Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-31
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.

VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
appears that the act passed on Monday sst bg thu
Legislature, now holding its frat sossion
did not meet with the unanimous asssnt II
tue mempefs IN either Of its branches The procesdinat
wncu we paoish 6eow, show that at least one ncloos
OF Inc Senate and four out Of the eleven members cou
| snfutiog the House Of Delegates dsapproved IT,
In SENATE, DEcsABER 81. 1859
Mr.. MERCER, from the conference committss 81 ibs
Convention BILL reported bill which placed upon in
M Baows previous 10 the final passage q H. si. j
snssss 40 amendment referring the Coosfitu a. wsn
iprmsd or amended vote of the people, for
You y fslsction. The amendment was lost. ~ E ~
II 81. IL, 'osea'l prcsst Aeanak
At.daks assass II the bill. Mr. BsowA u ~ N.
S Iuoassse onpes be ordered fer the u ~
ar bHuwH from the COMMITTEES on Courts 81 Justi4sf
epoI1d thAt tne committee had had under c0nsideraf
the stay lawxhut yet ready to make Anal Is
port on the same
l. un motion q PIT MERcER, the Senate adjourned IN
til the 9th ds5f3ef January next
House. pELgoArGs pEagMnra II. ls5a.
l. M \. l ssss 4. &c sss q; .aacsses4
" causliuutispat Coovepiiou 4 J. a ri -'T Z 3
On mot'ou ufx NAx4. fhs IN ~ e>pss.sssA III
wac I, taken up and rsIa lSsI I. U:
would have Convention 7EzRs "a ,:
The vote upon the amend nent resulted ~ foIlows:
YEAs--Messrs Birch, Gibbons Henshaw, Johnston.
NAYs-Messrs. Browniey, Downry, Hawxhurst, Hais-
lip Nash, WoQd, Zniznger
Mr. NASH uoved Suspension Of the rules IN order that
the bill might be placed second roading Adopted
Mr, JOHNSTON desired to reerate what he hsd said
former occasion ia regard this bill He regarted
the measure a unconstitutional It proposed tests and
oaths repugnant to tbs spirit IL laws and the Cop
su Ion Itself IL failed TO give the people opportu-
ay TO sanction the work OF this proposed Convention It
was providing for ths election fifteen eighteen men
% feys amend the constitution Of the state, and
madeno pfovfsbn for retention of their work provided
was tyranlcal and not harmony with the wishes Of
The peoples He also sdserted the inconsistency be-
tween the policy AND spirfoS Mat and those Of the
proclamations OF President Linc6h and Gen. Butler
Their policy and spirit those OF pardon for the past
upon the sinner coming in and purging himself OF hs
treason ny taking the oath of allegiance The spirit
has hitherto characterized Legislation up to this
neDt And this bill calls upon TO meet the return
ing sinner with insult the most outrageous that could
De offered hm saying, in esc that his oath would be
mere fegnng and denying him that most precious OF all
rights the right to vote for those who to frame
new constitution Of goVernm, mt And why7 Because
they may not aud probably wall not vote wish
the choice OF tho nembers OF this Convention. When
will the time arrive that these oahs of allegiance shall be
recorded as entitled to respect Will you fx day when
the parties thus coming in may be trusted The spirit
Of this feature OF the bill wrong-it wicked-and
wish to make my solemn protest against it, as we'll 40
against the aawarrantabe assumption Of powers which
characterizeit
Mr.. BaoWNLEY moved that the bill be placed upon its
~.
third reading.
Adopted Messra Gibbons, Birch and Johnston voting
in the negative.
Dir. NASH moved that the bill be read only by its title
Adopted. Il
Mr.. ZANTzINGER then moved the passage Of the bill
Adopted, thesvote resulting follows
fEAs-Messrs Brownley, Downey, Hawxhurst Haisip,
NASH Wood, Zantz NIGER
NAYs-Mesers. Birch, Gibbons, Henshaw Johnston,
6gts4 SUMMARY OF THE lCT.
The preamble that slavery has been abolished
fhrnn ata hrt
dent, except in the counties of Accomac Northampton
Elizabeth City York, Princess Anne and Norfolk lin
Guiding the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and then
sets forth that under the existing constitution and laws Of
Virginia it's officers charged with the execution Of the said
law OF the proclamation liable to be brought into
conflict with the military authorities in the discharge Of
their duties and that inasmuch ihs present Censtlu
ton OF the State precudes the LegstrA Ev ncrnR on
the subject of slavery alteration OF the said C0nsttu
viii be necessary and also taat the erection Of West
Virginia into State has deranged the districts of the
prems and circuit courts likewise to reqniro al
teraton thereof The General Assembly consequently
enacts that the 2st day Of January 1864 election
shall be held for delegates who to meet in Convention
in Alexandria the 18th day of February folowng- Tho
bill permits every loyal citizen who is eatited to vote for
members Of the General Assembly and who has not cd
heredto the cause of the called Confederate btss
suce the LIST day of last January, 1862 to vote for ~
gates to the Convention bot denies the privilege OF voting
doya who has taken the oath TO support the
Constitution of the United States 10 that date
No who has adhered the rebel since Septem
Der j, 1861 be chosen member Of the Convention
Three commissioners each county to euperntend
the elections and their duties defined Every chal-
lenged voter take the oath Of allegiance to tho Uni
ted States