Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-13
CoNsTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Twenty-Siazth Day


SATURDAY, Jan. IL, 1862.
The Convention was opened with prayer
by Rev Gideon Martin, of the n. E. Church.
Mr.. HERvEY submitted q paper laying of
single Senatorial Districts, designed as q
substitute for the fourth Section of the Re-
port Of the Legislative Committee, which
was received and ordered to be printed.
The report of the Legislative Committee
was taken up aud the question occurred on
the adoption of the fifth Section.
Mr.. Wax Y1NKLE offered the following to
come in between the fourth and fifth Sec
tions:
-"of the Senators first elected, one from
each Senatorial district, to be determined
by lot, in the presence of the Senate, shall
serve until the fourth day of July, 1868,
and the other until the same day of the
year 1864 and Delegates as elected shall
serve until the same day of the year 1863"
Mr.. PAXTON moved the following, pro-
posed by Mr., Soper, as an amendment:
'sThe Senators first elected shall be di-
vided by lot into two classes, the first
class shall hold Office for one year. and the
second class for two years, so that one
half thereof shall be chosen annually
thereafter"
Mr.. VAN WINKLE withdrew his PROPOSE
ton to allow the question to be taken on
that of Mr.. SOper, which latter was in
tended as an independent section.
The proposition of Mr.. Soper was adopt
ed.
The question required on the fifth Sec
ton, which, rs follows, was reported.
as. For the election of Delegates, every
county containing q white population of
less than one half the ratio of representa-
ton for the House of Delegates, shall, ut
each apportionment, be attached to some
contiguous county or counties, to form q
Delegate District"
Dividing the white population of every
Delegate district, and of every county not
included in Delegate district, by the ratio
thus ascertained, there shall then be as
signed to each, number of Delegates equal
to the quotient obtained by this division of
its white population, excluding the frac-
tional remainder.
The additional Delegates which may be
necessary to make up the whole number of
which the House is to consist, shall then
be assigned to those Delegate districts, and
counties not included in q Delegate dis
trict, which would otherwise have the
largest fractions unrepresented. But every
Delegate district and county not included
in Delegate district, shall be entitled to
at least one Delegate.
Mr.. SoPER moved to amend the Section
by striking out "one half the ratio of rep
resentation for the House of Delegates shall
at each apportionment, be attached to some
contiguous county or counties, to form g
Delegate District" and inserting "foul
thousand, shall at each npportionment after
the next census be attached to some con.
tiguous county to form Delegate Dis.
trict."
So that the section would then read,
's5. For the election of Delegates, every
county containing white population O.
less than four thousand, shall at each ap.
portionment, after the next census, be Mt,
tached to some contiguous county to form
a Delegate District, &C."
| The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. VAN WINKLE then renewed his prop,
osition in a different shape as follows:
'sIf the first elections of Senators ant
Delegates are held within six months afte
the fourth day of July in any year, theil
respective terms shall be reckoned from tina
day; and if held within six months mex
preceding that day in any year their terml
shall be reckoned after the fourth day o.
July next after such election"
Mr.. VAN WINKLE's proposition, as an in
dependent section, was adopted.
The 9th section, rs follows, was report
ed.
sc. After each census heretofore takeI
by authority of the United States, the Del
egates shall be apportioned as follows:
The Ratio of Representation for the
House of Delegates shall be ascertained BY
dividing the whole white population of thu
State by the number of which the House il
to consist, and rejecting the fraction of {
unit, if any, resulting from such division.
Mr.. RUTFNER moved to insert after the
words Omitted States" these words: sol
of the State" in the first clause.
The amendment was rejected, and tho
section adopted.
The Convention then adjourned.