Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-19
The Virginia State Convention
TWENTyEIGHTY IA J

The Convention met at hall-paSt III U CLOCK.
PRAYER by the Rev. Mr.. Brown, Of the Pres-
byterian Church.
TIE QUESTION OF TAXATION.
Mr.. Brown, of Preston-I believe, Sir, when
the Convention adjourned on Saturday, the
pending question was to lay the resolutions OF
the gentleman from Monongalia, (Mr WILEY
on the table AS the Convention is very thin
" attended this morning, presume the gen.
man who moved to lay the resolutions upon
the table would withdraw it for the present
The present time is unpropitous for discus
sion upon these resolutions, and it would be
important, moreover, when we take vote upon
them, that the Convention should be tolcrably
full. If the gentleman vii! withdraw his mo-
ton will renew it again if the gentleman de-
sires.
Mr. SLAUGHTER cannot withdraw the mo.
ton. My object in making it was to prevent
any discussion which Was calculated to create
division and to throw ircbrand in our midst
| think it would be very unwise and lndIscreet
to discuss this question at time when we have
other matters OF great Importance 10 consider.
ain apprehensive that discussion Of TINS
question now would lead 10 sectional STRIFE and
division, which would impair The influence OF
our action upon the great questions which more
Immediately led to our assembling here. can
not withdraw my motion for the reasons wh'ch
lave Just stated.
The resolutions of Mr. WILEY not being
| published in full Oil yesterduy-only TWO OF
| them being read-we give them TO day. lhey
| read rs follows:
Resolved That taxation should be equal and
uniform throughout the Commonwealth, and
that all property should be taxed in proper
lion to its value.
Resolved That a committee OF thirteen mem
beers be appointed to prepare and report 10 lhs
Convention such alterations oil sections - anu
% of Article w. of the Constitution Of the
Commonwealth, US shall conform said sections
to the principle of taxation cnunciaIcd III the
foregoing resolution.
Resolved. That u committee Of thirteen NELL
bers be appointed to take into consideration SO
much of Article VI OF the Constitution ol this
Commonwealth, rs relates 10 tho Supreme
Court Of Appeals, the District Courts, Circuit
Courts, and County Courts; and that they re-
mort such amendments and notifications there
of rs they may deem necessary and proper.
Resolved, That tue basis Of representation
in the two Houses Of the General Assembly
should be the same; therefore be 1t further
Resolved, That committee Of twelve melli'
bars to be selected in equal numbers from the
four great divisions Of the State, be appointed
To auuorlion representation in the Senate accord
ip,r 10 the number Of the qualified voters IN
the Commonwealth, and that they report
amendments of the Y. Article Of the Constltu-
ton accordingly.
Mr.. CLEMESs-I rise 10 question Of order.
Under the rules adopted by this Convention
for its government, it is not in order to trans
act any business until quorum is present
With view to ascertain whether Il quorum Is
uresent move call Of the House II is
matter Of Importance to the people Of FirSlnlu
that they should be informed who are present
and prepared to transact the business OF the
Convention, and who are not.
Mr.. SIAuGnrEE-Will the gentleman with
draw his motion for moment!
Mr.. CLguESs.-I cannot withdraw it. 1t is
| mi coInuetcut for the Convention 10 discharge
any business until quorum is present.
| 4 call of the House was then made, when the
following gentlemen failed to answer to their
nunes
Mrs.rs. BaldSlu James Barbour, B.yy, Bakey, BLOW,
Bov, branch Brent, Bruce, Cabe Cariie Cecil ChuP'
n1n C.tI,nnp. c. b. Conrad Robert 7. Conrad, James
Coz Richard H. Cox Crtcner, Gusts Dent Dorman, Du'
any Eeh9 fshsT forGs' Graa pas @rns Johnson ST S
bred Lawson, Lewis, hcComas, Macnrland, ChAs par
Mafshs MsT Maya S r1.,to0 p4ss Kan
IoIh, Rives Robert E. Scott Shelley stington souha,
staple, w H. %,.y Williams. %.s
| EXPLANATION OF CAUSES or ABSENCE
Mr.. GosuIs, when the name Of Mr. GooDE,
of Bedford, WAS called, said:
Mr.. President desire to say that my COL
lecue is necessarily absent because OF Illness
Mr.. PARKS, Of GraySon, when the name Oh
! Mr. WALLER was called, said
Mr.. President, Mr.. WALLER is necessarily alb
sent on account Of illness.
Mr.. HoLLADAr, when the name Of Mr. WHITE
was called, said That his colleague was una
voitably absent from the city.
| Mr.. BnowS--Mr. President, | am requested
| by Mr.. CAnLlLE to say that he was very anX-
ious to attend the Convention this morning
with view 10 record his vote upon these resp
lutions lie is, however, prevented from being
| present by severe ndispostion.
Mr.. 4. NJ. BARBOUR, when the name OF MIR.
JAS. BARBOUR was called, said:
Mr.. President, Mr. BARBOUR is absent FROM
the city. Even il here, DO not think the
feeble condition Of his health would justify him
III sitting here during this long session.
Mr.. PARKS, when the nu!ne Of Dir. CECIL was
called. said that he was absent OH account OF
indspositiou.
Mr.. PARgs also presented as All excuse for
the absence Of Mr. GRAHAM, that he was wait
ing OH his sick colleague, Mr.. CECIL.
Mr. SrAwELL when the name OF Mr. MoS-
rAGuE was called, said:
MIR. President, Mr.. MONTAGUE has been con-
fined to his room from severe indisposltlon Tor
several days. have not seen him to-day, but
| am satisfied his absence is caused 10y contln-.
uancc Of that indisposihon
Mr.. SEAwELL also represented that Mr..
| CHARLES Is. MALLORY was necessarily absent.
The result Of the cal! of the roll was an
nounced rs follows:
Number present So.
! MIR. CApgRroS- The mover Of these resolu-
| tons is u member Of the Committee On Federal
| Relations and necessarily absent.
1t would not be altogether fair to him that
! We should proceed to consider them. Io re-
leye tho difficulty move to pass by the UNI
finished business.
Mr.. CLEMENS -Belore any motion is in order
it is necessary to dispose Of the question oil the
call OF the roll l move that further proceed
| ings BIZ dispensed with ON that subject
| The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. CApERroS-l now move that the matter
under consideration be postponed Tor the pre-
| sent, tu enable The mover oil the resolutions to
be present.
The pKEsDEsr-The pending motion is to
lay on the table That motion is not debate
able.
Mr.. BRowS--l would again make an appeal
| uuun personal grounds to the gentleman IRON
Campbell, (Mr. SLArGRTER to withdraw his
motion to lay on the table.
Mr.. SLAuGurER-Mr. President, will yield
TO this appeal and withdraw my motion.
Mr.. BKowN-l desire 10 say few words in
relation to these resolutions.
1t has been charged, sir, upon the North
western portion Of the people, that | in part
have the honor to REPRESENT that they are
Abolitonsts, that they are unkind in their
feelings towards the institution Of slavery.
Sir, if that were true should not have seat
upon this floor. am not only Interested dl-