Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-01
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
iSECRET SESSION
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1861.
FIFTH Pa +.
(cosrlNuEp.l
r11pN1Nc cCSCTnS

EVENING SESSION.
The Convention re-assembled at the appoint
"a hour.
Mr. RANDOLPH of Richmond. Under the
appropriation fer the purchase of arms made
in 1860, thore is balance Of some $40, 900 OF
$4,000 still due by the State to the commits
:!oners for the purchase Of arms. II that bt
paid by the sale OF State bonds, it will cost the
State very large amount perhaps. twenty
odd thousand dollars II it be paid out o.
the loan authorized by the Convention, ws
may get OF with $4,000.
Will offer the following resolution On The
subject:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance
be instructed to inquire into the expediency o
ii9uidating. from the fund authorized by this
Convention, such balance as may be duo from
the State under the appropriation made on the
- day Of January, 1860, for the purchase
ui arms.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. WILEY. Of Mononga!ia- i would in.
luire, sir. whether the question of taxation is
aot in order.
TaE rRgsiDEST.-The Chair will suggest to
the Convention whether it would not be better
20 move TO lay his report on tho table when
the Convention is not ready to vote upon it.
fns plan OF passing it by from time to time is
embarrassing to the Chair, and must be annoy.
.rg to the Convention.
Mr.. HoLcuMBE, Of Albemarle.-Will the
gentleman allow me to submit brief propo-
s:tion
TIE PRrs1DENr--Does the gentleman insist
0a taking up the report
Mr. WuLET.--It is impossible for inc to
orego this opportunity Of calling it up. 1t
gas laid aside to-day at the instance ofthe gen.
ueman from Prince Willama (Mr HUSToN,)
10 enable the gentleman from Amelia (Mr.
HARvIs,) to offer i revolution inquiring what
steps the Governor had taken under the ordi
nance authorizing and directing him to invite
arn into the service Of Virginia native Virgi
oisns nov in the service of the United States
The report vas taken up.
Mr. TsgpwAY.-I offer the following amend
nent TO the report, and will then move to lay
oolL On the table.
Provided that the 9th section of the 4th
article Of the Constitution be so amended that
representation in tho Senate shall hereafter be
appor,oned on the mixed basis, that is, &C.
cofdng to .he number of white inhabitants
and the amount Of all State taxes paid, in tho
several counties, cities and towns Of the Com
nonwealth.'
no* moTe that the report and amend.
nens be laid upon the table.
Mr. WILSON. of Harrison---I will offer the
following as an amendment to the amend.
GsAt
Resolved. that every slave who has attained
the age of 12 years shall be assessed with q
:oy vguai Gnd not exceeding that assessed on
land Of the value of 800 dollars. And that
each slave under II years of age shall be as
s.ssed with tax equal and not exceeding that
assessed on land of the value of 250 dollars
But, the circuit and county Courts OF each
county shall have authority to exempt
from such taxation all slaves who from age,
disease. or bodily in6rmity are incapa'
oility of rendering service to their owner
Mr.. WHITE, of Norfolk ccuuty.-1 would ask
the gentleman if he had not better take the
balance Of the slaves:
Mr.. BaowS, Of Preston.-l desire to have
some information on this subject. This morn
ing called for the yeas and nays upon g. mo
ton to lay on the table. This motion was
made before the gentleman from Pittsylvanla,
iMr. TsEDwAy,) submitted his amendment and
1t had, therefore, to be disposed Of before the
amendment could be in order. | don't under
stand why it is, after the yeas and nays were
called and sustained, that the motion to lay on
the table, upon which the cal was made, could
De Withdrawn I was under the impression
that should have to withdraw the call for the
yeaS and nays before it was competent for the
sn3ver to Withdraw his motion to lay on the ta'
ble
The PRESIDENT The motion to lay on the
table was Withdrawn after the call for the yeas
aid nays, and it was perfectly proper to do 50.
Mr.. HAMMOND, Of Marion.-1 now ask for the
yeas and nays upon the motion to lay on the
table.
The call was sustained, and tine question be-
..S put, was decided in the negative, yeas ~,
RAYS 30, as follows:
TE..-Messra.. Jsnuey. ipresidsn,,l JaEes Barbour
sisk~y Boudin, Bruce, Cabeil, CrltSher Fhsr Flour
L.ss-, S.acfsrlaad. James g. Mallory. hsrye, sr Nor
Is. Norton, NsLi.,i richardson, Robert Scott sss
x.l. Slaughter, Strange Tlyioe' Th0Fn'on' ffed"aJ
N4Ys-Meas-s Amber, Aston, Baldwin, hessess, Boyd
Dent, B.uwn BurIey. Campbell, cspston. GoanaO Coma
z. Gay Goseia, Cyrus Hall, &. B. Hall, L. 8. HAL
a.ynone, IiUi Hutton, MarnaduIe Johnson' teses
tpaI.sk. Robt H. Turner, =. P. Turner, Williams, VII
H.,Wuods, Wysor-A.
- tile motion was rejected.
Mr WILEY paired off with Some absent
taember whose name the reporter did not
bear ..f.r.,r....
Mr.. HaYMoxD-I think the arnendment Of
Tered by the gentleman from Pttsylvanla
MIR. TRtDwAT) is not german 10 the suo)ect
under consideration. The report of the COM
'nlttee only refers to the changes in the con-
sti:ution of the State indicated by the resolu'
Ton appointing the committee; and the gen
ucInan from ts,lvana, submits propoSi.
ton to amend the 4th ard 5lh sections OF the
Constitution which relate to tho subject Of
representation 10 the Senate. ! maintain that
II is not gerpain to the subject reported upon
ty the committee, and that it is therefore out
VI order.
The PREsIDESr.-The rule Of the House OF
representatives and Senate of the United
states and believe of the House Of Delegates
o Virginia, is as stated by the gentleman FROM
;Sarion, (Mr. HAYAoND) The parliamentary
a~ Is directly the reverse, for it recognizes
right so submit an amendment which may
Ss''oish proposition entirely different from
tas original proposition itself. 1t is for the
Convention to decide, in voting upon it,
whether the issue embraced in the amend
Sent %t be connected with the other Or not
to ~ >c ~