Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-26
The Virginia. State Convention.
TEHTY DH Y.

RICHMOND, MONDAY, FgBRuARY 10Th, 1851.
The Convention met ut l2 o'clock NJ, and
was called to order by the PRECEDENT.
PRAYER bv the Re7. Dr. Minncgerode.
The President announced that he haI mp
pointed the following Committee upon the res
olution offered by the gentleman from Plttsyl-
vania, (Mr. THEDwAy,) the other day, III rela-
ton to the increase Of force in the forts and
.,rscnals Of Virginia: Messrs Tredway, Pen.
,ilcton, Bouldin, Wilson and Mallory.
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. HAaMoSp.-I offer the following resolu-
ton
"Rrsolved, That the Constitution Of this
! State should be amended and that this Convcn.
. ton will amend the Constitution wherein 1t is
necessary and proper it should be amended, and
will submit the same us amended to the vo.
tiers Of the State for their adoption or rejec-
| ton"
do not propose the resolution which has
Just been read to this Convention for the pur-
| pose Of discussing the subject at this time
| [ do hot propose to say anything upon this oc.
| casOI 10 provoke discussion upon the queS-
| tion Of amending our State Constitution My
object in Offering the resolution at this time Is
! To brn, the subject fully to the consideration
| OF tbs members Of this body IN order that
they may, after reflection and after consultation
with each other determine for themselves and
| their constituents, what action We propose 10
take upon thrsubject of our State Convention. ],
have felt it 10 be my duty 10 o!lcr this resolu.
ton. | do it in obedcnce TO the will Of those
who have delegated INC TO 4 seat upon TINS
floor. 90 it with view to what conceive
| 10 be tie beet interests Of the State OF virgil
nia, and rs measure eninently proper To- ne
adopted by the Convention.
| | sill farther remark, tina: IN my hnmbie
] Judgment, the harmony and the best interests
OF the ieoplc Of the Commonwealth u flr-
| GINA demand thar this Convention should
| amend her organic law in many particulars
| TO accomplish Ivy purpose, therefore, upon the
| present occasion, move to lay the resolution
| on the table, and that it be printed, and VIII
| here rive notice to the members OF this body
that at lrture period when it Is convenient
| and when it will not disturb our deliberations
upon ,he subject Of our Federal relations,
| will cal il UP Tor the consideration oil the Con-
ventuu
The resolution was then laid Oh the table
and ordered to be printed.
Mr. HALL, of Wetzrl, offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That committee OF twenty-one
be appointed by the Chair, to he styled the
! Committee on the State Convention, aud that
| they report to the Convention what uincEd'
neIlts. If any, ure necessary at present 10 bc
| nude 10 tue present State Constitution.
Mr.. CnAMpLlss moved TO lay the resolution
! or tic table, which motion was agreed 10.
PETITION OF NIX. c1LLlEk.
Mr.. CnaMBLISs.-i hold IN my hands petit
| ton addressed 10 this body by most respect
able citizen Of the Commonwealth, not un-
known to political fauie. II Is upon The vital
| subject Of the prcscnt aspect OF the troubled
condition Of our common country. His name
is 10, signed to the petition. Ii is signed "A
| Citizen" and endorse his responsibility anu
his intelligence II it be necessary, his name
can be affixed to the petition, and have the
| authority TO put j. there. ask that the pel''
ton may be read and referred TO the Committee
| on Federal Relations. | ain not 10 he under
stood, either US endorsing the acton wlilch II
proposes, Or US regulating the views which It
inculcates 1t is my duty when petition
cones from L respectable source, that should
prvsrut it for the consideration of the Conven-
lion. TGe Secretary may pu: the name Of the
petitioner, Robert L. Collier of Petersburg.
| ask that il be read, and referred to the Co!il-
lni,tce on Petitions
Tie petition was then read as follows:
Mr.. GOLFERS PETITION.
To the Hon. sle Delegates from the sove'
reign people OF the State Of Virginia 10 The
Convention now holding its session 10 prepare
measures To H.. ratified or rejected by the quail
fed voters:
Your petitioner, who has bestowed much
labor during five gears in the examination O
the subject under the consideration, Ind frr
the initiative disposal Of your honorable
budy, would suggest and petition, in all
d:iz, rutia humility, that you viii judge
and decide il to be proper, with as little
delay MS :nay hc consistent With dclihera
4u...lsu.y 81, i..a. ;.nhi w7 .~Iirii u,Fe respee,
Tor Others who are interested, keeping. Two OBJ
jects in view, 10 wit: the security of our
rights, and reconstruction Of tie federal
Union. Your petitioner suggests that such
policy should be 10 declare this state out Of the
federal Union, before the 4th day Of March
1861, but only 50 out that We may Ge III again,
by l. seli.repealinS ordinance, On the 18Th day
Of October SCI, III case the non-savtholding
States shall nternediatcly have ratified the
amurricd articles TO be thcncelorh part VI
the Constitution Of the L. S., as amendments
thereto, but Which arc only needed TO make
that instrument more explicit, to wit:
Arr. /. IN all territory North Of sc deg,
go min, slavery CT involuntary seryitude, tx.
cept rs now existing, or otherwise only as
punishment Tor crime, shall not exist hence'
forth; and on the South Of said degree Of
latitude, negro slavery is hereby recognized as
property in persons, held to service, and shall
rot be prohibited BY any law in the decision
Of any Court; and no more territory shall be
acquired to be formed in State or States, un-
less such acquisition be with the previous CON
sent Of threc.fourths Of The States by their
several Legislatures.
ART. 2. Congress shall not prohibit negro
| slavery any where il now exists, nor interfere
with it i'll any way, otherwise than as Congress
nnw has power to interfere with any kind Of
property; nor prohibit The slave trade between
the citizens of the Slaveholdng States; nor
ever reopen or legalize the African slave trade;
but Congress may acquire territory in my
| coun,ry in which The right in other respects
can be Obtained for colonizing free persuns OF
color born in the Cnited States, and resident
therein, or who may be hereafter set free 10y
| the voluntary net of their owners, 10 be re-
! moved thither.
ART 3. Every claimant Of fugitive person Of
color held to service in any State by the laws
thereof, and escaped into and found IN any non.
Slavelloldng State who Shall produce before
the Secretary of the Treasury Of the United
States, proof that such person is or mas been
harbored IN such State, and that the recovery
has been resisted there, and also proof Of the
value Of and lille to such persons 80 owing
service, shall be paid such value out of the
Treasury Of the United States and Congress
is hereby required to enact a law suitably 10
recover from such State any sun ur sums SO
paid.
AKr. I. The owners or employers Of persons
of culur held TO service shall have right Of
transi: with such person or persons, and of
temporary sojourn i'll any non siaveholJng
Stale or Territory; and Congress il hereby re-
gui.el TO enact law suitably to secure and
regulate ll:is privilege.
ART. ). No person WHO is in whole or in
part 0! African race shall be eligible TO any
Federal or Territorial office, nor have right Of