Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-14

. The Convention shall consist of one hundred and
ftytwo MEMBERS to be chosen for and by the several
counties and cities Of the Commonwealth, prescribed
Inv the second section of the fourth article of the
Constitution of this State for the election OF members
of the House of Delegates. The county or counties
which alternately vote for delegates to the General As
sembly under the said article of the said Constitution
and which at the next election for delegates would be
entitled to elect delegate delegates, shall elect tho
same number of members of the Convention and in the
same manner that they would be entitled if the cleo
ton were for members of the next session Of the Gene
raj Assembly.
3. ANY person may be elected member Of the Con-
yeption who at the time OF election has attained the
age of twenty-five years, and is citizen OF this Com
monweah, and who is not member Oh the present
General Assembly.
The said election shall in all respects be conducted
in the mode prescribed and the officers conducting the
same shall be vested with the powers perform the duties
ard be liable TO the penalties prescribed by the laws oil
Virginia for general elections, except as herein pro-
vided.
3 The polls shall remain open for one day only; and
the commissioners at the courthouses experimenting
the said election shall meet in their respective countess
corporations and election districts on the second day
after the election day shall then compare the polls and
decide who is elected and shall make returns of the
eecton and to compare the returns from the respective
counties and parts of counties forming election districts
for members of the General Assembly. The officers
conducting the election the court-bouses OF the re-
spectye counties and parts of counties OF such election
districts shall meet and compare the returns at the places
now required by law for such comparison on the fourth
day after the election and make returns Of the eec
ton one Of which they shall forthwith transmit mail by
the Governor another with the poll books, shall be dev-
cred 10 the clerk Of the county corporation court to
be filed il his office and another TO the member or
members elected to The said Convention.
G. The members so chostn shall meet on Monday the
eleventh of February next the capitol in the city OF
Richmond and proceed to adopt such measures as they
nav deem expedent for the welfare OF the Common
wealth The sessions of the Convention shall be held in
the capitol until eherwise provided for
T. In the case of contested election, the same shall
be governed in all respects by the existing awsn regard
to contested elections in the House Of Delegates.
s. In case of vacancies occurring previous TO the meet
ing of the Convention the Governor shall issue wrts to
supply the same; and after the said meeting, the wrts
shall be issued by order of the Convention; and the cleo
tons under such ws shall be conducted in all respects
as the elections herein before provided for.
g. The said Convention shall be the judge OF its own
privileges and elections and the members thereof shall
have possess and enjoy all the privileges which mem
bers elected to and attending on the General Assembly
are entitled to- and shall be allowed the same
pay for travelling to- attending and returning from
the said Convention is now allowed to members OF the
General Assembly for like services.
10 The said Convention is hereby empowered to ap-
point such officers and 20 make them such reasonable al
lowances for their services it shall deem proper which
several allowances shall be audited by the Auditor OF
Public Accounts and paid by the Treasurer of the Com
monwealth of any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated
H. The expenses incurred in providing poll books and
in procuring writer's to keep the same shall be betrayed
heretofore in the elections of members OF the General
Assembly.
H. Immediately upon the passage of this act the Co.
vernon shall issue proclamation giving notice thereof
of the time Of holding the election and OF the meeting
Of the Convention herein provided for
l3 The Secretary Of the Commonwealth shall cause 10
be the clerks of each county aud corporation
many copies Of this act there precincts therein
using for that purpose special messengers when
sary in his Judgment 1t shall be the duty of the clerks
to deliver the same 10 the Sheriff for distribution who
shall forthwith cause copy be posted at the door OF
his court house and public place each election
district.
II. This act shall be in force from its passage.
The other amendments proposed by the special COM
mtee and adopted by the Senate, were;
In 30 section strike out all after the word Common
wealth"
Add to Sd section, as amended Gan persons shall be
qualified vote the question or in the election aore-
said who are entitled for members OF the Gene
raj Assembly, under the Constitution Of the Common
wealth"
In 4th section, after the word "duties," insert 're
ceive the same compensation
Strike out first six lines of 9th section above print
ed, and insert
s. The polls shall remain open for one day only, and
the commissioners experimenting the said election at
the courhouses shall meet in their respective counties
and corporations the second day after the election
day. shall then compare the polls for their respective
counties and corporations which elect delegate or dele
gates and ascertain and certify the votes Of the counties
and corpo atoms parts thereof comprising election
districts and deliver cert lied statement thereof TO the
officers conducting The election the cOurt-houses.
In 9th section first line strike out Monday and in
sert "Wednesday" and in second line strike out llth
and insert 18th"
Add to 7th section sunless otherwise ordered by the
Convention"
Mr. THOMAS proposed to amend the bill by inserting
a clause declaring vacant the seat of any member OF
the General Assembly who shall be elected member OF
tic Convention. Negatived.
Mr.. WICKHAM proposed to amend the 9th section
bv inserting after Commonwealth" the following:
But in the opinion of the General Assembly it would
be in violation OF the spirit with which this Convention
IS called that it should in any manner alter the PROV
sions contained in the existing Constitution OF the Com
monweath in regard to taxation or the appor;ionment
of representation in either branch Of the General As
sembly.
Mr.. W said he was impeled from sense of duty to
his constituents 10 sabmt this motion, and then pro-
ceeded briefly, TO advocate its adoption.
After remarks by Messrs AUGUST and NELSON, in
opposition to the proposed amendment the same was
withdraw.
Several Senators briefly stated their objections to the
BILL and announced their purpose to vote Tor it.
Mr.. FRENCH closed these personal explanations
with the following remarks:
lii exactly the very bill that wanted except does
not give US one day in getting here provided there
ia big at the time. In the said Convention, Tor
Gods sake end for the sake Of humanity, let us keep
out Of it the Submssonists" and red hot Fire Eaters
and let us naye tie hard and good thinking men
of the State to represent us.
Mr. FINNEY moved adjournment Negatived.
The BILL as amended, then read and adopted
NJ Ah1ap mot nj
Messrs Christian, Iayne Smith aud Taliaferro.
On motion OF Mr. PAXTON, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House was called to order at ~ O'clock M
PRAYER by the Rev'd ]. A. Duncan of the Methodist
Church.
BILLS REPORTED
For the relief Of the Rev. j. A. Packard; authoz ne
loan from the Library fund to the Allegheny College
incorporating the town of Cameron in Marshall County
incorporating the Berkeley Guards Volunteer Company
for the relief OF Nathaniel b. Harvey; for the rehef Of
\. Atkins; refundng a cence tax to Paul A. Harvey
paving VIM c. Jackson certain coupons; for the relief
of James Scott of Greenbrier refundng certain sum
of money to Matthew Wamsley of Randolph.
STATE DEFENCE.
Mr.. KEMPER, from the Committee on Military al
fairs reported the following resolution, which was adop
ted.
Resolr.d That The Committee FINANCE be Instructed
forthwith to enquire into the e1pedency consider the b
raising the 81 co., for immediate purp ses
defence, and report by bill, or otherwise,
Mr.. ROBERTSON offered the following resolution
which he thought would meet with the concurrence o.
the entire House:
Res That debate all questions thst may arise on th
bill pead1g, shall be rtsrcted to three nnu
b. sy speaker when they ST all be pat TO The VOTE
The resolution was adopted.
RESOLUTIONS or ENQUIRY.
By Mr. BENTLY-0f providing by law for the avaa
bty of the appropriation, made at the last session, io
more enecusly armng the border counties.
By Mr. CLAIB0RNE-0f incorporating the Meadsvil'
Manufacturing Company.
By Mr.. WkLLACE-Of amending the charter Of the