Delegates, the law shall otherwise par
ticularly Direct
Mr. CAMDEN, with the leave of the Convention with
drew his amendment
Mr.. LErcHER moved to insert in the blank created by
striking out the words, 10 remit fines and penalties I'M
der such rules and regulations may be prescribed by
law" the words "to remit fines and penalties in such
cases and under such rules and regulations may be
prescribed by law"
The motion to insert was by the Convention concured
ill., ayes 60, noes a.
Mr. WATTS submitted the following, to come in after
the 9Th a separate provision
"The State shall be divided into Two gubernatorial
districts, whereof the counties, cities and towns lying
west OF the Blue Ridge shall constitute one and the
Counties cities and towns lying east Of the Blue Ridge
shall constitute the other district For the first term
under this constitution the Governor shall be taken from
the State at large; for the second term from the West
District and for the third term from the Eastern
District; and the same attention shall be observed in
each succeeding term. The Governor and Lieutenant
Governor shall not be taken for the term from the
same district"
The amendment was disagreed to, ayes 81, noes
a.
Mr. FAULKNER moved the suspension of the sth rule
for the purpose of moving the reconsideration of the
vote by which the Convention refused to strike out the
word "nalve" in The Sd section. The section provides
that person shall be eligible to the office OF Cover
no is not native citizen OF the u. States &C.
The Convention refused to rescind the Sth rule, for
the purpose indicated, ayes 49, noes 63.
Mr.. WILLIAMS submitted the following as an indie
pendent section to come in after the 5th Every bill
which shall have passed both Houses shall be present
ed the Governors he approve he shall sign it if not
he shall return it with his objections to the house in
which it shall have originated who shall enter the OBJ
ections at large upon the Journal and proceed recon-
slider it; if after such reconsideration majority all
the members elected to that House shall agree to pass
the BILL it hall be sent with the objections to tie other
House, by which itshall be likewise reconsdered and
if approved by the majority OF the members elected to
that House, it shall be law, but in such the votes
of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays
and the votes Tor and against the bill shall be entered
upon the journal Teach house respectively If any bill
shall not be returned by the Governor within three DAYS
Sundays excepted alter shall have been presented to
him, it shall be law, IN like manner as if he signed
it, unless the General Assembly by an adjournment pre-
vent its return.
The Convention rejected the amendment, ayes %,
noes 81.
The Secretary reported next, the 9th section as fol-
lows:
6, The Governor may require information in writing
from the officers in the executive department. upon
any subject relating to the duties their respective Of
fees.
Mr.. SUMMERS moved to the following to that
section:
He may also require the opinion in writing of The
Attorney General upon any question OF law it may be-
come necessary tor him 10 decide or act upon in the
discharge OF the duties of his Office" The addition
was concurred in by he Convention
The Convention reconsdered the vote OF Yesterday
striking out the provision in the 4h section of the Isl
article for the salary of the Governor and then adonted
it in the form in which it from the Committee OF
the Whole viz chat he Governor sha receive the sum
of $4,000 Tor each year of his service" &c.
In that part OF the 9Th section which provides that the
Governor "shall biennally communicate to the Legis-
ature each OF reprive, conn utstGn, or pardon
granted" &c, Mr.. MOORE, after the wsrd "repriye,"
moved insert the words "femissons of fines and pen
alties" Agreed to-
The of the Convention yesterday, concur
ring with the Committee of the Whole n inserting the
words "uness they be equally divided" was upon the
motion OF Mr.. Chiffon, reeonsdered.
The words then stricken out, ayes So noes So
causing the section to read thus:
"The Lieutenant shall be President of the Senate but
shall have vote; and whilst acting as such" &c.
Mr.. FERGUSON moved TO suspend the 9Th rule for
the purpose of reconsiderng the vote by which the
Convention adopted the 4lh section, which had been
just amended
Disagreed to-ayes 81, noes 50.
Mr.. BLUE moved the suspension of the 9Th rule for
the purpose OF reconslderng the vote OF the Convention
on yesterday disagreeng with the Committee in their
amendments to the first section oil the third article.
The rule suspended, the vote considered and
then thu amendment of the Committee of the Whole
was conquered in.
The effect of the concurrence the requiring the
Secretaries OF The Commonwealth be appointed by
the General Assembly instead o. the qualified voters of
the State.
The hour Of 2 having arrived the Convention took
recess until half past 4.
I'D. ~ Al