The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-10
The Virgiaai0 Convention,
ORDERED BY CONGRESS TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
FIFTH DAY.


The Convention met at the usual hour.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD in the chair. Prayer was
offered by the Chaplain.
The minutes of Friday were read and
approved.
The CHAIR announced that the Conven-
ton would be visited by two Governors,
and it was hoped that they would be re-
ceiyed standing. It was probable that
they would receive from the the distin-
guished visitors some words of counsel.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.
After the reading of the minutes the
Sergeant-at-Arms announced Governor
Peirpoint, and Governor Smith, of New
Hampshire, and ladies. The gentlemen
and ladies were escorted to seats near the
CHAIR. The Convention received them
standing.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said:
Gentlemen of the Conventional have
the honor of introducing to you their
Excellencies Governor Francis FL. Peir.
point, of this State, and Governor Smith
of New Hampshire.
Governor PE1RPoINT said:
Gentlemen of the Conventional am
sure that this is an unexpected honor to
this morai6g IS see tyou-to Be present at
some Of your deliberations, as have been
in conventions heretofore. 1t gives me
great pleasure, however, to see you all
here, and to know that you are engaged IN
the laudable and wise undertaking Of
making a Constitution for the old Com
monwealth of Virginia and indulge the
hope that you may be able to make such a
good and wise constitution that shall give
satisfaction, and that under it the State
may prosper and become happy; and
believe that this is the full wish Of my
heart. I know it is not expected of me
to enter into the discussion of any princi-
pies this morning. thank you, gentlemen.
The CHAIRMAN: The Convention will be
happy to hear from Governor Smith.
Mr.. SMITH said: Mr.. President and gen.
temen of the Convention,-I am sure that
this is an unexpected honor to be called
before this respectable body, and to have
the privilege Of opening my mouth here.
| came to this State-to the noble State of
Virginia-as private individual. came
on flying visit to look upon your soil, to
look at the improvements already COM
menced since the terrible war in your
vicinity, expecting to return Immediately.
Hardly expecting to meet one of the dis
tinguished men of the State, I have had
the honor of meeting many gentlemen,
many persons high in authority here; and
it is a pleasure to me, can assure you, to
look upon the faces Of men who came
here to form constitution-form the
best constitution that can be formed,
believe, for this great State of Vir-
GINA. / fully believe, gentlemen, that
you have come here to act for the best
interests of the State and the good of all.
New Hampshire, small and rugged as she
is-New Hampshire, / assure you, delights
to rejoice in the prosperity of every other
State of this Union. And Virginia, al
though distant. although she has facilities
that New Hampshire has not, Virginia she
loves, and her prosperity she loves and re-
oices in and she only takes part in the
progress or in that rivalry which makes all
these States what they should be-rivalry
in the development of the resources Of the |
State.
AS I have flown over part of your
State have been surprised at the facili-
ties she has to be proud of. I was brought |
up in part of the country which re-
CURED constant labor and hard warfare |
with rocks and cold soil to live; but ma
ture here has spread out profusely her
richest gifts-immense water power, con-
genial soil, her climate-eyerythi that
can contribute to the comfort Of man.
What your people need most to-day is
labor; and that labor should be made, as it
ought to be, respectable. If labor could
% made respectable, as it should be, you
have every inducement to draw to your
State population of not only thousands,
but hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.
With climate unsurpassed
100 he! nor too cold-we may well look to
zee THO State of Virginia some day one
If the most populous States in the whole
country. The speaker then went on to
state that he did not presume to offer sub.
ects for legislation nor instruction, but if
he Constitution adopted by the State was
J wise and humane one, we might soon
expect to see Virginia one of the richest
md most populous States in the Union.
Thanking you, Mr.. President and GENTLE
aen of the Convention, for the privilege ,
u standing here and opening my mouth :
'elore this respectable body, / would again 0
:. mat dare not instruct you. hope
, . nave the privilege of meeting you again 7
.huer iavorable circumstances, when the =
IonsEstation you shall adopt here shall be
lnli progress and your State on the high q
DAD to prosperity. Thanking you again,
entiemen aud Mr.. President, you will ex-
use any further remarks" .
Mr.. HUNEIcUrT moved a vote of thanks