The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-01
TIE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
EInetfeth Day.
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION

FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
EInetieth Day.
TUESDAY, March 81, 1868.
The Convention met at II o'clock.
Prayer by the chaplain.
PRIVILEGED QUESTION.
Mr.. ALLAN asked for leave of absence
for himself and BLAND.
The reasons for the request were asked.
Mr.. ALLAN stated that a deputation
from Prince Edward had visited himself
and his colleague, and advised them to
visit the county to do away with wrong
impressions that had grown among the
people concerning their course. Some
base s~coundrels had written anonymous
letters to his constituents bringing against
himself and colleague false allegations.
BAYSE waxed warm in opposition to the
leave. He accused Mr.. ALLAN of having
lodged a vote, and made illusions con-
corning a member of that gentleman's
family which, under the circumstances,
were unbecomiDg even of a stupid, igno-
rant negro.
Mr.. ALLAN said that the member had
stated what was false, and he ought to
know that it was false.
BAYNE repeated his statements, and Mr..
ALLAN again accused him of falsehood.
BAYSE: "Well, if it is false, let it go
long so, den."
Finally BAYSE was called to order, and
his words characterized as indelicate and
" unbecoming the dignity Of the House."
pretty good.]
BLAND rose to ask that q committee of
investigation be appointed to inquire as to
who had written anonymous letters to
Prince Edward slandering his public and
private character. He read n letter,
and said he thought from the expression
" curry favor" which was frequently used
by q certain member, and the hand writing,
be could trace its author. He was OBJ
viously ignorant Of all the rules of the
English language, and he didn't believe
she could even qualify de debility of de
seuorgrapby of de Convention. He didn't
like to scriminize, but he would pronounce
the man who wrote that letter a base
s%coundrel, without public or private cha
racter, and who would just as quickly tell
q lie as the truth"
Mr.. ALLAN withdrew his request for
leave.
HUSN1cuTT, apparently not knowing
this, stuck his nose in, and in the end got
it sharply pinched, as the sequel will show.
He thought it outrageous that members
should occupy so much of the time of the
Convention with requests of this kind.
He went on to say something about an in
difference as to what people should say as
to his course in the Convention. He was
no ~demagogue, voted on principle, and
didn't care a cuss, etc., etc.
Il. Mr.. ALLAN again stated that he had
withdrawn his request for leave. He
would only add that any objection cor
corning privileged questions and a desire
on the part Of other members to set them
selves right with their people came with
an ill-grace from the gentleman (HUNNI-
cUTT) when he himself had consumed
nearly a whole day in justifying himself be-
fore the Convention for voting for the ordi-
nance of secession.
HUNNICUTT futtered like a shot duck,
and was about to hiss an answer through
his closed teeth, when Mr.. j. G. GIBSON
arose to a point of order.
HUNNIcUTT SHARPLY "I'm in order,
sir"
Mr.. GIBSON: "The Chair will decide
that point, sir"
Mr.. GIBSON claimed hat there was
nothing before the House, and that the
vote of the typographical gentleman from
Richmond on secession did not concern
the Convention.
HUNNIoUrT (writhing and hissing) : "If
you want to find out anything about my
secession vote, or the plan for taking Fort
ress Monroe, you can do so outside of this
House."
Mr.. GIBSON "Mr. President This is the
third time the typographical gentleman
from Richmond has made this same offer
to Conservative members of this House.
There is a certain parliamentary law which
forces me to recognize him as the gentle
man from Richmond on this floor, but out
side there is no law to force me to do so,
and I shall not recognize him as a gentle
man from Richmond"
HuNN1cUTT wilted, his face livid and dis
torted with rage.
REVISION.
The Committee on Revision submitted
a report recommending the striking out Of
the last section of the report on the execu-
tive department, which is as follows:
"The Secretary Of the Commonwealth
shall discharge the duties of clerk Of the
Board Of Public Works." ~
The recommendation was adopted.
MONEY.
The ordinance for raising the wind was
then taken up, read a third time, and put
on Its passage. It was amended to read
follows:
" an Ordnance to Provide for the Payment
OF the Expenses Of the Convention.
"ihe people of Nrginia, by their dele
oates in Convention assembled, do ordain,
That the Auditor of the State be directed
to issue certificates of Indebtedness to the
members, officers, and agents of this Con-
v~entiop, in payment of the per diem and
necessary expenses. Said certificates shall
be receivable In payment of all liabili7
ties due to the State of Virginia after the
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