The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-10
The visitors then left. the Convention

go. ryv,xcr.
The Committee on Finance, through its
chairman, Mr.. THOMAS, submitted the fol-
lowing ordinance:
''An Ordinance Firing the Compensation of
the Members and officers of the Conuen-
ton, and Providing for the Payment Of
the Same. -.ssevs
The people of Virginia, by their dele
gates in convention assembled at Rich
mond, do ordain that the compensation of
the members and officers of the Cor,ven-
ton shall be as follows: The memb ,ers of
the Convention shall each receive s'he sum
Of eight dollars for each days att enhance
upon tho Convention, and the same mileage
now allowed by law to membe rs Of the
General Assembly the secret airy of the
Convention the sum Of fourteen, dollars per
day, out OF which amount he shall pay his
assistants; the sergeant-at-arms the sum
OF SIX dollars per day, and the same com
pensat.on allowed by law to the sergeant
at-s..rms Of the General Assembly for
,naking arrests ordered by the Convention,
for keeping in custody, and mileage OF
himself or messenger; and to each door
keeper the sum of five dollars per day.
(Which sums shall be paid out of the
Treasury of Virginia upon the certificates
of the Secretary Of the Convention.
"This ordinance shall be in force from
its passage"
The ordinance was, under suspension
of the rules, read for the second time.
Mr.. SyEAD moved to amend by substitu-
ting Sc per diem instead of So, and Sc for
every twenty miles of necessary travel.
By request, the question was put sepa-
rately:
Mr.. BowDEN inquired if Sunday was to
be included in the days to be paid for.
Mr.. THOMAS said that it was. He ex-
planned that the committee had, in report
ing the ordinance, taken into considers
ton the trouble and inconvenience occa-
stoned to members in leaving their homes,
and the necessary amount for them to live
as members of the Convention Of Virginia
should live. The southern conventions
had adopted rates Of compensation equal
to those proposed by the committee. Vir-
ginia was able to pay So per day. The
Convention had the enviab!e position of
having been provided for without the ne
cessity of further taxation.
Mr.. HUNNICuTT moved an amendment to
the amendment by putting the rate at ST..
HODGES (negro) said that he hoped that
the Convention would put down the amend
ment of his friend from Accomac. The
| members were all at good deal Of ex-
pense to be here, and they didn't all have
no means to be contented with, and he
didn't believe the salary any too great.
Most of the members had large families,
and they didn't have no incomes 'cep what
their labor supply with their own hands.
He hoped the Convention would take the
matter into wise consideration, and vote
wisely on it, and that all would see the ne
cessity of fair compensation. He had lost
three or four months about the Conven-
ton before he came here, and he warnt
gittin a cent, and he hoped that as there
were a majority of members without in
comes, the small salary of eight dollars per
day would be paid.
DR.. BAVNE (negro) said:
DR.. BAYNE (negro) said, if it were COM
petent, he would speak to the amendment
as to seven dollars. The question to him
was not whether he would take so much
and so much, because he could do without
it. Men, ought to be paid according to
their work, and should not be stinted.
Members seemed to have forgotten this
cole" country was broken up; but that
didn't make no difference, de" land was
there still. The war hadn't carried off a
inch of ground but what was "tooken y
off by the soldiers feet.
He was opposed to the amendment, and
in favor Of IS. IF he had his way he
would sooner make it So. Some members
s sffad 10 Vote for good pay, because they
would not send 'em back to ode " Legis-
| lature or some other office. Some of 'em
would vote for So, perhaps, when they want
worth SO. He would vote down everything
except S., except fifty cents more. Il
can live without this if I choose, but l
don't choose" If some of the members
who were business men would 60 home
they would find their business going down
because Of their absence. The gentleman
from Accomac could do very we'll here,
because he had several cases on hand.
When professional man, like himself,
practice gone, and they would have to 20 to
work to bring dat" practice back. Then
they were sleeping away from their homes,
were away from their wives and their chill
dren-and this was worth eight dollars
day. He wanted to set an example to the
State of Virginia, to the whole South, and
the whole America, that all our troubles
sprung up simply because the people
wouldn't pay men ode" wages they were
worth. 1t would be better to pay men
more than they were worth than not
to pay them enough it would make 'em
have cheerful hearts. Without good
price man would steal, and their consti-
tuents would look up to them as poor
knaves. If they were paid liberal they
would have liberal views, and would work
better, and would make ga liberal, binding
Constitution" I've said enough. Vote
eight dollars.
I'VE have been particular to quote and
emphasize where this sable delegate has
forgotten his rule that that don't spell
" dat" inasmuch as he has raised an
issue with US on this point, and threatened |
our reporter with expulsion if he was re-
ported as saying "dat" again. He was
yesterday; but that he did slip up occa-
and say "dat" and eide" in
spite Of himself, will be sworn to. Who's
got anything to saysagainst "dat ?"l
Mr.. SNEAD spoke in favor of his amend
ment, upon the ground of the poverty
stricken condition of our people and the
large amount of the State debt.
Other remarks were made, and the vote
was taken, by ayes and noes, upon Mr..
amendment, and resulted as
follows: Ayes, 3; noes, Cd.
The vote upon Mr.. SNEAD's amendment
resulted: Ayes, Al; noes, S..