Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-22
The Virginia State Convention.
EIGHTH DA J.

The PREslpENT-In pursuance Of the rcSo-
luton adopted yesterday, upon the subject OF
| reporting the debates Of this body, have had
an interview with the editors Of the "Rlch-
monl Enquirer" and requested them to sub
init L distinct proposition upon that subject. 1t
has been placed in my hands, and the Chair
feels itself wholly incompetent, from want OF
knowledge OF business of this description to
make this contract submit tho comlnunca-
ton now to the Convention for such order as 1t
may feel disposed to make in the premises,
either by reference to u committee of five or
such other disposition as may seem to them
| best.
Mr.. MONrAGuE--I was about to retIark that
on Yesterday this Convention, by u very deci.
ded vote, determined to have their proceedings
| published and by that vote they indicated as
their medium OF publication, the Editors of the
enquirer ! can very well appreciate the
embarrassment Of the Chair rs not being
| familiar with such proceedings, and there
fore move that the Secretary Of the Commnn.
wealth, gentleman Of large expericncesin
these matters be authorized by this Convcn.
| ton, to execute that contract with the Editors
Of the "Enquirer"
Mr.. SrAFLEs--l nave, by way Of amendment
to that motion, that the Chair appoint II com.
mt,cc Of five TO make 4 contract will! The
Editors Of the "Enquircr' III pursuance Of the
resolution adopted on yesterday.
Mr.. WISE will ask what necessity there
is for change in the resolution at all. 1t has
passed, and it is out Of order without suS-
pension of the rules, to have it amended. |
would respectfully inquire of the Chair, if
want of technical knowledge creates any
difficulty, it would nat he better for him that
he should take counsel from gentlemen Of some
| eSprre nee in these matters. do know the
| Chair is competent to the performance OF this
duty, and it is in his power 10 make inquiry,
and obtain technical information from the ex-
perence of Others We arc all often entrusted
with business for which we are not educated
or trained, or in which We al c not experienced
I do hope that the Chair will keep this matter
in his Supcrintendcncc, because it is one Of
those matters that require for faithful, prompt
and efficient execution unit power. Now,
when these terms are submitted to the Chair,
we simply ask him TO refer 10 the Secretary Of
State who for years has been compelled to
make contracts with the printers Of your pub
lie journals, your laws, your code, the journals
of the House, and who knows all the tcchni.
calites OF the printers art. had the duty
imposed upon me, as the Executive now has,
when Governor Of the Commonwealth, 10
overlook this matter Of the public print
ing and it WAS worse than Greek 10
me to understand all the tecllncalitieS re-
lating 10 the subject, for il required Il
knowledge Of what this was worth, what that
was worth, knowledge of the various type
used the different notifications in price, and L
knowledge OF the various laws that rcgu.
late the subject could not determine
but hy referring and turning over the Whole
account Of public printing to the Secretary OF
State | knew this much: that. by referring
it to him very much money was saved to the
| Commonwealth and the same thing can be
done 10y yourself Mr. President, now. This
would be better than any committee Of i've un-
less there are number Of practical printers III
this house, and of that am not informed. In
advising you how to guard the contract, | will
pledge myself, without authority, however, but
from my knowledge uf him, that the Secretary
Of State will cheertully give you his opinion :;
for verify believe that he is one, at all events,
of the servants Of the Commonwealth who
likes to have burthens imposed upon him.
| Dcylerous rs he is and busy as he is in all the
duties that dcvolve upon him about that
capitol, he will leap, at your request, to any
task Of public duty, and perform il better than
any ,i,an in this Convention, certainly letter
than any committee.
Mr. CLEMENs-l rise to point of order and
it is this, that the motion Of the gentleman
from Middlesex Mr. MoSTAGEE,) being incon-
siSlent with the fixed purpose OF this Cnnven-
ton manifested in the passage OF the resolution
upon which we voted yesterday, i is not com
pctent for the Convention now to consider that
| resolution without Il motion rs condition pre-
cetlen, to reconsider | make that point OF Or
| der, that neither the motion proposed by tile
| gentleman on the left Of the gentleman from
MddlcseX, nor the tu0tion Of the gentleman
from M,ldlesex is in order until that question
| is decided.
Mr. WIsE-The motion cannot now be made
to reconsider, because that motion was made
On Yesterday and decided in the negative.
Mr. CLMgSs--l had forgotten that crcun-
stance
Mr.. WlsE--To move reconsideration. the
| way would be 10 suspend the rules, and That
| will require, presume. two-thirds, and il we
shall refuse to reconsider, altcra suspension OF
the rules, the Chair will still be compelled
TO let the matter remain i'll his hands.
The pEEslnESr-T Chair is Of opinion
that the motion Of The gentleman from Middle
SEX (NIr. MosrAGuE} is in order. and that the
amendment is not in order. The CHAIR I'M
dcrstant.; that the resolution Of the gentleman
from Mildlcsex doris not conflict ut all with
the resolution adopted Yesterday in regard to
the persons with whom the contract is to be
made The CHAIR desires simply to have the
advice OF the Convention through the report Of
committee, as 10 the prOprietI of entering
into this contract, and when thai comes the
CnAln will petlorm his duty in regard to this
matter, and any other duty that lIe feels HIM
self competent to perform.
Mr.. WIsE.--I want TO know what the motion
Of the gentleman from Middlesex *.
The PRESIDENT 1t isto refer the colnmuni-
cation of the Editors Of the "Enqurer" to Il
committee of five, to report upon.
Mr.. WISE.-I do not so understand il.
Mr.. MoSTAGUE.-My proposition was, that
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth DC in.
struclcd, instead Of yourself, MI. President,
to execute this contract with the Editors OF the
"Enqurer."
| The pREsrDI:Nr-The Chair is of The opinion
that that motion is not in order.
Mr., SrAPLEs-l hope ! may not he under
stood US rejecting upon the capacity OF the
President to make this contract; was under
the immersion that lie had declined to make it.,
and j. was, therefore, that | made the motion
did; and now withdraw it.
The PRESInENT-The Chair will not decline.
The Chair wishes to be understood as never
wishing to decline, and if it is the pleasure Of
the Convention the Chair will proceed tn the
execution of the contract under the advice OF
the Secretary OF the Commonwealth.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Richmond.-l am utterly
indifferent to whom the question shall DC re-
frrred, except that desire il to be referred to
some proper person, and know no gentleman
more competent than the gentleman who has
been alluded to by my friend from Ali,deseX,
(Mr. MoNTAGuE,) l. with great pleasure, on
Yesterday, voted this contract to the editors Of
the .'Enq uirer" and voted against its reconsiJc-
ration hut it Seems TO me, sir-anu rise Tor
the purpose Of obtaining information on the
uucSliDn--ihat there is some conflict between
the communication from ono Of the editors Of the