The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-08-15
T,EsE C0.t'G'E.s'TEO.v,
Adoption, after Further Amendment Of the Article
on the Lag.sl lttule--Another Dali cal Proposi-
ton 10 Disfranchiso White Men, &c, Sc

morning They were engaged in per-
fccting the section in reference to the
Senate districts. The session this even
ing settled the question that the Senate
districts should remain as at present,
one Senator from each The session
last night was devoted to efforts to
change this decision on one side and to
perfect it on the other. The efforts to
reverse the decision all failed, and the
section was perfected by providing for
a four years's term of Senator'S, and one
half to 20 out Of Office each alternate
year. During the discussion, Mr.. Gould
(Radical), presented proposition to the
effect that no person should vote for
Senators except he had paid tax with
in year from the timc Of voting. Su.h
is the strange inconsistencies of the
Radicals in this Convention. Mr..
Gould was one of the leading advocates
of removing the property clause from the
qualifications on negro suffrage. lie
was over Jealous on this point, and
would go into frenzy when any person
opposed such proposition ; was almost
constantly on the floor relating deeds
performed by negroes how they had
made advances, diFa}lipg with great
force on the in njustice Of the property
clause as a qualification when applied to
that race. Now he tirns around and
advocates that no white person shall
vote unless he pays tax to the State.
lie wants the negroes to vote without
restrictions, but no Other persons to vote
unless they pay State tag, which
necessitates them being property hold
ors. Such is the extent to which these
negro agitators are carrying projects Of
reform. Adopting the theory of Con.
gress that the white can't be trusted,
they propose to place the blacks in
authority and disfranchise all the whites
in tSeir power. Great are tbs RADICAL
reformers, the negro is their idol, and
John Stanton Gould is their prophet.
Mr. Schell, of Few York, presented
proposition requiring the next Legi5la-
ture to authorize new census in New.
York City, in order that the metropolis
might be able to secure its just proper
ton Of representatives. He made an
able argument in favor of that proposion,
showing up the cencus of 1865. But
the Radicals had no notion to lose the
advantage which they gained by that
earoneous census and voted it down.
The Convention this morning decided
by large vote to expungc from the
journal all record in regard to members
being declared in contempt and arrested
by the Sergeant.st arms. This is the
las chapter of this farcial display Of
zeal on the part OF few members work"
ing for notority. Here was o whole
day spent in the boys play Of call
carried out on the sneak system as shown
by the manner in which the members
present shot out of the chamber when
Tic Congress Hall dinner gong sounded.
1t is about time that this farce was end
ed. We have had comedy enough for
one season.
The convention at the close Of the
morning hour again went into Committee
OF the Whole, and took up the appor-
tionment and the mode of eleCting mem.
bcrs Of Assembly. The Commit of
the whole fonnd It's hands tied by the
hasty adoption of resolution confning
the entire debate on the organization of
.he Legislature to five rlinutes. This
brought them TO a stand. sill, aud result
ed in the Committee of the Whole rising
and reporting progress, when the Con-
ventiou had quite a squabble over the
modification Of the resolution. After
changing it 50 that each person who
desired to talk should occupy six min
utes, the Co invention again went into
the Committee Of the Whole, and spent
the entire morning session in its discus
sion. a proposition was adopted in.
crcasing the number Of members Of AS.
sembIy from 1913 to $50, and to elect
them by counties, instead of by single
districts, as at present.
During the discussion this morning it
was announced that the Committee on
Powers and Duties of the Legislature
had agreed to provision providing that
hereafter there should be session Of
the Legislature once in two years or
b.Gnniaily, instead Of annually as at
present In order that the article uuder
consideration could be mado uniform
with that on the powers and duties Of
the Legislature, molten was madc to
fix the term Of Asscmblymcn at two
years. But this was voted down and in
Il manner that seemed to be sort of a
test Of the sentiment of tho Convention
on that subject. Not quite two-thirds
Of the members were present, and the
vote was very close. The result with
full attendance may therefore be consid.
cred somewhat doubtful.
l.. W. Russell, of St. Lawrence,
proved himself practical joker this
morning, by offering proposition that
no memder of the Legislature should
draw his pay until the last day Of the
session, and then only on his entering
an oath that he had not received, and
did not expect to receive any considora-
ton for his votes as a member. This