Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-28
VIRGINIA State CONVENTION.

"WEDNESDAY, Nov. II, 1861.
The Convention met at 10 O'clock pursuant to edourr.
ment.
Prayer BY Rev. Dr. J. Lansing Burrows, of tie Bap.
tst Church.
JUDGE PITTS.
Mr.. NORRIS, from the special committee to enquire
into the loyalty Of Judge Z. P. Pts presented report
requesting the General Assembly investigate the rub.
ject etc also ordinance modifying the law !, guAt-
ing proceedings against Judges which was laid upon the
table and ordered to be printed
sKssoN.
On motion Of Mr.. TYLER, tho Convention resolved
itsefino secret session. and after remaining some tns
therein, the doors were opened
cITIzESsHIP.
Mr.. PENDLET0N, OF Ohio presented the following
proposition to be submitted by him an smerdnopt TO
the Constitution, which, his moton was laid upon
| the table and ordered TO be printed.
CAL free white parsons, born in this State all free white
persons born in any other State Of this ConfedeAcy WHO
may be become residents of this Stat, all aliens
ing free white persons naturazed under the laws Of Tho
Confederate States who may be become residents Of
this State all persons who uay have obtaoed right
citizenship under former laws, aud all children whervsr
born whose father or If be be dead whose mother, ha
be citizen OF this State at the time Of the birth Of suc
children, shs be deemed oitzsns Of this at bui no
prison shall be deemed cizsn Of this State who has
given, may hereafter give, any aid in establishing
withou, authority Of the legislature, any government
within the limits of this State separate from the exist
ed government any Office, post, place OF trust, or emo.
lument legislative, executive or judicial civil or mill.
tary."
THK JUDICIARY.
The Convention resumed the consideration Of the 9Th
section Of the article concerning the Judiciary.
Mr.. GRAHAM moved 10 amend the clAuse regulating
the tenure of the Judicial office, by striking 'durrg
good behavior" aud inserting for the term Of twelve
years."
The proposition was rcjected-yeas 81, nays "a
Mr. RAYMOND moved to amend the same clause by
striking duing good behavior" etc. and inserting
"or such term terms as tie Legislature may pre-
SCRIBE" Rejected.
Tue section as amended was then adopted-yess 81.
nays rs,
Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs Chap.
man, Cofuan, Conn, Cooper, Cre,ap. Custia French,
Fugate, Graham, Grant, Raymond, Heck, k,nr, Nc.
Cure, Martin, Matters, Miller, Morgan, Parks Pendl:-
ton. Rivss, Rotins:n, Shelley, spIrloek aud Woods.
The section, as adopted, reads as follows:
"5 Toe judges of the Supreme Court OF Appeals aud
Of the Circuit Courts shall be appointed BY the joint
vote Of the two houses Of the General Assembly COM
missoned by The Governor and shall hold their oics
during good behavior unt they arr at the age e
lventy Yeas, unt removed in ths manner pre-
fcr,ed in this Constitution; and shafst the same time
bold no other Ufce, appointment, or public tr1s AID
he acceptance thereof by ehor Of them shall vaeate
bis Judicial Office"
The 9th section, prescribing the compensation OF
udges-a transcript from toe present Consitu ion 4h
seet with the exception Of the words "shs all be
missoned by the Governor, and"-nserted elsewhere
was then adopted.
The h section, which % transcript from the pres
ent Constitution 9th sec;) amended by inserting
after thereof" the words in such may be pre-
scrbed by law" The section ss amended, was adopt
ed.
THE COUNTY COURTS
The 9Th section the rs n in The present Cor statutory
amended, on motion of Mr. GAMER as TO read:
"s. There shall be county court In each county Of
| the Commonwealth, which shall be held monthly, BY
three justices Of the peace, except when tde Law shall
Quire the presence Of greater humber"
The section prescribing the mode Of appointing
justices, wss then considered
Mr.. BL KEY submitted amendment, by way Of
substitute providing for the election Of four justices in
each district by the quail voters thereof the class f.
cation o. the justices 80 elected, etc.
Mr.. BROOKE moved TO amend the proposition so as
provide that the four justices in each district shall be
elected by the qualified voters ootbe uhols county.
This motion, after mrcA debate, was rejected.
The question was then divided go a. to take the vote
FIRST on The proposition to strike OUT the section as re-
ported by the committee. TIE question decided
the negative-yeas 26, nays 50.
Various amendments were then proposed discussed,
and rejected except one, submitted by Mr. PRIcr pro-
viding for q classification, AID another, by Mr. sPEID
providing for filing vacancies. The section, as thus
amended, read as follows:
Each county shall be laid of into districts as near.
y equal may be In territory and population. In each
district four u5ces OF the peace shall DC CHOSEN by the
qualified voters thereof who shall be commissioned by
the Governor reside in their respective dstric and
hold their Offices for the of tsivs years. At the
first after he election asd qualification Of the jus.
tees, under this Constitution or sooa thereafter as
may be, they shall be divided into four classes each
class to consist Of one justice from each district 10 be
numbered by lo. The OF service Of the frs, class
shal expire the end OF three years Of the second
class the expiration of six years Of the third class
the expiration of nine years and o. the fourth class at
tie expiration Of twelve years. and this alienation shall
be continued that oneourth OF the justices may be-
chosen every three years Vacancies occurring In the
Office of justice after the first election shall be filed by
the justices OF the county, having been fret summoned
for that purp Sc and onty Of those present shall
be necessary to make eectop; the term oil the ca
elected shall e1pine at the Of the for which
his predecessor elected. TIE justices Of each
~ shall select Of their body be the presi.
ding justice, etc.
Mr.. FL0URN0Y moved to reconsider and strike out
Mr.. sPSKDs amendmi mt, and insert
"Ater the first general election Of jus ices all va
csncies occurring 10 the office o. justice in any county,
whether by expiration of the term Of Office, death,
movs from Office, otherwise, shall be led by the
justices of such county, all the acting justices Of the
county having been first summoned for the purpose and
majority OF the whole lumber being actually present.
Pending the consideration Of this proposition,
j On motion of Mr.. BRANCH, the Convention ad.
journed
FROM CUMBERLAND GAP.
We hsve just conyersed with 81 intelligent gentleman