Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-05


luton rs amended was then agreed 10.
On motion Of Mr. EruRAlN B. HALL, The
Convention adjourned uatll to.morror at /:
ncocl.
FyFTEESTH DAY
SATURDAY, MARCH Q, 1861.
The Convention met at IL O'Clock, n, and
vas cu!!.d 70 order by the President.
Pra, er by the Rev. Mr DrNRows Of the BaF
list Church.
TIE TAXATION QUESTION.
Mr. TCaNEG-1 desire 10 sublr, 10 tho Con
rentIon the following resolutions, aud ask that
they msy be reported and laid or the table
In Justice 10 the gentleman from Mecklcnburg
tMr. GouorJ must say that he i, not a"are d
the import .! these r,solutos.
The resolutions were then ICad ~ l1I!cwh
Resolved, Tina: it is expedien; and proper
HAT the 23d scc,lon :G the 4,h article Of The
Constitution Of tie State shall BE- 50 modified
lila, slaves ike other properly shall be taxed
withou. exemption. aud according 10 value,
ar.d that 10 exemption Of any property iron
taxation Shall br had without tic vote Of o
mninli!v of al! The members elected I" cncll
llullSc nf tn. General Assembly.
Resolved That COMMITTEE 10 CONSIST Of
thirteen l:t mt, rs, - he srlvcitd from The dif
te ert scc,.ui!> oi The State, he appointed, who
shall report 10 This Convention such amend
tnruls 10 the Con>tilu tian Of HE State 81 Will
crrc, the object indicated in The foregoing 'eso
!utinn.
The resolutions were laid upon tic table.
NE RrrVRTI>a CONTRACT.
Sir. WICGuAI. ask thr gentleman from
Mech anbn,g, (AIr. GpoI'E VIM was entitled &c
the Dur,} 20 a!i..w nc 10 'tIrr resolution in
regal d ~ the debates e! this Cunv,nlion, and
10 make brief statement in connection with
it. HE following is the resolution
pc,nvrd, That Committee 81 five be ap'
pointed 10y the President ui The Convention,
to whom shall DC referred the contract
be,w cen the sa i President ami ;iic Irop'ie'os
Ct the Richmond Enquirer in regard to the
publication Of the debates Of The Convention
ihc said Committee S:isl! have power 10 send
for persons and papers, and shall u'nSe reposl
u Ibis CoHvcntlOll
lr. WlcSilAM Mr.. President, my ohjec!
il, Offering that resolution is to bring 20 The
notice Oi the CUi.vriiluE one OI .hc clauses VI
the contract whcu Ia, bccn entered into 10y
the PrvelGcnl in behalf Of the Convention
with the pru,r:ctprs Of the l:Ichmond "Enqu
rrr." Tia; Claus: sr"'id,S-
-"and The p>per to b- purchased ny The
said pr",rirtoIS 1t the expense oil the state
charging q, urr Cent. above Cost for waste and
trouble III procuring The same. this being tht
rate allowed Lv the Cujc OF Virginia Tor pro
curing the raper used in the pubic printing
T;,rre is Il d i .rrIicr IF opinion upon The I'll
feet of lba; clause Gentlemen Of legal ability
with yholn have consulted are under the I'M
uressiuu tia, il only refers 10 the extra cop'e'
i,ropu.r,l 10 he furnished 10 this Contention
Such, however is Tot the Interpretation PLACED
upon It by the prorriclorS OF The Enquirer.
On The contrary, they hive interpreted It t
refer to the paper used for the daily anu senl
weekly "EncuGcr.' This, believe WAS mi
the intention ii the President III making thi'
Contract nor Of the Contention III ordering II
To be made. PROPOSE io shoT to tins budl
what the weekly cxprnse Of reporting the dc
hates would br ACQUIRING 10 the terms "i ths
contract as il is now interpreted toy the proprl
e,nrs Of the Enquirer. Fixing the average daily
nmutint Of matter reprried at eight columns
the expenses per week would BE
For composition. ...............'. $40" w
For press "uiK.. .'..''...''' |n v.
For rvpui ting. ....-... ........-..' ooo W
For folding extras. .......... IA "
For paper, putting circulation 0t 2o,Vo"
per week. ......''....'''' ~ ~
Making total per week Of. Ss9b "
Il is truc. sir that this contrnct has beer
made; but it is equnliy !rue that there IS
doub. in regard 10 the construction ai tfls
contract, AID my object is TO rnise q committee
| tina, they may inquire fully into all mntter'
connected with this contract ind report The re
suit to this Convention.
For ,uvsrlf sir, had been present Ther
this question was first introduced ! woult
have opposed i, and when cume mere rotet
| in favor of L ie consideration of the vote by
! which the resolution, authorizing the contrac
Ia he made, vas adopted. Tho elect OF re
porling The debates, | apprehend. will be K
add indefinitely 10 these debates. am satisfle'
,hnt the newspapers Of Richmond posses!
enterprise enough u report what is worth re
uorting. What was not they would, Of course
leave unrcportcd.
lrus, i! will be the pleasure Of tie Ccnvcn
ZION TO adopt that resolutions; and trust also
that when the President cn!ucs 10 appoint TIT
; committee, if he shall he authorized 10 do SO
he will nut upon it some genielncn who may
lave practical kndwleat~ Of the printing
business, and understand there are souis ii
this body.
Mr.. FI-neR -1his seems 10 me to he ralhel
a singular course for this Convention To pursue
is understand il, cuutruc, has been made
b.twcer the President Of This C"nrcnlion AND
the uroIrlctors Of the Richmond Enquirer,
for reporting and publishing the debates o.
this body. Suppose it should turn QUO as gen
temen seem to think it may, tina, this Contract
Is susceptible Of two constructions Will il b.
in the power Of this House 10 enforce i!s own
corstruc.iony II This contract should be sus
ceptible of two constructions, | lake it fol
granted That some third party nust be required
to investigate and decide upon any differences
of opinion that may arise between the parties
10 It. Suppose committee is appointed to
examine thus contract. and they make report
to this body, putting q different construction
upon i, from that which the propTielors Of the
enquirer" have put upon l-can YOU alter III
Sir, Virginia may be, IN few years, prepared
to repu,ltate her public debt, but take it for
granted that this body is no; going 10 set the
example Of regulating its own contract II
i, will, let it 20 to the Judiciary, if necessary,
to place proper und true Interpretation upon
that contract
Suppose this Committee should be composed
of tho most enlightened gentlemen who
have seats upon this foor suppose that the