Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-16
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION,
SECOND SESSION.
TNTRTEEyTH DAY.

iHT. SOlIHALl. III Tue CtulT,
SECRET SESSION.
The Convention went into secret sessio,
Immediately upon converting, for the purpos
of considering sundry Executive documents
The doors were opened in tue course Of tiltee!
minutes.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr.. MACFARLASD, from the Committee OF
Finance, reported the following ordinance
which vas laid upon the table and printed undo
the rule
AN ORDNANCE
7opro0ide for tie Laborers at Ha,per'x Ferry
Be it ordnined, That the Board for Audltin,
Army and Naval Expenditures be authorize,
to pay to the laborers ut the Harper's Ferr,
Arnory who, in the struggle now pending
have united themselves with the Southern Con
federacy, the sums to which they are several,
entitled for labor by them performed, from th
Goth day of February, 1861, to the 18th DE-!
Of April, of the same year.
This ordinance shall be in force from its Das
sage.
Mr. Jcussro;, of Lee, from tho Commit,c,
on Military Affairs, reported the following
which was laid upon the table and ordered I,
b. printed under the rule.
An ORDINANCE
To proriie Jos the enrolment and tmYloyncn
in the S.rrice IF the STATE Of the Free Ne
orocs Of tic Commonwealth.
BE it ordaiaetl, That the cornty AMI corpora
ton courts are hereby authorized and required
to cause to be enrolled all able bodied male free
negroes between ;he ages Of eighteen and fifty
residing in their respective jurisdictions at the
date Of this ordinance; which said enrolment
shall bu deposited in the Clerks offices Of ths
counties and corporations aforesaid.
9 That upon the requistior Of the com
ynanding officer Of any post or department Of
our forces, for labor IN erecting batteries, Ell.
| trenchmcn.s, CT ether necessities OF the mill.
larry service, addressed to the presiding jus.
| tce orany county or corporation, es aforesaid,
be shall proceed forthwith TO summon two
other justices to assemble at the Clerks cffice
as aforesaid; and any three justices aforesaid
shall constitute board to carry out the pur.
poses OF this ordinance.
3. That said board, or 4 majority thereof,
shall proceed to srlect from said l;st or enrol
ment such number of !ahorerS rs in their
judgment may be proper and eypedent, hav.
! ing reference to the condition and circuiEstan
ces Of the parties; ard shall require the sheriff
or sergeant to notify the free negroes thus sc
lccled 10 assemble at such time and place MS
may be agreed upon between said board and
the military authorities as &!orcsaiG.
T. That all free negroes thus detailed, and
appearing a; the place Of Rendezvous. shall be
received into public service (uuGcr such officer S
as may be detailed by the Coumandant rs
aforesaid to receive terl) "a laborers. Oh con.
diton tins, they be entitled to snch conipensa
ton, rations, quarters, and medical attendance,
Us may be allowed other labor Of similar
character employed in the public service; ard
that they shall not be detained, at any one
tine, for longer period than lh;rtg days,
withou. their consent.
g. That any free negro daily detailed and
notified as aforesaid, who shall fail o. refuse
10 obey the rcGusi;ion as aforesaid, shall be
subject to the penalties provided BY lcw for
persons drafted from tine militia and falling Or
refusing to obey such draft.
8. Such free negroes shall, whilst engaged
in the public service as aforesaid, be subject
to the Rules and Articles OF Var
:. The county and corporation courts are
authorized to accept and enrol as volunteers
sll such able bodied free negroes rs may otley
themselves for such scry!cs rs is hereinbe.orc
provided for; and, in case Of any rcquisition
| for labor from any countr or corporation, nc
draft shall be made until the list Of volunteers
Shall be exhausted.
8. This ordinance shall be IL force from and
after its passage.
OFFICE OF ADjuTAIr.
Mr.. JoaxsToS, from the same Committee, re-
ported the following, which was also laid upon
the table and printed under the rule
AN ORDINANCE
Concerning the Office Of -4diuteht
Be it ordained by the people of Virginia,
in Convention assembled, That the com
mandant Of Rgilnent Of volunteers may ap
point to the Office of Adjutant any person
belonging to such regiment; and, upon being
notified thereof, the Governor may commission
such person, as prescribed by Law, to act as
Adjutant, with the rank OF Captain, anything
IN any law OF ordinance 10 the contrary not.
withstanding
This ordinance shall DC in force from its
passage.
TIE same Committee were discharged from
the further consideration Of the resolution in.
luiring into the expediency Of building bridges
over Plney River and Beaver Creek.
REArPoRrIoSMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
Mr. STArlEs, from the Committee on the Re.
apportonnent Of Congressional Districts, pre-,
sented the following communication from the
Auditor Of Public Accounts, which had been
referred to it, and an ordinance Tor The re ap.
porlonment Of representation in the Congress
of the United States:
A TABLE,
SAowimg the population eJ tie State Of Fiir.
qiniu in tie year 1860, on sahicd representa-
tion ia Jasc9 in the Congress nj The CJnJed
erats Htutes, nscertGined by computing the
entire free population amt adding thereto
three .nythS Of all Sl01sS'
NAMES or cor3Tres. POPULATION