Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-17

UP and referred to the Committee On Privileges
and Elections.
Mr.. Bowden moved that all papers in regard
to contested seats now upon the table be refer
ed to the Committee Oh Privileges and Elections
Carried.
Mr. Thomas offered the following:
''Rcs0}rcd, That the Committee on Privileges
and Elections be authorized and empowered to
send for persons and papers when they shall
deem it necessary in the discharge OF their
duties" Adopted.
Mr.. Woodson offered a resolution that when
the Convention adjourn it adjourn until II
O'Clock Thursday, in order to allow the Char
time to prepare the standing committees.
The Convention then adjourned until y
o'clock Thursday.
THURSDAY, Dec l2-The Convention met
at the usual hour. Prayer was offered by the
Chaplain. The minutes Of Tuesday were read
and adopted.
Mr.. Allen moved that the report Of the Com
mittee on Printing be taken up. Carried. lie
then moved that the report be received. Inc
motion was passed by, in the absence OF the
Chairman.
The Chair announced itself ready to announce
the standing committees. Perhaps he has done
much Injustice; but were this SO, it was not oW-
ing to any intention to do SO, but because he
had not had sufficient intercourse and acqualn-
tance with the members.
The standing committees we're then announ-
ced Mr.. Harrison IS on the committee on Illg
Executive department of the government and
the committee on public Institutions Messrs.
Waddell and Southall are on the committee on
Education. and Mr.. Southall is, also, on the
committee on Revision and Adjustment
Mr. Thomas moved that the ordinance fixing
tho nav Of the Secretary and other officers. or,
dered to be engrossed, be put upon It's third
reading Carried. The ordinance was read a
third time and passed. ~
Hodges NEGRO from Princess Anne o1ler-
ed the following: ,.1
inc men IN this State, who are not landholders
Who has been distressed and inundated on ac-
count of their voting and supporting the Union
RenubIican ticket at the late election by dlSloy-
al and disunion landholders therefore,
"Rosolccd. That this Convention appoint a
oomm;ttne of five to take this subject into con-
sidcration, and report what necessary steps, IN
their Judgment, should be taken to put stop
to the said distressing and intlmldatlng OF loyal
Union laboring men by disloyal landho!derS IN
this State.
This resolution elected discussion, in which
q large number of delegates participated, pro
and con. Hunnicutt coming out second best
4 communication from General Schofeld en-
c,os;ng the official returns Of registration and
the result Of the late vote in the different cities,
counties and towns, throughout the State, was
received and ordered to be laid Oh the table to
be printed.
The Convention then adjourned until y O.
clock Friday.
following resolution on the subject Of printing.
Resulted, That committee Of five be APP
y, So,o+ yrhO n he ct1HTOPG
with the duty of contracting for the printing
needed by the Convention, upon terms not ez-
ceeding those set forth in the report OF the Sc
Iect committee on printing.
Mr.. Marye then offered the following rosoIu-
tons, which were adopted:
Res0lced, That said committee, in discharg-
ing said duty, shall provide in contracting Tor
said printing, that the supply OF paper needed,
shall be procured and delivered to the printer
by the superintendent Of public printing Of the
State of Virginia.
Rcs0lUcd, That said committee shall submit
any contract proposed to be executed, IN behalf
of the Convention, to the Convention for It's APP
DrOvaI, before each contract be executed.
Norton (mulatto,) from the first Congress
sional district, presented a petition to the Con
vention on the subject of relief Of homesteads
from the execution of processes for Indebted
ness, passed by the last Itump Legislature OF
Virginia, which he asked 10 be referred to the
committee on limitation and guarantees.
The petition was read, and such petition
1t was nothing more nor less than petition to
the Convention to repudiate all private debts,
to wipe out all former contracts, and to com
mence life afresh-as far as money matters were
concerned
Mr.. E. Gibson moved to lay the petition OF
the table.
Mr.. Snead, Radical, opposed the reference OF
the petition, on the ground that it was subVer-
sive Of the Constitution Of the United States,
and utterly repugnant to the whole spirit Of the
Government.
Bayne negro, wanted to know whether it
was competent to discuss matters Of this sort
before they were reported on by the committee.
Mr.. Eustace Gibson moved that the petition
be laid on the table, because it was violent,
scurriloUs and abusive in language. He called
for the ayes and noes The vote was so order
ed, and resulted as follows-ayes 43, noes 81.
Mr.. Bowden moved that the petition be re
ferred to the committee On the Judiciary, with
out being printed, on an amendment from Mr.
J. c. Gibson. Adopted.
Lewis Lindsay negro, of Richmond, offered
the following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas, This Convention now assembled
under the acts of Congress of the Z. S. Of
America to frame Constitution Loyal to the
Government Of L. S. and establish d Republi-
can form of government So as to Enable Viz
ginia to Resume her former Relation in the
United States of America with other L0ya
States to Be the only Lawful Legislative body
to adopt the fundamental and lawful Powers
GUARANTEES to all Persons equal Right-there
fore be it resolved that committee be appoint
ed to wait on Major General Schofeld Com
handing this District to remove all the present
State Officer which Compose the present civil
Government Of Va and IF the Committee
Should fail to get the desired Information the
Committee be Empowered to proceed to Wash
ingtOn City In Regard to the Removal Of the
Present So-Called State Government-And
Report to this Convention at once in Regard tC
the Section 3rd Of the Act March ID 1867 t.
Remove or Cause to be Removed Certain p0
ton of the Clause Third of an act Of Congress
passed march I'd 1867 That the General Com
manding the District have power to Allow Ger
tain Civil Tribunals to Try all Criminals in the
said District-sO as to Grant Power to this Con
venti0n now In Session to Remove all the sale
officers.
Lewis made the following speech in support
Of his resolution:
Mr. President-I desire to speak on de reso
lutions, not on de count Of my influence, bu
bekase | think Congress de only power to take
away de clause Of de act [ don't like to dis
encourage de gentlemen Of de press, bekase dey
sells more papers when | speaks [ think it i,
right dat Congress kin deforce de iurydiction O.
de count. [ desire to obbreviate de diffkiltic.
Of de situation. ! am glad dat de word, white