Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-02

u'a Neil III SO removing IL; LOT tucTc Hcfc4 "iS
a greater mistake than to say that man whc
has young colt that is taxed % cents shouic
have 4 right to vote, and that man Who has
not should not hare right TO vote. But ths
great restriction IS 10 be put that he alone who
pays his taxes shall be entitled to vote.
think there is some other mode Of paying be
sides dcllars and cents. = man may pay MS
dues TO the Commonwealth by labor; by tho
bearing OF arms in this very sun from which
We arc shielded but from which those men now
in the field are not shielded. | say that any
man called to bear arms for this Common
wealth ought 20 have right to vote. AND
you do him great injustice to deprive him o.
that right, if because, probably, from mislor
tune Or some ether cause, he is not able to pay
his taxes.
Mr.. President, wCnder how many of Us
here advocated this reform Of the Constitution
before the people when We were candidates be
fore then. for election? How many Of you
gentlemen, would have held places in that
Convention had you said, 81 shall go in The Con
one, undertake to say. undertake to say
that it was not advocated by one single mem
Der Of This Convention. II it had been, that
one wonld net have been here.
Sir, it does look to me-noL intentional, o
COURSE, would not reflect upon any gentle
man-;hat that looks like as if re intended to
take Il snap judgment upon the people. Being
clGc.cd here for certain purpose VIC mean 10
extend and carry out propositions which we
did not advocate, and which the people did net
expect Us to carry out in reforming that Con
s!iiution.
vii! call attention to another fact Hare
there been any petitions from the people here
asking that these reforms should take place 7
We had petitions enough here at our first ses-
sion about the Ordinance OF Secession and
other subjects indicating the views OF the
signers and asking their enforcement; but has
there been c single petition from any county
asking us to restrict the suGrages; to take
from the people the appointment Of their OIL.
GERS: Not one; and | insist, at least, that this
Convention shall not inaugurate these reforms
nov, without suffering US to 60 back to
Our people and ascertain from them whether
they really wish them or not
Mr.. President, | confess for one, that | am
not exactly in a statc Of mind properly to take
these things into consideration. Our minds
are excited about these warlike operations
which ere going on in all our State from the
Chesapeake 10 the Ohio river. Many Of US
have our homes invaded The enemy are at
cur doors; and here, under these circumstances,
am called upon to sit down and inquire what
restrictions | shall put upon sufrages, and
whether judges shall be elected BY the people,
&c. Sir, they are small matters, and the mind
cannot, under the circumstances by which We
arc surrounded, properly weigh and determine
upon these questions now. know that an
argument has been used about the election Of
shcri!is-t::at great Eany sherifis in the
State have been Gclarltcrs, and that it is ne
crssary 70 remedy this by lranlerrirg the elcc.
ton from the people. beg to say, that but
few years ago, comparatively, the whole
revenue TsaS not more than five or six hundred
Thousand, when they arc now millions, and
insica,! Of the defaults resulting because of
the election of the shcriIS by the people, it is
because Of del.!cations over which they have
nc control. The defaults, moreover, are now
estimated comparatively, when it should be
remembered that they must increase III the
ratio Of the incrclsc in the revenue.
DO hope that it will be the pleasure OF the
Convention 10 adopt the resolution.
The President announced that the hour Of
u had arrived when the order of the day was
to be taken up, which was the report OF the
Committee ON Railroad Connections in Rich.
mond and Petersburg, made by Mr.. Morris.
Mr.. HAYMu3D.-I move TO pas; the order OF
the day till ! o'clock.
The motion was agreed to-whereupon,
Mr.. U.,vNoNp offered the following amend.
,ncnt to the resolution offered by Mr. SuEFrEY !:
Resolved, That the report Of the Committee
On The State Constitution be re-commiLtcd 10
the Committee, with Instructions 10 report u
Constitution simply conforming the State Con-
siitutiOa 10 our relations with the Government
OF the Confederate States Of America, without
further amendment.
The PRESIDENT, lNr. SotTHALL in the Chair. }
The chair decides that the amendment is sub
stan;ially the same rs the resolution under con-
sheraton; and therefore, in tho opinion of the
Chair, the amendment is out Of order.
Mr. NELsoN.-I beg leave to offer tho follow.
inc amendment to the resolution Of the gentle
man from Smyth, (Mr. SnEFFEy:)
Resolved Tha: when this Convention ad-
iourns Oh Wednesday next, it will adjourn 10
meet again on the fourth wednesday in No.
vcmEcr next.
Mr. MoEroN-i will submit few remarks,
and respectfully mako suggestion or two.
ySl would be pleased to have seen this Con.
rgns;on dissolved if It were consistent with the
public interest. al these questions which
produce division and excitement frequently
have passed away, and trust that VIC now
stand 4 united band Of statesmen to consider
the great interests Of the Commonwealth.
The impression is general among the people
that there should be further amendments to
the Constitution. The question then resolves
itself into this will this Convention perform
that dutT, or will it rr(llsc to do so, and throw
upon Tie people the necessity Of electing
another Convention in q very few years p My
opinion is that this Convention should do its
whole duty. Whether it shall, during its
present session, enter upon these reforms, or
whether it shall take recess until the fall to
discharge these duties, Is matter not very
material with ME. Bat when rccollect that
before We adjourned last time, we appointed an
able committee Of this body TO consider the
organic reforms proper to be made, and tha,
committee after having ndustriously and labo.
riously applied itself TO the task, intclligcntly
performed this duty, rs haze reason to know.
thinl; that We mad better a;sh our work be-
fore re leave.
IN rp!allUn 10 lHc op(ccliohS "!l4ch llc Sei-
tlcman from rlrasants and Ritchic (Alr. llALL)
has advanced, that We are nos engaged in war
and :has the people of. the Northwest will
not have an opportunity Of expressing their
opinion upon the organic isw, ! can only say
that could he obyialcd in twn. ways The
nr>t s, tt;at every traitor invading our soil
should be driven or The second is, that We
can direct, in our ordinance, that the votcs Of
the voters Of the Commonwealth shall be taken
in thirty days or in sixty days after sc adjourn.
Would it not be competent for US to pass
all the amendments to the organic law that VIC
would desire, ard refer them to the votes oil the
people hy the proclamation Of the Go7erno;
;shen We have punished traitors from within
ard driven invaders from cur soil
Mr.. Hail. Of Peasants and Rtchie.-The
Northwest is nct represented here, and you
cannot elect representatives now.
iir. ,foHroH-l say they deserve no repre-
seniation here. They have been guilty of the
blackest treason, and, instead Of deserving re-
presentation, they deserve tic halter.