Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-06
Legislature.
4 MONDAY, February 5
! SENATE.
rsoLUrIoNs ADOPTED.

By Mr.. GRAY-That the House of Delegates
be requested to return to the Senate the bill
changing the law in relation to Superinten-
dent OF Public Printing.
By Mr.. BoLLlNG-To enquire into the cXpe.
dcncy of better regulating the fees Of Harbol
Masters.
BILLS PASSED.
Senate bill to incorporate the Botetourt Say
ingS Institution.
House bill TO amend the charter OF the city
of Richmond was taken up and the substitute
offered by the committee adopted.
House bill to incorporate the Norfolk and
St. Nazairc Express Company OF America and
Europe.
Senate bill to incorporate the st. Francis In
Urinary of the city OF Richmond.
Senate bill to incorporate the American III
duStrial Agency.
Senate bill to authorize Charles Mason, Of
King George county, to rebuild his mill.
VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY.
House hill to incorporate this company was
made the order OF the day for Tuesday next,
the 18th instant, at one o'clock Z. NJ.
THE THIRD ARTICLE OF THE CONSTITUTION
An ordinance To alter and amend the third
article of the Constitution, being the order
Mr.. COLEMAN offered a substitute for the
first section of thr ordinance, to the effect that
every white male citizen, of twenty one years
of aye and upwards, who has been Il resident
of the State Tor five years, and who is pos
Scsscd of freehold property i'll land To the
value Of one hundred dollars, and every such
citizen who has been assessed with State taxes,
and has actually paid the same, and no other,
shall be entitled to vote, &c., &c.
Mr. KEEN vigorously opposed the substitute
on the ground Of principle and policy, and said
that the honest ycOmanry of the State did not
expect that amy attempt would be made TO cX-
clude them from representation.
Mr.. Robinson also opposed the substitute,
which was then withdrawn by permission.
Mr.. MCRAE then moved TO strike out the
whole of the ordinance with the exception OF
the fourth section; stating it to be his Intention
commitment of the entire ordinance to The
Joint committee.
Mr.. ROBINSON said that when The ordinance
was last under discussion, one of the Senators,
iMr. IcmoSey), had Slatcd-'' 1 believe, in my
humble Judgment, we are uSurping CUnvcn-
tional powers, and therefore beg To be excused
from taking part in legiSlating on this subject,
and wish this fact recorded on the journal OF
the Senate" Ii was distinctly stated that the
mower had not been granted this Legislature Ia
amend the third article OF the Constitution
This was why the honorable Senator had not
wished To vote, and he (Mr. Rubinson) then
proceeded to read the bill passed by the Alex
andria Legislature in June, 1863, which was in
troduccd by Mr.. MERCER, and which is rs fol-
lows: So .
.'Bc il enacted blythe General ASsemjiB That the
Governor of this Commonwealth is hereby auth0-
.f,.,.l. 81.
at tile next election for members of Congress and
members of the General Assembly, the question
Shall the next General Assembly he clothed with
power to amend the third article of the COnStilu-
ton ana if the majority of the votes 80 east shall
be in favor of investing such power Y the General
Assembly, the Governor shall communicate The re-
suit to that body at lis next session.
lie then said that this settled The whole bu-
sincSs the bill was said to be lost, and that it
it was not intcrlincd, and it was clear that the
Legislature was not guilty Of amy uSurpati"n
either attempted or accomplished.
The substitute offered by Mr.. McRae was
then rejected, aud Mr.. KeenS amendment WAS
adopted.
The ordinance was then paSscd--aycs, &c ;
noes, o. As passed by the Senate, the ord-
nance is as follows:
>. BE ii ordaiacd By hc Gcacrai assembly Gf Tir-
gaia That the third article Of the Constitution ba
altered and amended so to read as follows:
a. Every white male citizen of the Common
wealth of the age uf twcnty-Onc years, who has
been resident OF the state for two years and of tie
county city or town where hc oilers 10 vote for
twelve months next preceding an election, shall hc
ualilicd to vote for members of the General Asscn-
Div and all officers elective 10y the people: pro-
vided, however that no person shall bc allowed TO
vote who is OF unSound mind, II pau
Der, or who has been convicted Of bribery at
an election, or of any Infamous offence. No pei
snn in the military, naval or marine service of tie
United States shall lie deemed II resident Of this
STATE by rca ,on of being stationed therein but citI-
Zens OF this State. when in the military service Of
the United States, shall be permitted to vote under
such regulations as may hc prescribed by the Gene
raj Assembly wherever they may be Stationed the
same Us il they within their respective cities
counties or districts.
-! The General Assembly, rs occasion may rc-
uuirc shall cause every city town. the white pop
uaton of which exceeds five thousand, to he laid
oil into convenient wards, and separate place oi
voting 10 be established in each and thereafter no
nhabitant of such city or town shall be allowed to
vote except in the ward in which he resides.
- M vater, during the time Tor holding "a" "i"c-
ton at which he is entitled 10 vote, shall be com.
PEELED to perform military service, except IN time oil
war public danger, or to work on the public
roads TO attend any court As suitor Juror or WI
ness; and voter shall he subject Ia arrest under
any civil process during his attendance ut elections
or in going TO or returning from them.
II. In all elections for members of the General
Assembly and other State Officers votes shall be- CIV
en- openly or rim r0ce and not by ballot; bnt dumb
persons entitled to suffrage may vote by ballot
FROM THE GOVERNOR.
A communication was received from the
Governor, endorsing resolution of the Board
OF Public Works, asking for an appropriation
of 81 900 to pay the expenses of Il clerk, and
for other necessary expenses, which was or
dercd to he laid on the table.
The Senate then adjourned.