The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-25
LOCAL MATTERS.

OF the Assembly, and unaD Dimously elec ted. -
On being conducted to TIE chair, the Spe3kel
returned his thanks, and alluded in terms o
high compliment 10 the agricultural comnu-
MY. lie congratulated the rneTahers on 1hs
auspicious circumstances nnder which they
were assembled, and the happy arrange
men hich had resulted in the confederation
OF 'he I've Societies, and which he hoped would
eFeHtuate In permanent union. The Speaker
In closing, announced The readiness of the As
sembly to proceed to business
On motion, Mr.. CHAs. Il. WILLIAMS. Secre-
tary OF the Society, was elected Clerk of the
Assembly.
The Clerk then read the report OF the Execu-
i've Committee, which gives a history of the
transactions of the Society for the year, and
statements of its financial condition.
IGe report was received.
A conmuDica ton was read from Mr. John
n. Edmunds, declining re election to the
Presidency of the Society, which, on motion,
was laid on he table
Mr.. Morris, of Caroline, called up pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution, OF
which notice vas given a. the las. Assembly.
by Mr Lewis Z. Harve, to strike ou, the a
sec 9ih article, and inserting the foIl0wi : :
Amendments may be made 10 the Constitu-
ZION By tWo-thirds vote OF the members in
attendance" The amendment was adopted
MT Nickham, OF Hanover, moved the
ADOPTION OF iha foilowiug resoln tion OF which
he gave notice at the last Assembly
Resolved, That SO much IF tho CONSTITUTION a.
reiers 10 th- farmers Assembly is altered az q
amended AZ TO aDolsh the said AgssIntiy aud d.
volvs us poveIs aud duties On tha genarsI meet
mss oi the 6ocIsIy AID on thesExe .utiYe u IN
mlttee.
Mr.. Wickham advocated the resolution. as
the hes tcoUrse for the prosperity OF the Society
He thought he mass meetings of the S5c!ety
were the most acceptable to the Agricultural
community.
Mr.. Tate Of Augusta, moved the following
as substitute Iog the resolution:
That The Consti utiQn lie so amended rs to de-
EoF9 ~ the duties I'd covers uf tue Farnlsrs'
ssemby on the Life members IL lie egisla;lvs meet
In2.'
Mr.. Tate said that he could not vote to abol-
ISL the Assembly until something better was
proposed in its place.
Mr. Branch, of Petersburg asked leave TO
make an explanation. On the occasion OF the
election Tor delegates in this city, the poll
book was brought to him without a single
vote recorded. Two life members happened
to be in his otiice the subject was laid before
them, and they at once voted for himself and
Mr Boiling as delegates. He desired TO know
ii ne could, under these circumstances, be con-
sidered member of the Assembly.
1t was decided that the gen tleman from Pc.
tersburg should be SO considered.
MT VI Morris opposed the subStitut te offered by
the gentleman from Augusta
Mr. Tate believed that the affairs of the So
ciety should be controlled bv the life mem hers
who contributed to its support.
Dir. CabeIl, OF Nelson, was in favor of the
of the Assembly. If the peOple
OF cities did not feel interest enough In the
matter TO vote for delegates the people in tho
country, who were directly interested in Agri-
cnltuTe, did. The only thing necessary was
10 adopt method of yotiDg z at precincts as in
other elections. He thought the mass meet
ings OF the Society, formerly held were pro.
ducuve OF more noise and confusion than
anything else,
Mr. Wickham replied that elections in the
manner suggested would impose more expense
upon the Society than they were able to meet.
4 a m
OF ascerbity OF feeling on some occasions it al
ways quieted down before the adjournment
Mr. Cabeil thought the enthusiasm OF the
early meetings was owing TO their aovelty-
As to the expense attending the recording of
the votes OF Two or three thousand farmers
he did not think it would amount to much.
Mr.. Branch advocated the amendment of
Mr.. Wickham. II ne did not live in farming
community, he loved TO meet with farmers,
aad came here for that purpose. The Assem-
bly, had never done anything except to elect
officers, aud he thought the mass meetings
would be productive OF more zeal Mr. Branch
continued MS remarks in strain of humUr
which gave rise TO considerable merrimeut-
IN reply to question from Mr.. b., the Clerk
SAID there were nomnally ten thousand mem
bers of the Society.
Further remarks were made by Messrs.
NJ orris, Tate, Cabell and others III a
Mr. Macfariand, OF Richmond, sugges ted that
the gen tleman from Hanover change the Ian
guage of his resolution, SO that the duties of
the Executive Committee might be plainly
designated, and thus avoid confusion
Mr Wickham said he would adopt that sug-
gestion.
Mr. Macfarland continued He hoped tbere
would be union OF the TWO Societies, and TO
that end favored an adjournment so that con-
sultation might be had with the Central So
cIety on subject so important.
Mr.. WIckham intimate that he would mod
lty his resolution by striking out the words
s. and on the Executive Committee"
Mr.. Branch said the gentleman from Rich
mond had introduced very interesting sub
Ject-nameiy, the amalgamation of the two
Societies. lie was opposed To analgamation
unless the proposition came from the Central
Society. True, they had beautiful piece of
ground, but it would lock much better If il
was paid for. If this Society only got $500
last year from 10000 members where is the
money to come from He hoped the gentle
man from Richmond would give some infor
nation on that su bject.
Mr. MacfarIand said he was IN favor of ad-
Journing this important matter, in order tha.
the wishes OF the Central Society might be
Ger tanned.
Mr.. Branch wanted to know if tina: Society
intended 10 make an application TO amalsa-
mate.
to make any statement relative to that matter
The Central Society was Il large Sociely and
he believed their grounds were paid for lie
thought II the union could be effected il would
to that end.
Mr. Branch was not in favor Of union nm
less 1t could be made profitable TO The Society
AT all events, this was NOT the proper time for
The CHAIR stated that he had felt !ndisposed
10 apply parliamentary rules with rigor 10 the
Assembly, but II must be apparent that the
deha e had taken too wide a range, and he now
called the attea ZION of the meeting 10 the sub.
lect Immediately before il.
Mr.. CrumP, OF Richmond city, alluded to
his election 10 a in THE highly resperteb HE
body, and his surprise, on taking bis seat 10
hear proposition OF The kind presented hy
the gentleman from Hanover received with so
mucn complaisance. Ii members chose 10
vots themselves into noL-exis teDce he hsd no.
Ihlng to say. But he thought, ii there was
any person who had 4 word TO say in defence
OF the Farmers Assembly, that he ought to
nave an opportunity OF saying IL. He would,
therefore, move that the wnoIe subject ba de-
ferred until Wednesday night.
Mr.. Cabell asked leave, before the motion
was put, to call the attention of the Assembly
TO the 5th section OF the Constitution, relative
TO elee ions Of Farmers Assembly. He gave
notice that he would offer an amendment If
opportu nity occurred.
Mr.. Wickharn said that if the meeting ad-
Journ now, there would be no quorum on the
succeeding night. He hoped The motion. TO
postpone would not prevail and that the sub
ject be disposed of al once.
After further remarks by Mr. Tate, the
question Of postponIng the consideration of
the subject was put ard voted down.
Mr.. Minor, OF Albemarle thought If MIR.
Wickham could so change his resolution as 10
provide that no one could participate in the
mass meetings unless he had paid up his ues,
IL would remove one OF the greatest objections
TO 1t.
Mr.. wickham said he would cheerfuiIy vote
for such an amendment to the Constitution.
Mr.. Minor said that furt objection was
that members might be made here In Rich
mond in day, and brought IN 10 vote al night
Iii We're provided that no one should vote
unless he had paid has dues six months pre-
yiously. there would be no trouble
Mr.. Wiekham ented TO this also.
The amendments proposed were then EN-.
bodied by Mr.. Wickham and read as follows !.