Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-06

made by the soldiers in camp. and am repre-
sented as having said on that occasion, lha!
the Governor had usurped a power hat die
not belong to him. The language that | usee
in that Connection was, that [ regarded biz
proclamation as being illegal and simply advl-
sorry in that respect
desire also to be corrected in another par
ticulsr, Before the election OF the Presiden
Of this bodT, and in course oil a discussion q
TO what should constitute o quorum OF TIT
Convention, I maintained that 8 majority o
all the members elected constituted a quorum
I am, however, represented in some places Of
having said that a majority of all the member
nresent constitute q quorum. This 10 a mis-
take, and | would ask that it be corrected.
TIE ORDER OF TIE DAY.
The Convention then proceeded to tho con-
sideration of the order of the day.
The pending question was upon the Sd Sec
ton of article 4 of the Constitution as report
ed by the committee on Constitutional reform
which reads:
uTbe other house Of the General Assembly
shall be called the Senate, and shall consist o
Gtv members, 10 be elected for the term o
fonr years: for the election Of whom, th'
counties, cities aid towns shall be divided int
6fv districts. Each county, city and town o
the respective districts, at the time of the frs
election of it's delegate or delegates under thi!
Constitution. shall vote for one Senator; ane
tho sber;iTs or other officers holding the cleo
lion for each county, city and town, within
Ave DAYS at farthest after the last election ir
the district, shall meet at the court house q
The county or city first named in the district
and from the polls so taken in their respective
committees. cities and towns, return rs Senator
the person who has received the greatest num-
her If votes in the whole district. Upon the
assembling OF the Senators so elected, they
shall he divided into two equal classes, to be
numbered by lot. The term or service Of the
Seratora Of the first class shall expire with
that of the Dele first elected under this
Constitution. and CT the Senators of the sec
ond class a. the expiration Of two years there
after: and This alienation shall be continued,
80 that one-half Of the Senator's msy be cho.
sen every second year"
Mr.. SruAnT.-1t will be perceived from the
Of this section, that it IS inconsistent
with the proposition which has already been
Upon consultation w!th the gentle.
man from Fauqnier (Mr. ScoTT) ard the gentle
man from Gr.enhrier CIR. PRICE, I have pre-
pared an amendment which I shall ct=r as a
substitute for The entire section. In prcpar-
my this amendment we bad adopted IN part
The language uf the Mason Constitution ard
of the ole Federal Constitution
The amendment reads,
1.-The other ghal! he called the Senate md
OF tif.y members, Tor the election Of
whom the Counties, cities and towns shall he
divided in:o fitY districts. E1ch county, city
and town of the respective district, at tho
time Of the first election Of delegates under
this Constitution, soall vote FOR one Senator,
and the Sherifs or other officers holding the
for each county, city or town, with
five DAYS after the election, shall mee, at
the court house of the county, city or town
named in the district, and from the polls
so taken in their respective COUNTIES, cities and
town, return as Senator the person who has
received the greatest number Of votes in the
whole district TO keep up this Assembly by
the districts shall be divided into four
and numbered by lot. The first class
shall consist Of twelve the second of thirteen;
third OF twelve, ard the fourth Of thlrteen.-
The Seals Of the Senators Of the first class shall
te vacated at the expiration Of first year after
the commencement Of their term Of ofice; Of
the second class at The expiration of the second
year; of the third class at the expiration OF the
third year; and Of the fourth class at tho expi.
ration If the fourth year, So that one Class mag
be chosen every year; and tue vacancies there
by accustomed shall be supplied from such class
by new election in the manner Aforesaid
rotation shall be applied to each class &C
to lis number, and continued in due
order annually.
Mr.. SrUAgT This conforms to the propGsi-
submitted on yesterday by the gentleman
from Pulaski (Mr. WTson) Which received the
Of this body.
| offer it US a substitute for tia third section,
which has just been read, and the whole Of
the fourth section.
The amendment was adopted.
The following is the fourth section, which
is included in the portion stricken out:
For the election Of Senators:
+. The counties Of Accomac and Northanp-
ton shall form one district:
II. The city Of Norfolk shall be another dis
III. The counties Of Norfolk and Prince
Anne shall form another district:
". The counties of Isle Of Wight, Nlnse-
mond and Surry shall form another district:
Y. The counties Of Sussex, Southampton
and GreeneSsiile shall form another district:
VI. The city of Petersburg and the county
OF Prince George shall form another district:
VII. Tho counties Ct Dtnwiddie, Amelia
and Brunswick shall form another district:
VIII. The ~conaties Of Powhatan, Cum6er-
land, and Chesterfield shall form another dis
TX The counties of Luncnburg, Nottoway
and Prince Edward shall! form another dis
Y Tho counties CT M=cklcnburg and Char.
lot,e shall form another district:
X. The county Of Pi;tsylVania shall be
district:
XII. The county OF Halifax shall be an
other district:
XIII. The counties of Henry, Patrick and
Frnrklin shall form another district:
XIV. Tho county Of Bedford shall be an.
otner district:
XIV. The counties Of Campbell and Apo.
na:'ox shall form another district:
XVI. The city OF Williamsburg and the
Of james City, Charles City, New
Kent, York, Elizabeth City and Warwick shall
form another district:
XVII. TIE counties Of Hen:ico ard Hanover
shall fnrm another district:
XVIII. The city of Richmond shall be an
othc- district:
XIX. Tho counties Of Gloucester, Matthews
and Mlddl.sex shall form another district:
XX The counties of Richmond, lancaster,
Northumberland and Wesmoraland Shall form
district:
XXI The counties Of King and Queen,
King William and Essex shall form another
XXI. The counties Of Caroline and Spot
shall form another district:
XIII. The counties Of Stafford, King
George and Prince William shall form another
XIV. The counties Of Fairfax and Alcxan.
iris shall form another district:
XIV. The county Of Loudoun shall DO an
district:
XXrI. The counties Of F,uqu!cr and RH~
,ahs 1aork shall form another district