The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-18

meCtS or lie as an uniueStlOncu efutll
that prevention is better than cure; and
whereas our laws, in their very structure,
are remedial rather than preventive; and
whereas even remedies, in their prescrip-
ton and administration, are often destruc-
tive rather than curative; and whereas
the freedom Of speech and the liberty of
the press have been prOStituted into a
license to defame and a charter to scan
dalize private character; and whereas our
laws do not and cannot, as now framed
and administered, provide an adequate
for this fragrant wrong, this source
of unmitigated evil in the body polite ;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Committees on the
Judiciary and on the Prevention and Pun
ishment of Crime be instructed to inquire
whether or not our system Of !uriSpru-
dence cannot in the future be based on
the preventive rather than on the remedial
principle" Referred.
Mr.. LIGGAT suggested that the matter
be referred to committee Of medical
men.
RECORDS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
Mr.. TAYLOR, of Patrick, offered the fol-
lowing:
eIt being important, in the opinion of
this Convention, to preserve, in connection
with the permanent civil government of
the State, complete history Of the seve-
raj steps taken in the reconstruction of the
State; it is therefore
"ResOlUed, lSt. That Major General
Schoield be especially requested to fur
-. III 10 No %
wealth, to be preserved in his Office among
the archives of the State, authentic CO.
pies of all military orders issued in this
military district having relation to the
subject of reconstruction, and an anthem
tic copy of the registration lists made in
the several counties and cities in the State.
"2d. That he be respectfully requested
to cause an authentic copy of the reglstra-
ton by districts in each county and city
to be filed with the clerk Of the county or
corporation courts to be preserved with
the record of the Office" Adopted.
POWERS OF THE CONVENTION.
Mr.. PORTER offered the following:
"Whereas resolutions are daily intro
duccd in the Convention of q character
indicating that their authors are of the
opinion that this body possess the power
of legislation; and whereas it is highly
important that the powers of this Conven-
ton should be clearly understood, so as to
prevent the introduction Of eXtraneous
matters if legislative powers do not belong
to this body, and to authorize the reception
of subjects of legislative character ii
such power is possessed by this body
therefore be it
ReSolued, That committee Of five be
to inquire and report at an early
day whether this Convention has legislative
powers other than that which relates to
the framing of the organic law of the
State"
After considerable discussion, the reso-
luton was laid on the table.
NEGRO CIVIL EQUALITY.
JONES (negro) offered the following:
"Whereas the custom, and, in part,
some Of the laws Of Virginia, known as
District No. L; and whereas this Conven-
ton is vested with power to blot out all
in the District or State of
Virginia !; therefore
Resolved, That this Convention do in
sert in the constitution to be framed a
clause prohibiting any distinction what:
ever in public conveyance.
so. ResolUed, That all public institu-
tons, such as railroad, steamboats,, etc.,
chartered for public purposes, shall make
no such distinction" Referred.
TAXES.
HOLMES (negro) offered the following:
"WhereaS there is alleged by the collec-
tors of taxes for the State Of Virginia to
remain unpaid and yet standing to the
credit Of said Commonwealth; and whereas
such fact, if fact it be, is now being used
by the disloyal officials Of the Common
wealth to whose Office is attached the col
lection Of said taxes as an engine of vexa-
ion and oppression to many of the loyal
people of this Commonwealth therefore
be it
"ReSolued, That the Committee on Tax
alton and Finance be instructed to con-
slider this subject, and to determine if any
action by this Convention is requisite to
protect the loyal people of this Common
wealth from all such oppression and re-
ieye them from all vexation and unjust
claims upon the part Of said officials" Re-
erred.
PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Mr.. SWAN offered the following, which
vas referred:
Whereas the Congress Of the United
States have enacted that the people OF
Virginia, of whatever race, color, or pre-
'ious condition, loyal to the United States,
nay meet in convention to frame cOnStl-
ution for the State, republican in form
nd have further provided that the consti-
ution so framed, prior to the transmission
O Congress aforesaid, shall first have been
atified at an election to be held for that
purpose at which all the registered
nd qualified electors in the State as
foresaid had an opportunity to vote freely,
nd without restraint, fear, or the influence
{ fraud; and whereas it is well known
0 this Convention that many Of the quail
ed electors of this State under said act of |
congress have, at the recent election of
elegates to this Convention, been at
empted to be influenced in casting their
allots by fear, undue influence, and fraud;
nd whereas it is greatly to be appre-
ended, and it is the avowed purpose of
lany unduly to influence and to intimi-
ate one class of the qualified electors OF
le State on the ratification or rejection OF
Ich constitution as may be framed by this
onynntinn. thpraf0ra he IL