The Nevada journal., 1853-03-04
From the Bcnicia correspondence Of tho Union.
BENICIA, Feb. %.

, ocb"iO, Oouec4uoh1 upou VIC uioNuroioh
of the Convention question. The debate
centered upon the resolution Of Mr.. Sny-
der authorizing the appointment of a
committee of six to draft amendments
to the Constitution, to be reported upon
next Wednesday. On the preliminary
motion to print the substitute offered by
Mr. Sprague, q sharp passage-at-arms
took place between Messrs. Crabb and
Sprague on certain declarations which
the former had heard the latter had
made before his constituents. The gist
of the rumor is, that the latter had sta
ted himself in favor of convention on
other occasions. This was denied with
spirit, and Mr.. Hager also discarded the
idea advanced that there had been any
collusion between Senators to delay ac-
tion. Mr.. Hubbs expressed himself as
decidedly in favor of voting directly and
separately upon the amendments, and
not delegating the power to others. He
alluded to an alteration in MIR Crabb's
report which proposes that article OF
section 81, which prohibits the law maxi
ing power from passing special act of
incorporation except for municipal pur-
poses, be stricken out.
Mr. Wade stated that in the counties
of Mariposa and 1ulare, the question of
conyen tion was the main one during the
last election, and that there had been
significant vote upon the subject.
Mr.. Crabb made a most exciting and
eloquent speech in opposition to the APP
pontmcnt Of the select committees.
The passage Of this resolution recognized
the system of submitting amendments
directly to the people. The matter had
already been referred to two commit
tees, and three reports had been sub
mitted upon the Governors message
The bill which he had the honor to sub
NIT had been unanimously recommend
ed by the committee on Public Expend-
itures, and in addition ID all these refer
ences, the matter in Committee of the
Whole had received ten new amend
ments. He believed all such action was
resorted to for delay, and was convinced
in his own mind that the Senator from
Shasta was amenabe to the charge of
attempting TO "choke down" full and
fair expression Of public sentiment. The
speaker proceeded to say that he was
astonished ut the feeling that ranked
in the bosoms of members on this floor,
but he believed they dare not vote u
gainst the bill. To do so would seal
their political death warrants ; they
would sink so low that the hand Of re-
surrection itself would fail to reach
them.n As for the Senator from Shasta,
he would sit and hear him patiently on
this subject, even until he spat cotton
ipctooJ Of yannp, fror, h;o tbroat
Dir. Crabb then replied to the obicc-
tion of Mr.. Hubbs respecting corpora
tons He stated that numerous pro-
posed amendments were made to the
Constitution, at least twenty-five. If
the ayes and nays were recorded on each
of these, and they were subsequently,
submitted to the people at the ensuing
election, n new and probably different
Legislature would have to vote upon
them. Many of these would be adopted
and others rejected and the final re-
suit would exhibit discordant and in
congruous instrument.
Mr.. Sprague secuted the idea Of the
people being incompetent to decide up
on the proposed amendments, The SEN
ator from San Joaquin virtually confess
ed that they were very competent to
pronounce upon new Constitution of
an hundred sections. He believed the
Conventionists were actuated by motives
which they deemed not proper to di-
vulgc.
Mr.. Crabb disclaimed any such ulte-
rior motives on either his own part or
that of the Conyentonists.
Mr.. keene also disclaimcd the charge
made against the friends of convention
of endeavoring to stihe opposition He
wanted merely the subject placed in its
true light before the people. There
had been an expression of opinion by the
; Legislature last year, when the bill
passed the Assembly, and much feeling
manifested in its favor by the Senate.
Mr.. Lyons intimated that he would
vote for the convention, but he would
also vote to lay the amendments Of Shas-
ia before the people.
The resolution, as you will perceive
by the legislative report, was adopted
by the casting vote Of the President.
Tine vote on the engrossment, l3 to 8,
may be considered as putting quietus
upon the passage Of the convention bill
tulo ocoslOi, VI Nv ali eNeHts tuere muo1
, be decided change in the views of sew
, eral members to give the bill o two
, thirds vote.
, Just before the final vote on the bill
, was to be taken, MIR. Keene moved that
the bill lrc-committed to the special CON-
mittec Of six appointed to draft amend
y ments to the constitution which mo-
Y ton prevailed, after some discussio
The bill, il it had gone to its final
passage, would probably have received
!, Is votes against s.
o The specie.. committee are to report
t, iortnlgh'. from to-day.