Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-22

rations Of such importance as to demand the
dsIav If doubt was entertained in regard to
any clause Of the Constitution, or the propri.
| ETY. Of its adoption, CT in reference to the action
Of the people upon it. there might be soinf
| reason for procrastinatlon but, as nothing Of
this sort exists, and the ordinance We are called
upon t, adj ,pt is a simple one, | cannot see the
proprie,y OF posiponing the consideration OF
| The question to a future day. l call for the
| ayes and noes.
Mr.. .CoyRAp.--It is my impression that I'm.
der the circumstances, it will be necessary for
this Convention to adopt and ratify the CunStl-
tuition az it stands, and | believe it is important
that it should Ge promptly done. | canno,
agrce with the gentleman from Louisa, (Mr:
AMBLEg,) however, in his disposition to make
this matter OF postponemeft a test question.
1t is true, We have no right to amend ihisC Con.
stitu,ion. We must either adopt or reject it
IS il stands: hut it str kcs me as expcdient and
consistent with The prcc, dent in the adoption Of
tns State Constitution, to suggest any amend
mcnt that We may deem necessary.
While. as at present advised, ] EN- in favor
Of adopting the permanent Constitution, yet
rrcm the examination | have given the matter,
srn satisfied there ere several points where
amendments would be desirable. 1t is not eX
| pscred. az | observed before, that any such
change will be proposed By this Convention;
but. lnat we may have an opportunity OF care
fully reading the Constitution between now
and Ia. morrow, | shlll sustain the motion OF
the gentleman from Bntetourt. ! do not wish,
however, to be understood as opposing the
adoD,ion or ratification Of the instrument as il
| now stands before the Convention.
Mr.. HALL If WeIzel-l hope it will not be
the pleasure Of the Convention to postpone
this mattcr; in view Of the fact stated by the
gentleman from Frederick, that We cannot
change, and have no power over the Constitu-
ton, except to make recommendations to other
States 10 aceuiesce in and insert any amend.
ment we may have 70 suggest. Besides, the
Constitution prcTides in The fifth article, Sec
ton first, for It's own amendment.
Whenever we choose to avail ourselves OF
;tis clause CT the Constitution, wecaa do so By
securing the acquirsc-nce Of ONLY two other
States. That TO my mind would be u shorter
mode than if we attempted 10 alter its provis.
ions now, which would render it necessary to
send it hack fr ratification to all the States.
Mr.. SLAUGHTER Il rise simply 10 make an
enquiry rs to P subject on which | wish to DO
enlightened. The second section Of the per.
maucnt Constitution u tile Confederate States
prcscribcs the number Of delegates the origin.
al eight States shall be entitled to in the Con.
gress Ct said States, but no provision is made
as to the number Of delegates any new Stste
adopting said Constitution would be entitled
TO IN said Congress.
| do rot understand by what authority
Virginia is to BIZ represented in that Congress.
/ am ~l.ioruel that the Coi gross Of the pro.
~yisiarsl government has undertaken 10 allow
this State sixteen delegates, urdar the perma
ncrt Constitution. ] desire to know if the
Congress Il tie provisional government had
any such authority.
CALLS FOR THE QUESTION:.
The ayes and nays tarn being taken G; the
no.len 10 postpone, it was rot agreed TO BY a
zoe CT yeas 81, nays So.
The vote stood Us fellows:
TsAs-He.>r. ara.irons, nslasIn. Baylor. Brrl!n, Bia-
k.,, Eoult.n. Boyd. Byrae, caleron, Rop.rt 7. Conrad,
~Iiurh.s liulI, Kindred L'wi., MrCnIa4.. Mcneil, 'srye,
Sd t'is, Moore, Price, Pu.h, Rises, Saunders, VIM. c.
Scott, sharp. S!Ilit glnn, Slaughter, SoutEIll, SpeSt, eta
pies, A. II 4. Siua.;, Wonts-Sy
NA"s-Mcs-Ts. au!Nlrr. Jam.. Bartcu-. ulo1, . seAu,
eors!, B:,rcn, Drnss. Cabe!l. Carter, C%srmblss, Chups
Ga. Il" rkrr. D r'a.n Fisher Forbes. G rnrt Gre.o,y.
Gosgn John Gonde, Jr Addison Hal, Cyrus Hall. l. :.
Hal, liarvia. Hay m'ud, Hclconbe, lshrIl. NArmsddke
~J1hn-n'. KIihy, LsTk-. Mrcfnr;aud, Charles f. Mallory,
j S L. Mallory. Miller. Nj 6ai, Montague. MnrrIs, Neoleii,
s;r's n, Urrick Pa'E., Preston. s-awel sh-G.y straore,
T"j Inc. R'btr. ". T.rGer, Iyle:, Taller, W.!i0e.d, VII
ilaus. Wyso:-3s
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