Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-22

on the subject and do not see any other time, u the
House is favorable TO the idea of two sessions day,
more suitable than that indicated in my resolution II
I'VE meet at clock allowed no time for eXcr-
else in the morning should, therefore, prefer meet
ing at 10. taking recess at two, and meeting again
at half past O'Clock, ample lime would then be
allowed for dinner ! wculd remark, in addition II |
har" manifested any pertnaci.y in regard TO this qucs
ton that trust the house will mic, when they
remember that l. ct least, have been here ic months
ever since January lastmy place OF residence being
far removed from this city 10 render ii no light mat
ter 10 return home temporary visit We havcbecn
here long, that think il be the desire Of The
Convention TO bring labors TO an end think we
ought to consider whether they cannot be brought 10
close at Richmond, without adj ournng to any other
place. For my part, I am unwilling to adjourn again.
confess do not see how can bring our labors to
close, within reasonable time unless we occupy more
time each day than VIC have done heretofore think
wo sessions day Of three hours EACH would render
our duties less laborous and fatigine than enc Sea-
sion Of four or five hours propose calling up the
resolution submitted, in preference 10 subm; ling a
new enc, because lsuppose the sense Of The house II
be better tested in calling up this resolution than in any
ether way.
Mr.. VOOLFOLK. am perfectly willing that the
resolution should he taken up, if the gentleman will
consent TO an amendment 'that vote shall hc taken
on any question III the evening sessions" If gentle.
men desire evening sessions for the purpose Of letting
oil gas-ol making labored speeches, have icc
ticH, but protest against being brought and confined
acre TO act upon the most important subjects except
the basis, that can be brought before Us ! protest
against listening 10 debates hour after hour when the
! minds OF members are not in suitable condition 10
give the Iccts ot discussion the cool ard deliberate
consideration which they merit am perfectly salts,
fed that these evening sessions will do more harm than
good and therefore, shall oppose The motion of the gen
;!eE,an from Wheeling (Mr. JAcos.)
Mr.. JACOB. ! do not know whether any gentle
man present has any gas to LET oil not. certainly
have no desire TO make any speeches but desire tWo
sessions day. that we may dispos" Q; the ordinary
business Of this body.
The question was then taken, whether the resolution
ard amendments referred to should be taken up and
he motion was agreed ta--a count being had-ayes
| A. noos 81.
The PRESIDENT. When the snhec, was laid upon
he table, the question was upon the amendment moved
tr tie gentleman from Frederick CIR. DrEp) 10 tic
amendment. The original resolution was, "!esolvcd,
That the Convention after to-day, take recess from
lwo o'clock until half pas o'clock, p. ". each
| day" Mr.. BANKS offered the following amendment
CHAT The sc esions Of this bov sali commence u:
o'clock H. NJ. and the from to three o'coc;
each duv Mr. BYRD proposed the following amend
eu tc the amendment. Rcsoivcd That from and aft cr
Ibis dar the Convention will, each .ar, meet at
clc2k IN The morning, and remain in session ua 3
o'clock in the afternoon
Mr. RANKS. AZ tI.c gentleman from Wheeling
Mr. IAcoE has the same object in view with my self.
With The leave cfthe Convention, will Withdraw my
amendment.
The PRESIDENT 1t cannot he done willie the
amendment pending, unless The gentleman fro% Fred
elick Mr. EYRD oilers his as an amendment the
original proposition.
Mr.. BYRD. The amendment being withdrawn, !
o.or mine rs an amendment TO Inc original propositions
Mr.. McCAMANT. | shall vot" against the amend
n.,u, and in favor Of the orig nai proposition i
decidedly in favor of meeting al 10 o'clock, belize ing
tat ciocl; is too SOON We require exercise in Ike
rorniIg, and time !cr study and reflection ] be-.
Leave 10 say that do not in the crinio
BY nv friend from Orange NIr WcolFoly,) that the
aemDers Of this body aot capable ofgyin roic'
il the evening as in the morning.
Mg. NCOLFOIk. did not near that exactly, but
.ie. session Of some three OF four hours in the morii-
uC tho mind becomes !agucd BIZ constant action and
we arc not III as suitable condition in the evening 20
give votes, as in the earlier part Of the day.
Mr. HOPKINS. | have taken little interest il rcso-
lutious Offered upon this subject heretofore have
had some little experience III these mattcr:. When
first came TO The legislature always voted for rcso-
,ians Of the character Of ,hose before they
seemed TO indicate method for dispatchng orr is-
ness. hui experience" has ynced me beyond tho POS
slbty OF doubt that all such resolutions operate 10 de-
lay the proceedings of the body As evidence 10 show
the difference between this Convention and that of S5
ana 30, will remind members here that when they
went into debate the basis question. they met ut ] |
clock IL 81. and never changed the hour in single
asaacc, until they had completed the discussion ~
that question. The discussion here OF that Sub &C: has
been some three or four times long, notwithstanding
a.! lle various resolutions which have been adontcl
10 aid Us. These resolutions Changing lie hours Of
!.certn~ ret the body into conilsicn and creates .cer-
tain. to what is the state OF the business If YOU
meet a;9 clock half OF the members not here
We have tried that, and Tie experience have had
in meeting at that hour, ought to convince MEM
Der that such resolutions do lot operate well. do not
relieve il; single instance when We met at 0 clock
hat were organized Gc ire E:t-pas ., and il was
sometimes nearly 10. If we meet in the evening we
find difficulty in getting quorum, and five do get u
quorum, great disorder prevails in the body. 1t is ali
Important in body like this, tha: the business should
progress with dignity and attention. ard that members
should understand the business before them and that
cannot be done BY these evening sessions. believe If
you meet at reasonable hour at ~ clock and sit IN
iii j. YOU would do more business ard better order
han you do by these perpetual changes Of time Of
meeting, and al journmen:. am against AL
lutions and if Others vii. INC in relation 10 il,
would now move the indefinite postponcmcnt Of the
solution, ard amendments, in order 10 dispose Of the
whole subject at one vote, and in this way we may
certain the temper and disposition of the body in
gard TO this matter Will submit that motion there
lore
Mr. BYRD Of Frederick. concur, in part, with
my friend from Powlatan (Mr. HorSlss,j but /
differ with him in orc point. l agree with him
that evening sessions would not operate III the econ
omy OF time and in discharging properly the bus
mess OF this Convention, but differ with that gen
tIemen in the idea, that o'clock is too early for
cur meeting We hil know that ii is universal
throughout the city of Richmond III the public houses
and the boarding houses, to have breakfast ut o'clock
for the investigation which is necessary 10 the dis
charge Of duties here in the cool Of the morning
II we come here a, o'clock We will have three
four or five hours to work, during which laDors
will not be mpcded BY the condit ion Of the atmosphere
or by any of bodily fatigue. Now If We 10
lose an hour between the time which we ought to meet
and the hour at which dine, think we had better
lose that hour between two and three than between
nine and ten. The hour between nine and ten will be
much better, than from two to three for the dis
charge OF our labors. So far as l am concerned ]
should lind no difficulty in coming here nj clock and
remaining here from that hour until three and do not
think THAT any member of this body would njurc his
health or will incur greater share of fatigue, by sit
ting III this hall and keeping his mind and attcnen FIX
cd upon the business coming before during that time
agree with the gentleman from powhatan Mr. lIor-
KlNs) in the idea that evening sessions so far from econ
omising time and dpatchng business will defeat both
those objects. 1t Is not matter of mere speculation but
the fact has been ascerancd from experience not only
in this body but in the legislature CT Virginia know
that during every session in which was a member OF
body, the experiment Of evening sessions was tried
ana the result invariably productive Of evil except
when the Legislature was occupied upon bills Then
and then Only, was time saved and business Dispatched
design reflection upon this body or upon either
branch of the general assembly, but after our minds
have been occupied several hours in the morning we
necessarily in nine out of ten in the latter