Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-18
- V;rc:ula stats Convention.
SECOND SESSION.
ryR>T Diy.
80 WEDNESDAY,, JrSg l2. lSG1

o.n WEDNESDAY, JCSg l2, 1851.
,,,,y.ciira mt a: 10 o'clock to-day, in
:, T. ir; the House ol Dslssa'es'
-, ?'rr. ' ss,rs 10 l49rril preSen', tue Chair
',,,a:rd r:.li ciccS' r. VI.
~. Ccnvt..!!." rs-sSseWoled at tae hour
*, ~, 1, ,'rI,,e,:inss were opened with prayer
'% .S.. t,aars< ill., Red, OF the Presbyterian
| !,;:h. ,..an.;,, MN, ,h, Ill,
.,;,,, II quorum was present, uud the
,.w,i- mcm5',S responded:
-,.p., tareLIe:,.) Amber, Aston. Baldwin.
~ 2, rcar. .I.,' HA:hour BAY lor IL key. Bo,.
- r.. sa,!c, ""y'l,, anch; Bruce. cs! cr M.
- ,o,s. -. rsainn, 7. E.n,, Com, =; Conrad,
so. I.,-. .ne, II. Cox Gri c ter De. x ms. Dor.
80. f,-.e- r:eacl. fntste Gravr'x Gregory,
49, =, I, uir Jr., Al son II. Cyrus Hail. s.
~: ,s.rna Isr.s, n,ymanl. :cmhA, hr.k.s.
a' Jt:, t. T. L. lv'.oston. KI.'y, Le-ka Newell,
;:.,,i.., w.. m. Mallory, Aay~, Mogeu, hcntasur.
N.'' gi,,s s-urd,Is Rntert ( &c IT w,i:.m T.
.,.,r s!,..t'r, S,uihall. nd d IL. Susr,
r,. r. ,.:ua. T eL.ty: Eou-st L. 1a.ner, Waller,
V. 49,. "a"i'' "'i~''
Nt JOHNSON. Il avn requested to state that
- ,'.x.B.L IL j. not present, because he is en-
.,'.J i. ;ae discharge vi duties in another
-. =. ,,,v State would also state thu! Mr.
| ,..rr., ly:a,Lri al he,ne by illness in bis
y.:,.,y Two members, or Ave more than a
| ,g.n:;. hay.rg responded 10 their names, the
.,.., .f.;.. =. .oceeded TO the ttsnssctcn OF bu.
srcSEr SESSION.
-. 2,r.ogxr-When this Convention
!. ,,,-.,s, Oh lne first oT May last, we were
;c S,.,r., session, under an order Of the
,..o,ra:,ot. I.ai order not havlrg been Ie-
.-,rc,.,, i is f,r Ills body no~ to say whether
60. >,..; Il: Win open Ut closed doors.
i, I.n.aAy.-l understand there are seve.
-, .y,:niaic.,inas upon the table waish re.
c:.:.. 10 Ue ac:ed upon n secret session, and
:a:s, uIsy as wetl b. dole nCT as at any
v.h,c ile.
ras i's: DENT -Ualcss the former order
:. 7,.,.ad:i u. Cns,r will drcc; the Sergeant.
I i: Am. 10 cl:ar The LOBBY.
Y: rsEDwaY. move that The s!t,insS Of
-, tonsen.,on be held i'll public, unless 9th
4 e. S,s ordered.
ii. Sr,Axr am strenuouS!y opposed to
il; mei,ssl:nn. think it is highly import
IL: l.a; s- should expedite the proceedings OF
- Convention as much as possible, aId no:h.
p. All c,nl:lbu.e 50 lnuch 10 their spteli;
! r ia.sa,1n - 70 sit within closed doprs.--
T:.-.s>:...s ~ be universal determination
o. tie past "i the members TO speak to the
a.,i.c siu to The audience assembled in tie
:..,re,; bat our proceedings, whenever they
/. . ,,Aen places III Secret session, have shown
=: 4 H.; ayre much more condensed, and ,hc
..rrs E:uca more cUnfned to the subjects
y .r consideration than when held in open
>r..,oa. Under these circumstances, think
| !. a!vsabic that we should continue 10 sit with
I. : j 'inurS.
". !::.,HLr..-It seems 10 me, Mr.. Pre.i-
| I'M; -: unless there ia Snme special reason
,;r Nc should close our doors, il is duty nc
o@- ...7 constituents to make the proceedings
G .i.', to1y Is public as possible. The prob
.:i:y Is laa, u large po'uun Of our ume will
:.-sgl;er he occupied IN the discussion nf
sa-..imeul> to the Constitution. A numhcr
., Us we're elected with special reference to this
e:l-c', aid Il is matter Gt inpcl ,a,.cc to lis
. g.: 10 ~ constituents that Wien this b1si.
'.rsS ctu,,s up ,:.ey Shall have all opportunity
{: aGp.ins What car action has b:eI.
81 Hall move en amendment to the pro
;r,,li,li u the gen;leulsn FROM Piltsy lvania.
| iar: r"a2Jrnt is this: that the seal of secie.
:" %" 'SNiE'SO il''itt r>ocs T. W Sott' W
-. { gv.ll;"A Nevertheless, fully concur
tie sugyestlsns OF the gvnl!emsn from
GJ.scilt:', (M:. D1RaAS.) that there are some
a::tr> :! r= acted upon, especially those re-
.:i:jaS II ExScutiTe Recommendations, which
. q4::,. ;v !. transacted in secret. From various
so,'d.rs.!ons, it iS necessary that we should
s:!!.i 70 these, 81 least before the seal Of Sc
es:, j. removed with regard to our future ac
;o. j.; have no Objection 10 allowing what
:. i i..e .4::,:s Of tho reporters to 60 to-lhe
y4b,t It: ai'ct; and it Was with this view that
-3s. ,;.e noioI Tia. past proceedings may
= :: 81, ;:1ilc and thar hereafter, the discus.
,.';.> {: ,:,'* ovdy shall be open to all, and bs
t":''Ic:td IN regular order.
u SrcAEr-I concur with the gentleman
-. u srC. ,h;t II this Convention contin.
-ssi.' !1.:-'t cren session. large proportion
Il" .a- proceedings x'ii be Confined to the dis
"...in: >; Il. proposed amendments to The
Irn-li'u;i1h. That ls one reason why prefer
IA, or ur.;ia;s shall be With closed doors.
ils toGy~iion wi.ici' formed the old Federal
l1o,.,i4,ol of The United States. sa: with
S,,r': dvvrS, ait! believe it is a matter Of his
~! Fat, unless ii, sessions had been conduct
sar hal u,,nncr, The Constitution womld never
'''r o-rn brought ial0 existence as II waS.-
":.r 1rai;cis are in progress, and before aiy
s-''L= .! legislation lIas beer properly Ma
'l':G, 80 not believe it to be consistent witt,
:4s Pa''ic welfare, Or the speedy transaction OF
'!':-e's, ior to public press and the public
'.'s' to o. raised upon an eI-pa5te view OF any
S.'gc- |: tends 70 ein bari AIS rather than aid
- ii ou' cats.
t'F'::'sresson am inclined to think that it
$ tf'''r 20 dl>cass these questions in secret
>'5S.-;. Ahen these d,scu,slo1s are complete,
'ne:' . ;t= proper llne TO lay the subjects be
~ toe p4lic f1r then thsy will be IN pre-
.ef '''m i, however, at every stage OF busl-
''Ss' 'saFe IL tc H.et b. popular ca,nor over
-: r'ay oe o lniscoEccptiUn Of The o. :cta
''@s: a, We Shall daily have 10 encounter
-'''a ai'ons and arsumcn!s from gcn!enen,
'"'! "'i' oy no mran$, teud To 4 benrtisent
'n-A /, nope, there fure that the Convcn.
|', .'va p..tlic IA vol as private reasons,
-" c'Gi' uc lu hold It's seSsionS with closed
!.":. Tr are here in the midst Of rummcr,
''!irNs.G !: degree Of heat which is unusual
= ~,'; &! u. aud II, rs they have been here.
''.'". o.s l.u:;es a:e crowded aud galleries
- @i'i ii.e prolonged drbsies wh,ch may
I@t' ':ua open session will br, 10 Fay The
,'sl !avle to ali " ho ere here tor tnc
"''ssciaL IF husinusI.
d, !!.svlE-M- President, tho motion
'"'. ;a' n,.a lnade has taken me ny sur.
%'s lad 40 cx;,tctation until caule into
"' "a. that there would be any effort 10
'.I &c Il" Proceedings u !his body III secret,
y '%!..d Ns former proceedings from the
r.. VIM Ill l.s respect wb'ch | enter
~, ,. ~ Tic Intelligence aud patriotism CT Tins
$50 eit,ILiy have NJ much Tor It M"
\. ''i "hen VIC net Lctole-l thlHk, NJ
''l', w aIe rot too intelligent or TOO
',, ,,.'''t h te exempt frotu the ben.ft Of the
y, ,.~,s' a;h ininml:ion Of other people IN
-. A'i'i'' nwt"l b vi Virginia. would, at
.i ''' s's .is.a sn cpPu t.nity Of advising
,,' '"'s "9dy u.ay d. and .. Knowing whst
=. ';:'' DIN. take il, tha. all the intelli-
."'l PATRIOTISM 0l our Statc are not Con-
a'''-'! here. | thlnk that there ale some
~. :' "i..ch must be considered in this body
an a"a!d be well 10 lay htf'he the peO-
IT,. ~ not simply 10 discuss with closed