Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-05
CONSTITUTIONAL coEyEETIoE
seventh Day.

the y GduEE41-
Miautes read and aPProTed
M. Stevenson Of Wood, aid that be-
I fore the special order, Rhseh vas the eoA.
siderafion Of the resort Of the eonniitee
on Boundary. BE desired 70 ohef = Eesotn-
dos in reference % \ standing hour o. sa-
jouramsat for The morning sessions
The resell mica EaS rad IS tolioTs-
Rs-sl-s8, That ksreAAe= the hou+ Of aa-
iIoafnmenI shaIl BE ksf-PAst II O'Clock
astil Otherwise ordered
Z he subsequently accepted an Ams1d-
neut 70 so alter the EIoiiou IS % pEoylee
for taking recess A. bslf-Past twelve M
Ill haIf-p4St tgo.
| Hr. S7EvAEl, Of Doddridge, oneEed 70
amend BY Bakiag Il 70 hAlf-PAat three
The amendment Vas adopted And the
motion a amended vas agreed TO-
Wr. LAMs moved the POstponeEleut
Of the special oTdeF until the afternoon
session, assfgniaZ a. a reason that the
priated copies had uotyet been brought m
/ The motion Vas agreed To-
i VI YAx WEuX moved 70 take up the re-
! po-= Of he Conmit4ee on Fundamental Add
Gesersl Pl 1Yi5iops.
l Nj. srkvExsos, OF Wood, spggestsd be-
| fore this subject Vas taken up, members
! hand 10 for the Coamistees say propositions
they might desire 70 Oder.
Nr DIILs offered proposition for eoan-
( ~ oFgGniz8tion-
VI. OiBRiES essrsd aAe for the osgAnl-
tEafjoa Of COunty CourTS
Mr.. BRoES, Of Preston, oderred resoln-
lion iasrruetiug the Committee on the Leg
4 i5lAtiEe Department, 70 consider the pro-
lpriety Of providing By general lava Tor the
cFeAiiuu Of corporations within the state
Mr.. SoPEE offered proposition IN refer
eaee 70 the election Of PROBATE Judges 70
each county, and de6aiug their Jurisdiction
and duties.
ate committees
The report Of the Committee on Fauda-
meataI and General Provisions vas thea
81. LAxa moved TIE adoption Of the sixth
section, a amended IN the yesterday after
noou's session
81. DnLE moved % amend by adding
the following after the word softer" in the
concluding sentence.
i!Or Who has not within two years p aid
the State or county TAX which shan have
been assessed At least thirty days before
the election, shall enjoy the right Of an
ieIeetor: Provided, however, that while
Efreemeu citizens of the State of West Viz
giniA, between the ages Of 81 and q years,
and having resided in the State one year
aud in the eouuty thirty days, shall be en-
titled TO vote, sIthough they shall not have
paid taIes."
A discussion ensGed-
SIR. Wax IWiSKLE characterized this as
an approach to the old system Of iegisia-
ton from which they were now attempting
70 free themselves. Il WAS putting a Talu
ation on the right Of suffrage, aud fixing
the price at jazt whatever tar would be re-
louifed as the price of the privilege Of vo-
iting. Il degraded aad belittled that great
aud sacred right, 70 value It Ia dollars Gnd
cents; besides the manifest injustice to
many who from poverty or unfortunate
circ1mstauees were not able 70 pay Ine
price for this iuaIieu4ble privilege OF every
freeman.
They had Just a. much right to deprive
men Of the right Of suffrage for not work
ing the roads or performing any other
public service demanded BY the laws, as
for not paying taxes, which was but one Of
many public duties pertaining to citizen
Iship. By this proposition, failure to pay
taxes was pot on 40 equality with the dis
abilities Of being guilty Of felony, OF con-
vieted of bribery in elections, or other in
famous crimes-which properly enough
deprive men Of the right of suffrage. He
believed in the widest suffrage that could
safely be allowed, and always had and al
ways would, oppose this At once artstoerat-
lie and two penny species of legislation.
Mr.. STEWART followed, deprecating such
legislation as proposed IN the amendment.
It would in1ict great wrong on one class
of citizens. and would, AZ the same time.
open the doors for greater evils than those
It proposes to remedy. Men of means and
influence would use 1t as . handle in all
elections, by purchasing the votes Of , nu-
msrous class by paying their taxes. He
- Ia,F, 20, tHnNFt INF in.
ducements to corruption, nor 70 infringe
upon fundamental right of citizenship.
MrDnLEs addressed the Convention in
favor of his amendment. He had no idea
of violating any Fundamental principle of
4 government The sections of this report
4 already adopted Disseminated against some
I classes of persons in the matter of voting,
land be thought If they had right TO take
away the franchise In the one case they
might have in the other. Every man who
enjoyed the protection of the government
was duty bound to aid in its support, and
as money was as essential 10 the support
OF the government as anything else, IL 4
i man refused to pay his taxes il constituted
q disability from voting as properly as if
he were guilty Of other offences which in
curred that penalty. The class of men in
tended to be reached could now success
4 fully defy the officers of the government
when called upon 70 contribute to its sup
4 mort. and were yet at the same time enjoy
ing It's protection As much As the most
public spirited citizen
Sir. HAYNOsD said:--
Mr.. Pfesideut.-I understand the gentle-
man from Marshall 70 say that those who
areiH rebellion stlSsld not have ; vote nn-
less they paid so much tax before the cleo
ton To obviate the necessity of the OBJ
Ijeetion of the gentleman, would ask him
lift would not be better 70 make them all
Union men befoIe they have the right to
voter
Sir, il has zTer been my opinion. and Is
at this time, that no man should have a
I .....- tr thi. ..arnr,1r.,cnt tnIesa he is viii