The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-04
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The House met at II A. NJ.
The bill incorporating the Virginia
Relief Hospital Association, and appro-
pria,ing two hundred thousand dollars
for its purposes, was taken up and pass
ed-ayes, 90; noes, 0.
The bill retund;ng oyer-paid taxes was
taken up and passed-ayes, 80 noes, @.
The bill entitled "a bill to confer
upon the General Assembly the powers
of a convention" coming up as the UNI
finished business of the last night, was
further discussed and continued.
Mr.. Staples, at the proper stage in the
amendment of the original bill, called up
his substitute for the same, providing for
a convention independent of the Legisla-
ture and fresh from the people, separate
polls to be opened for the election Of the
same On the next day of election-the
fourth Thursday in March.
Mr.. Dcane called for the reading of
the minority report of the committee,
and it was read, as also was the substi-
tutc for the original bill.
Mr.. Staples made some pungent and
forceablc remarks in support of the sub
stitute as originally reported.
Mr.. Shackelford opposed the whole
Convention business; but he desired to
bring the House to test vote. lie
moved the indefinite postponcment of
the whole subject.
Mr.. Deane, one Of the committee who
made the minority report upon the mex
pediency Of Convention, was heard in
defence of that report.
He apprehended that if Virginia called
a Convention her example would be fol-
lowed by three or four Of the COnfede-
rate States, and by the time the dele
gates could be elected and called together
in Virginia we would be without any
government at ali, and Virginia would
shoot Ike a falling star from the South
ern zenith into the Northern Union.
Mr.. Burwell said he found himself
treading upon very narrow isthmus be-
tween the two propositions; buthe would
rather have the powers of a Convcn-
ton conferred upon the Legislature than
incur all the trouble and expense of
electiag Convention, fresh and sepa-
rate, direct from the people. He would
therefore vote against the substitute, and
move to indefinitely postpone, even
though it carried the whole subject with
it.
Mr.. Harris moved the postponement
of the bill and substitute.
Mr.. Staples said he did not allow any
man to question his loyalty because he
was the patron and advocate of the
Convention bill. Neither would he al
low members to call him reconstruct
ZIONIST or a submissionist. He scorned
such insinuations, and dcfied them, no
matter from whence they came. The
course he had adopted, he believed, be.
fore God, to be duty to his constitu-
ents, his own sense Of duty, and his
State He had cvaded no responsibility.
He would take his stand this day and
this hour in support Of this measure,
and upon it he would stand immoveable
as rock. How is the State to be re-
lieved Of this war is the great issue of
this question; he would solve that or
die in the attempt.
The members time, under the ton
minute rule, expired before the compile
ton of his remarks, but unanimous
leave being granted, he proceeded.
In his opinion the war was intermina.
bic except by the Intervention of diplo.
macy.
Mr.. Staples made an elaborate and
forceable argument in favor of the sub
stitute, and was followed by other mem
bers in support of, and in opposition TO-
the measure, occupying until p. NJ,
when the House took recess until seven
and half o'clock.