Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-14
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
[cALLED SESSION.
FRIDAY. February Is.

regiments ABOUT winchester, praying tne
Convention to make provision for allowing
them to vote on the adoption of the Con-
stitution.
Mr. stuart of Doddridge, presented
similar petition from the soldiers OF the 18th
| Va. regiment.
The President laid before the ConTen-
ton petition numerously signed by citi-
zens of Tyler county praying for the same
provision.
They were severally read and referred to
the Committee on Revision.
| Pending their reference some remarks
| were made in relation to their object by
Messrs. Hall and Brown of Kanawha, in
which both gentlemen expressed themselves
as decidedly Of opinion that there was clear
" no obstacle either of law or Constitution
in the way OF allowing volunteer militia to
vote either within or without the boundaries
of the State TO which they belong. The Con-
stitutional provisions on the subject relate
to the soldiers of the regular army and not
10 the volunteer militia.
Mr.. SGNsEL, from the Committee on Gre
dentials, made their final report, declaring
Samuel Griffith, of Mason, entitled to q
seat, aud reporting the facts in relation to
the contested case from Pocahontas county.
The facts are, in brief, that last October, in
view of the probable recalling of the Con
vention, some twenty-five citizens of Poca-
hontas county drew up and signed petition
that Samuel Young, of that county, be per-
nitted to occupy seat on the. floor of the
Convention as the delegate from that couu-
". That petition was drawn by DR.. Glib
son, of PocRhOntAs, present contestant for
seat, and WAS signed by him. Siuce
short period after that time Mr.. Young has
not been in Pocahontas county, and people
there knew nothing OF his whereabouts. On
the day of the recent election to fill vacau-
cles, number OF refugees from POoabontas
who were ia Upshur county, to make sure
of being represented in the Convention.
and having by consultation with an attor-
ney ascertained that delegate so elected
would probably be received, held an cleo
} ton at Buckhanuon, and elected D. W. Glib
son. Both these gentlemen believing them
selves entitled to seats by the best express.
sion that cOuld be obtained, had come on
and made application.
The case was taken up.
Mr.. Smith moved the admission of both
delegates, in consideration of their claims
being so nearly equal, 30 that ono might be
considered the representative of the contig-
uous counties unrepresented.
! Mr.. LANE protested. POcAhontas was
entitled to but one representative, and the
Convention had no right TO admit more.
3 Mr.. STUART Of DoddridRe, suggested that
f one might represent the loyal refugees from
, the several unrepresented counties.
. Messrs. Pomeroy, Lamb, Hall, TichnaeI
and Ross spoke against the proposition.
+ Mr.. HALL did not want the Convention to
be guilty of any such irregular and unau-
q thcrized act as would give the enemies OF
the new State room to deny the force and
I legality of its acts, and such an arbitrary
admission of delegates would be such an
Tbav hOH ~ 20 a., Al:
a man or that man should represent this coun-
I ~ or that, or the refugees or anybody else
n 1t was no business of the Convention to
a elect delegates but only to receive them
- when elected by the people,
Mr.. PoNRRoT said PocAhoutas had nc
more right TO two delegates than Hancock
MIR. LAMB urged that the Convention had
, no power to either increase or confer re-
q presentation not given by the ordinance
It creating the Convention, and read from the
10 ordinance to establish his position.
Mr. Ross said if the Convention did no
:. respect the ordinance which gave them al
o the authority they possessed, they ought a
# least to respect their own acts, and h,
10 read from the schedule a provision allot
a ting one representative to this county.
II messrs. Smith and Brown of Kanawha
said the Convention had disregarded tina
"a ordinance in the matter of boundary ant
}. had an equal right to do so in this case
y The former urged that this Convention haC
:. full power over the matter and could &C
10 without restriction.
:. Mr..PARKER was very desirous of havint
% both these gentlemen admitted. They wert
% perfectly acquainted with the country the,
At came from and could impart much infor
nation in regard to it that would be o
i, great value.
Al Mr.. STEVENSON of Wood said hewould likt
il to vote for the proposition if he could con-
h scientiously do So
n Is was urged by the opponents of til,
a proposition that that THESE delegates wer,
m admitted to represent some other county o.
all the unrepresented territory, some one o.
h more might yet appear from some part O
1t With proper claims, and then the Con
a ventiOn must stultify itself or be placed il
"a very embarrassing position. The advo
;. Gates of the measure urged that there was
,e no probability of such thing that thes,
,. people in that section had never yet beer
, represented, and it WAS but justice to then
to give them this small favor at this lat,
r. day when it could not affect anything eth
er way.
% The discussion was finally ended by Mr.
d Tiohnael moving to admit one aud pay til,
!, other mileage and per diem for three DAYS
!. attendance. The motion to admit both was
lost by 10 to 80.
Mr.. PrSxaL1 spoke in advocacy of Mr.
It Gt6Son's claims, and Aessrs. Deriug aud
d Stuart of Doddridge on behalf of Mr.
e Young.
IT Mr.. Tl0HSAEL moved to admit Mr.. Glib.
II Mr.. STUART of Doddridge moved tc
y amend by admitting Mr. Young.
. A vote was taken, and Mr.. Gibson was
Z admitted by vote of 43 to 6.
: Mr.. GrRsoS aud Mr. GRIYT1rH came for.
n ward and were qualified.
i Mr.. TIcHNARL then moved to pay Mr..
t Young mileage both ways aud per diem fol
b three days, and it was agreed to.
: Mr.. VAN WESKLR then offered resolution
d embracing the change in the Constitution