Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15
The Virginia State Convention.
RIcnMoSp, THURSDAY, Feb. IA, 1861

The Presidents chair is located on the side
Of the Hall, the members SEATS being arranged
in front in semi.circular order. The space io,
the Convention is enclosed with iron ratings
the margins outside on either end of the Hall
being assigned for spectators. The original
platform at the inner end of the Hall, now on
the right Of the President is reserved for ladies
and the gallery on the left, or Immediately
above the entrance with the intervening space
between the door way and iron railing, for gen.
tlcInen
The proceedings were opened with prayer
by the Rev. Mr. DUNCAN Of the Methodist
Church.
Mr. MAcrAELAED, sitter few remarks On
tho delay and embarrassment resulting from
an election Of officers by the Convention, AS
evidenced on yesterday, offered the following
resolution
Resolved, That the President Of the Convcn
ton be authorized to appoint the officers ne
ccSsary to complete the organization Of this
body, to consist of 4 Sergeant Arms, two
door keepers and four pages.
The PRESIDENT said: Before the resolution isrc-
ported, the Chair will beg leave To make few
remarks
When arrived in this city, was informed
that the universal practice of the Legislature
had been for the body itself to appoint their
officers | consider myself gentlemen, stand
ing upon the same level with each one OF you
that T should vote, AS member Of the House,
for these various officers, and in that connec-
ton have committed myself to certain gen.
tlemen IN favor Of these Offices. If you refuse,
gentlemen, to perform this duty, you will have
10 change the vcsluc to get fair trial. (l1augh-
teri confess, although might possibly do
Justice to these gentlemen, it would be, 1t seems
to me, impossible for me to satisfy everybody
that Justice would DO DONE | beg to ask the
gentleman to withdraw his resolution and re-
lieve me from this embarrassment
Mr.. MoyrAGrr-I concur entirely i'll the mo-
tive which prompted the gentleman to oller the
resolution. think it would be beneath the dig.
niiv and purpose which brought this Convention
together to 70 on here wrangling over these Of
fees. TO remedy this, sir, move as All amend
mcnt TO this resolution that Committee OF
tirteen-five from the West, five from the Val
lev, and five from the tide-water region be ap-
pointed to whom the election OF the remaining
officers, TO complete the organization, may be
entrusted. The Committee to report to the
| President the result Of their action
Mr.. PATRICK, Of kauawha, moved to lay the
resolution and amendment on the table. Agreed
| to.
ELECTION or sERGEANr-AT.A Els.
Mr.. NgBLErr, Of Lunenburg, said Mr..
President: beg leave to nominate for the Of
flee of Sergeant-at- Arms, Capt VIM. G. Snecd,
of the county of Luncnburg; and since it seems
| that the personal appearance oil candidates Tor
offices in the gift of this Convention is to be
taken into consideration. venture to say, that
| if this Convention will permit me to submit
for inspection the gentleman whom nominate,
he will be elected by reclamation. He is very
courteous and very polite gentleman lie
has been for nineteen or twenty years IN OIL
Ger of the militia and for fifteen years oil that
time has acted as adiutant feel assured, if
elected he will give entire satisfaction.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Scott county, nominated
| Charles B. Casley, of Washington county.
WAIrNAS T. WILEY nominated Josiah W.
Rires, of the county of Barbour.
Mr.. W GODS seconded the nomination oil Mr..
Rives.
Mr.. NORRIS nominated Mr. Daniel Atwell OF
the county Of Caroline.
Mr.. DoRMAy, of Ruckbridge, nominated Mr..
n. 4. Thompson Of Hanover.
Mr.. MAcFARLAND nominated MIR. John ".
Moss Of Richmond.
Mr.. CorFMAH nominated Mr.. Andrew j. Far
rish of the county OF Albemarle.
Mr. HoLcoMBE seconded the nomination VI
Mr. Parrish
Mr.. GARLAND nominated COL John II. Fuqua
OF the county Of Amherst
Mr.. WlcKnAM, of Henrico, sustained the
nomination Of Mr.. Thompson.
Mr.. RICHARDSON, of Hanover, also sustained
the same nomination m
Mr. C. Y. CONRAD nominated Mr.. Thomas
B. Z, Ingram, formerly Of Fauquier, but now OF
Richmond
Mr. CAMPBELL OF Washington, seconded the
nomination of Mr.. c. 3. Cosby, Of Washington
county.
Mr.. BrRLEY sustained the nomination Of Nr.
Moss.
Mr.. GooDE of Mecklenburg, sustained the
nomination Of Capt Snecd.
Mr. BoRsT OF Page county, nominated Mr..
Charles II. Johnston, Of the county OF Eau
quier
Mr.. Robt. H. Vaughan, Of Hampton. was
also nominated.
Mr.. CHANeLlss moved to suspend the rules
for the purpose of enabling him TO ofler ieso-
luton referring the whole matter oil the elec'
ton of officers, to & committee OF i've.
Mr.. DoRMAS moved to lay the motion on the
table. Agreed to.
Mr.. TIMOTHY RIyEs Of Prince George, noun
mated Ar. James b. Senner, of Spotsylranla
Mr.. BRENT seconded that nomination.
Mr.. BRAScH, Of Petersburg, also SUSTAINED
the same nomination.
Gen. EPpA HrYToS sustained the nominu-
ton of Mr. Johnston Of Fauquier
Mr. MARYE Of Spotsylvania. sustained the
nomination of Mr.. Senner.
No more nominations being made, the clerk
proceeded to call the roll on the election oil
Sergeant.ut-Arnis, with the following result
VIM. c. Sneed ., Chas. B. Cosby 10, josiah
r.. Riyes 90, Robt. L. Vaughan o, Daniel At
well 2, n. A. Thompson 81, John G. Moss 8,
4. j. Parrish ii, John H. Fuqua 4, Thos. B.
P. Ingram II, c. NJ. Johnston 3, j. b. Sem
ner7.
Neither Of the candidates having majority
Of all the votes cast, there was no election
Mr.. MARR moved 10 suspend the rules Tor
the purpose OF offering resolution, that the
vote be taken between the three highest on tine
ballot Just had, and that the same rule shall ap'
ply to the other offices 10 be filled.
Mr.. MONTAGUE did not think the same rule
should apply to the other elections. He iavor-
cd the proposition so for as ii related to the
election o! Sergeant-at-Arns, but would not
sanction the application Of the same rule 70
the election OF the other officers OF the Con
veuton.
Mr.. SPEED was in favor Of referring the
whole matter to a committee Of five or fifteen
as the Convention may determine.
Mr.. MoxrAGcE-My friend from Campbell
(Mr. SPEED as it seems to me, is renewing the
same proposition which | had the homer to
submit this morning in the shape Of an amend
ruent TO resolution offered by the gentleman
from Richmond (Mr. MAcrAnLAND.) According
to lny recollection Of the rules of the House OF
Delegates, which have been adopted for the 60
ypgnncnt of this Convention, they prohibit the
renewal on the same day Of proposition once
voted upon and disposed of, unless BY recon,
sidoration of the vote by which it was disposed
Of l will make this point Of order in reference
to the proposition which the gentleman intl'
..a... =. Ia kr;ar. Enrn.nrd