Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-25

:ote Of two-hrts or three tiths Of the members OF
that branch of the general assembly in which The bill
IS pending, if the amendment Of the gentleman from
Greenhrier shall prevail by hree6fthS Of the members
present Now ali require is, that shall be the obi
atory duty Of the presiding officer of the house OF dele
gates and Of the senate to that all bills are read
lness the reading Of them be dispensed with By con.
ttutional vote of the members oil each house respec
Lively. Such rule will not be dispensed with, unless
here be some great public emergency requiring it
Gentlemen SO upon the hypothesis, that the people will
,ways send men here, who will do their duty. know
nat SO long as such gentlemen the gentleman from,
ireenbrier (Ar. PcE and the gentleman from Wheel.
'ng (Mr. JAcoB) in your legislature that will be the
case.
| But we are to look to the past and to see whether
ricranccs have not arsen under the existing order OF
hn.s, and if we find that such is the case, we shoud
'roride that remedy which the experience OF o.he'
States and our judgments shall pou out as the best
think there is grievance here. know thai lhe
most experienced men engaged in the legislation ." INC
State urge that there shall be restraint OF TINS evl,
nd hunbly tr,:st that the committee will provide
,ome remedy for IT,
| Mr.. WALLACE. ! do not wish to argue this ques-
ion, and will only state that was induced to oier
he amendment because have heard repeatedly the
| vii complained Of and because knew 1t TO exist |
informed BY member Of the last general asseme!
hat during the last four days of the session they per-
ormed business than the residue OF Inc session.
20 far the passing Of bills was concerned. am oP
posed to the practice of running through os INTRODUCED
|
atnre Of them being understood think there have
een numberIess frauds resulting from the past loose
egislation Of the country do not view TINS, as the
gentleman frcm Frederick (alr BYRp,) as an improper
interference with the action OF either house OF the gene
al assembly in the adoption OF their rules. regard rs
wholesome constitutional provision restricting hast,
legislation, and intended for the public benefit. w
nav look TO the constitutions OF other States OF this
.;non and viii find that they have been compelled
o adopt such clause this. with view 10 remedy
| Ia. ~ n,l mi ~
each II is said that the members Of the Legislature
l not remain here during the last days Of the session
fhev should remain and 1t ought 10 be our object 10
!cain them. They ought 10 be here to gard the IN
erests OF their consti;u ns The State OF Virginia.
hazard nothing in saying has Suffered more oy too much
eaaton than By too little The effect of this amend
nent will be to check hasty legislation which is the
,bect am aiming at, and 10 difuse purity into the
cysiaton of the State Why il is said we must trus,
the re representatives OF the people. Now, have NJ
cc,iops to upon the past legislatures but all nave
,earl the erpoSc which we have had here from TIE
Gentleman from Augusta MIR. SHEFFEY) IN relation l.
What took place during the last days OF the session OF
he last general assembly. am aware OF the practice
prevalent in the legislature as to the suspension OF the
eadnr of bills and know tho members have connlrec
L what is really serious abuse some for fear the
wn bills might be interirred with, and some because
hev we're anxious to go home to attend 10 their OWL
BUSINESS or to prepare for the election In mi opinion
n amendment of the character have proposed is de
handed BY public opT NJ, and It's necessity mas peer
| :,llv shown by the facts to which have referred
Whist wish 10 cast reflections IN advance upoi'
uurc legislatures, in my Judgment every interest OF 'e
| u1c demands that should put restriction upon
heir action | hope therefore the committee will in.
.crt their amendment provision OF the fundamental
Mr. FERGUSON. do not know where the gentle
uan from Augusta (Mr SHEFFEY) derived his inior-
,.aton TO bills passing the last legislature with
al reading, but know the information IS incorrect
i must be confessed. however, that il /, but too conmo"
IL 81 ,,,
practice in the general assembly To dispense win me
radins Of Iii!. Ru; tsliuk you Will bear out in
aylg that the reading Of; bills was dispensed with much
frequently in the last session than in any ether Sc
in Which have been associated together There
Yere some members Of that house. remember particular
the :Iber from Spo tSylranIa who never PernIcc
BIZ 10 bass withou. being re,d, when lie present.
Whenever bill comes up before the general assemoi,
,ppropriatins money i! is always read never kne"
me 10 be pas ed in my lie without being read Where
s are OF 4 private aud local nature and do not aPpro
Jrlae money then IS for tie friends OF IN,
III, 10 move u d-peuse with the reading and expaio
.ui.y It's provisions. 4 may be necessary to pror:'
N some manner for the reading Of bis but suggrs
o the gentleman from Petersburg that he will not &C
onais his object b the provision he has offered ant
lie xii give Inc his attention think Will satisi,
lim il q very short time that ne VIII MT. aa propo
'on in lis present form. a. understand H. Is tha no
III shall pass either house until :! has been read o.
uree several occasions, on three ;e:era days NO"
uppose this has bee complied with. The bill has been
I'D three times "utc has been taken upon H. the
ill has been re ected member gels up and moves 10
;econsider it. They go and amend it in fifty dier-
mt wavs There is provision requiring it to be real
i, Il is amended If undeis and the bject OF the gen
e.nan Petersburg-and IN that OBJECT iuy ton-
:urit is to require every bill /" be read and undcrsso
.erc is acted upon and passed into law Now Inc
peratlon oil this provision requiring bill to be read
pon three screra occasions and upon three seTeTa:
avs would prevent tie passage OF any bill that dld NOT
each the anti the second day before It's adjourn
ncnt unles, thirds that bodv and the house Q;
.eeyales could had to 10 dispense with tins Pro-
:Isltn You would put III the power OF one-lhird o.
either 10 prevent the passage OF any OIL mat az:
lot reach that house before Ike second day before Inc
adjournment. Now If gentlemen think tiil ought 10
read three times, let It be read three times, put no
eouire this reading to be done three several Gays
here is no necessity for that if the gentleman re-
are> any provision Of this sort tell him the provision
has resored TO 10 the first place will not accomplish
he Get he has III view, because It can De avoided
Alter the reading has heea had ii be anendc; ~
twenty different ways, aud be different proposition
rom what II vas u The last reading, and the reading
nay be dispensed with entirely, wicn the bill is totally
Inherent from wha, il was before. Now believe some
provision ought be crted but think from the LITTLE
experience | have had that it ought to be different
provision from this. Perhaps il Is we'll TO rec uirc bill
% be read three times the rules of The house of dele
gates require but why should that reading be required
10 be upon three several days There i. necessity
fJr that.
/ Mr. WALLACE. will say TO the gentlenar from
Logan that the provision requiring the bill be read
ior three several days, is which insist upon being
uost essential. Three times upon day will no.
nave the effect which is desired. have endearored L
snow that it is important TO give time TO prepare amend
ens, aud in ORDER TO that end the bill should b.
read on f.rent days.
Mr. FEkG USON. The gentleman from PeterSbur:
il 81 old legislator understand and presume he know
tina; amendments in order except at stage
tue proceeding. They not III orier at the first no
the last reading Then why require the first readin:
upon the first day uul the last upon the third day
; You do 10: accomplish anything byit
:, A. ain you read the bill to-day, nobody pays any al.
ention to IT, the SECOND reading is the important reading
That is tbs reading upon which the bill Is ame':abr
Well YOU pass b, the scccnl reading. You amend tn
BILL you perfect ii as lar a po,s oe anu Iii al ordinary
parliamentary proceedings Tie bill does not come up fo
It's passage until the second day. unless sou dispense
with the rules Of the house But the gentlemans OF,
ecr is to have the minds of the members prepared I,
,ct upon any praPnsiti n Understandings Now,
submit 10 this committee whether The reading of bill
upon three several occasions upon the same day. wher