Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-26
V!RGIE!s sTaTE CONVENTION.
SITTY D4l-TYIRD SESSION.
"WEDNESDAY, Nov. 20, 1861.

by the Rev. NJ. HocE, of tho Presbyterian
church.
The pngslpExr.-The Chair will take thi
occasion to announce tho three additional
members ordered on yesterday to be added Il
the Committee on Military Affairs, on the mo
ton Of Mr.. BRANcn -Messrs. BRANcH, CAMP
BELL and DogMAS.
The President The following is the Com
mittee ordered to be appointed on yesterda.
under the resolution offered by Mr. BLAEEY-
Messrs. BLAGEy, loUSG, MARTIN, I. J. Ran
DoLPH and KENT.
Mr.. Scorr, Of Fauquer.-It will be recol
lected, that while the Convention was sitting
in secret session, in June last, communica
ton was addressed to it by the Governor touch
ing the military defcnscs Of the State.
1t was not deemed expedient at the time t,
have that communication printed, and it wa
accordingly allowed to remain in possession o
the Secretary unpublished.
The other day another message was commu
nicated by the Governor to this body touching
the same subject which seemed to be rather
continuation of the former message, bringing
down the State of the military contributions
on the part of Virginia, to more recent time
This last message, believe, sir, was ordered t
be printed, and know no reason now why thu
former message should be withheld from thu
public. With view to cause this to be print
ed with the late message. | move that tina
message be taken up.
The motion was agreed TO-.
Mr.. ScoTT-l now move that it he laid upor
the table and printed.
That motion was also ag-cc1 TO.
Mr.. Blow! oiler the following resolu
ton.
Resolved, That the Committee Of Finance
inquire into the expcdiency oil providing by Law
for the settlement OF the claims Of such Adju
tants of regiments as wcre appointed under the
provisions of an Ordinance Of this Convention
passed on the 9th day Of June last, and re
port by ordinance or otherwise.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. SPEED.--l offer the following resolution
which, at the instance Of the gentleman from
Essex, (Mr. GAgNETT,D was laid upon the table
a few days ago:
Resolved, That the Committee Of Finance
be instructed to inquire into the eXped'cncy o.
authorizing the banks Of discount and issue, Of
this State, TO invest such portions Of their cap
ital as they may deem proper, in the bonds Of
this Commonwealth and the bonds Of the
Confederate States Of America.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. MARYE presented the petition Of the
Common Council Of Fredericksburg praying
the Convention to legalizc their small note is
sues, which was referred to the Finance Com
mitlee.
Mr.. RAYMOND was suggested on yes
terdsy that an addition Of three be made to the
Committee on Military Affairs, because Of tue
absence or resignation Of former members OF
that committee.
was member Of that committee, but was
ut the last session Of the Convention,
in consequence Of other business, to resign my
position IN that committee. Doubtless the va
cancy caused by my resignation was TO; pro-
vided for ia the motion to add to the commit
tee, and therefore move that the President
appoint m additional member to that commit.
tee.
The motion was agreed to, and Mr.. SLA CGn.
TER was accordingly appointed.
Mr.. CHAMRLlSs avoid any ,nisappre.
hension which would grow out of an ordinance
passed by this Convention laying of Congress,
slonal districts, will take occasion to submit
an amendment 10 that ordinance. The city OF
Portsmouth is not mentioned in the apportion-
;nent, because it is supposed to be included in
the county Of Norfolk. To avoid any misap.
prehension from This omission, beg leave to
offer the following amendment:
IAN ORDINANCE to amend an ordinance for he
appointment IF representation IN the
Congrsss Of the Confederate States.
"bc it ordained, That the ordinance entitled
An Ordinance for the apportionmcnt of re-
presentation in the Congress Of the Confederate
States be, and the same is hereby amended,
30 that the third section thereof shall read rs
ollows Norfolk City, Norfolk county, Prn-
less Anne, Nsnsemond, Isle Of Wight, South
lmpton, Sussex, Surry, Grcensville and the
Jity Of Portsmouth, Shall BE- the second dis
riot"
Mr.. CnAADLlss THE only amendment is the
Idditon OF the name of the City Of Ports.
mouth. 1t is included within the district, but
lot mentioned in the ordinance arranging the
districts.
| ask that this amendment be adopted
The PRESIDENT. There is rule which re.
luires all ordinances to be printed before be-
ny acted upon. The gentleman had better
move 10 suspend that rue if he desires imme.
late action upon his ordinance.
Mr. CuAMBLISs.--l move TO suspend that
ule, with view Of putting this ordinance
lpon its passage.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. STApLEs.-My recollection is not very
distinct upon the subject, bnt il strikes me that
zone OF the cities were mentioned in the ordl-
lance relating TO Congressional districts
Mr.. CuAMBLlss -Alt Of them were men
Toned, with the exception Of the City Of Ports.
mouth.
The ordinance was then adopted.
Mr.. PMcE-I move that the report Of the
Committee on Constitutional Amendments be
AIKEN up for consideration.
The motion was agreed TO.
The PRESIDENT. the report OF the
ommittee was passed by on yesterday, the
'ending proposition was that submitted By the
Gentleman from Smyth (Mr. SuEFFEY,) to strike
mt OF the first section of article 2 the following
Tords: And who in such countya ity or
own, shall have assessed with part OF the
evcnue of the Commonwealth, county lcvirs
r poor rates for the year next preceding. and
hall have actually paid all the revenue, coun-
2 levics. and poor rates with which he shall
ave been so assessed"
Mr.. PnlcE.-I suppose if the clause is not
tricken out it will not be strictly amendablc.
Tho PREsIDENr-Not strictly.
Mr. PKlcE-Tbe word city" ought to be
dded in the Sth line, so as to make it read
ounty and city levies."
Mr. HAYMoND.--ls it competcnl HOS to offer
substitute for the whole section
The PREsIDENr.-Yes, sir.
Mr. HAYMoSD-I then Offer the Sd article of
he Constitution oflS50, which reads:
Every white male citizen Of the Common
wealth of the age Of t~enty-onc years, who
las been resident Of the State for two years,
nd of the county, city or town where he Of
crs 10 vote for twelve months next preceding
n election, and no other person shall be quail.
led to vote for member of the General Assem-
liz and all officers elected by the people; but
10 person in the military, naval or marine scr.
ice Of the United States shall he deemed
esident Of this State by reason Of being sta
Toned therein; and no person shall have the
light to vote who is of unsound mind, or pau