Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-27
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
SECOND SESSION.
EIGHTH DA r-IC0EUL UDED.l

MY, DORST,-l ueullif 'OhSat
nation which has been made and sustained by
the vote Of this Convention. now WISH TO
nut in nomination the name of n gentleman
who has already held n high position both IN
the Commonwealth and the Senate OF the
United States. | refer to the Hon. NJ ii.
Mason. rs Il scholar, a statesman ana q
patriot, he Is we'll known 10 every gentleman
in this body; and as a bold and able defender
Of the rights OF the South, no man Is better
qualified or entitled to represent the taslcy OF
Virginia, than ths gentleman whom | have
placed in nomination.
Mr.. NEBLEr7.-I am still at sea il regard to
the manner of this election, anu Tould ieeI
Obliged if tho Convention would adopt some
ulan By which We can secure the proper repre-
sentation Of the public sentiment Of the seVeral
districts OF the State. ask for nothing but
what is right, for as we are now gong on, ii
is impossible to say where these gentlemen are
10 be selected or whom they are to represent.
As understand it, the object and intent o.
increasing our delegation in Congress is TO
reflect the views which prevail in all sections
OF the State. That WIS the argument used
Yesterday by every gentleman who occupied
the floor: and now let us decide who nre TO be
these agents Of the people, und who shall
truly, fairly, honestly and cquitably reflect lheil
views upon the floor Of Congress. There is
no way Of doing this than by making selec
tons from the several districts OF the State
and that this may be done without causing
Dissatisfaction in the future, and that symptoms
of trouble may be crushed ut thu start
move that the different districts OF the
State be called. No. l is already occupied
No. 2 we have just filled, and | move that We
now call No. 5, and so 60 on through the list
This | take to be fair, just and hcnorable-sre
unless We pursue SOME such plan there is h"-
the slightest doubt but that We shall misrepre'
sent our constituents. If the present plan be
Carried cut. We may select two Ut three gentle
men from the same district. What justice CT
fairness is there in such Il course Is mat. Lit
Us therefore adopt s system IN this uiatter q
that We cnn know what we are doing. Ihcl,
and only then, we ecu act intellig!b!y. ! Af.ll
insist upon my motion.
Mr.. CoSRAD.-I rise, Mr.. President, 10 ex-
press my concurrence i'll the motion when hts
inst been made by the gcntisuan from Lnnel'
burg. 1t strikes me that there is great iors
in The remark Of the gentleman from Fauqu'r,
That as unlimited power as possible should OF
given To select the best ability III the Sta:c.
Yet [ think q superior necessity requires Tint
there should be an equal distribution oil relrc'
sentatiyes through the State, SO that etch
| Congressional district shall have q voice upon
the Loor Of Congress-. Besides, Sir, II any
other course Shal! be- pursued, | shall ind ny
self in II condition Of ~pcculia: embarrassment
by the nomination which has just ucen made
II my friend and ncighbor, Mr.. Janics N. Ma
son is in nomination here, | shall heartily con-
cur in that nomination, bat should bc
unwilling, as | believe he will, 10 bc
| placed in opposition 10 4 perfectly &C
ceptuble gentleman VINO represented thai
! district in the late Congress OF The United
States. have to nominate 4 gentleman Iron
the county Of Jefferson, one who pro7ed him
| self in every auy worthy Of the scat he occn
! pied, and from which he has been driven BY
the exigencies Of the present time, and who
Mss therefore 4 prior right TO be elected hythis
Convention. ! repeat again that | shall hi
greatly embarrassed il Colonel Mason is to bf
the nominee Of my Congressional district A.
I understand the matter, two gentlemen are tC
be selected rs Senatorial representatives, ano
| would suggest that Mr.. Mason, who by rea
son OF his high position, is we'll qualified ant
should receive the nomination as one Of the
Representatives cf the State at large.
Mr.. BoRsT.-l accept the suggestion lnad'
by the gentleman from Frederick. Mr.. Masor
| having been 4 Senator Of the United States, i
is cmincntly proper that he should occupy The
place Of n Senatorial Representative.
Mr.. NEBLErT.-l put III nomination WI
LIAM BALLARD rREsToS. Of this body. ANY re
| marks upon the subject are unnecessary. MIR
Preston Is well known 10 ell the gentlemen D
the Convention, As one whose thorough nc
quaintance with tl:e present ndltio Of public
affairs qualify him as cur representative IN tha
Congress. / think it is the best appointment
HAY HAY f0asn Jhdff~ ENeB5ss, ii3 this body. and | trH5t !
Mr.. BogsT.-Wh;le l do not Object TO ths
| nomination Of Mr.. PRESTON, would remind
the Convention, that his district Is already
represented in Congress. If the nomination Is
to Dc made however, | do hope the gentleman
will withdraw it for the present, until re have
had an opportunity Of considering that ii Nj
james II. Mason.
Nix. BgAscn.-l RI. IL Say that | t!ist tht
| gentleman will mol Withdraw The domination
and | will give an exce!lcn: reason therefor.
an perfectly willing to allow Messrs. MAsos
and Preston 10 come in opposition as delegates
from the State ss large, but | EN- not willing
that Mr. MASON shall run without opposition
from Mr.. pREsroN. For if Mr.. MAscN is cleo
ted row, it might exclude Mr. PREsros from
Congress altogether: Why? Because Nr.
STABLES is at present the member of Congress
from the same district as Mr.. Preston and
acting upon the hypothesis Of the gentleman
from LuaenburS, IMr. NrnLrTT! that members
shall be elected by districts, by elecsIns MIR.
MASON 5ou leave only ole chance OF getting
Mr.. Preston in as Il member at large. For
this reason | shall sustain the nomination OF
Mr.. PRESTON and vote against the withdrawal
Of his name.
The PgEslDESr.-The rule OF this body re-
quircs that but one vacancy shall be flied at
q time. II, therefore, these gentlemen stand
in competition for thu Sauie office. tie vote
can be taken upon one only. The Char
would further suggest, for the consideration Oh
members, that if It is desired 10 elect a mem.
Der from each Congressional District it will De
better To proceed until &c reach the number
thirtecn when we may elect the delegates at
large.
Mr.. WmTFIELD.-I Look upon l4e election OF
Mr.. Preston as one Of the most important in
the State. And as one to which he ia entitled
By his labors hero ami his familiarity with the
condition of affairs in the Commonwealth.
The PREslpEST.-I hope the Convention will
indicate an order Of proceeding. It is inpos'
siblc TO control debate until it is done.
Mr.. ScoTr.-I feel considerable interest in
the question now before the body. Sir, ne
have no party to be represented. VIC have no
longer any sectional Or territorial interests
marked our. There is now before us a special
cxigency growing mainly ont Of the condition
Of this Commonwealth, aud | want that cxi.
gency met. want those elected 10 THIS Con-
gross who best understand the necessities OF
the people; and, | repeat what I before said,
that, in my judgment, those best fitted for this
position are to be found among the members
OF this holly Sir. ;herc are among Us gentle,
men belonging to the Committee or Finance
who, for days during the recess Of this Con.
~vention, devoted themselves, with their entire
energies, talents and abilities, in consultation
with the Confederate authorities to the dcri.
sing Of ways and means for meeting the press.
ing demands upon our State treasury.
There are upon that committee, gentlemen
-l:lt, T,,oI - raprooopt thn -,