Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-07

| d. ".
Mayre, E. Gibson, Allan, Clements, one of tn
) Washington committee, was called upon for
statement, which he gave. The following is
synopsis oft: 12
The committee, after calling upon the Audi
tor and finding the Treasury like Old Mothe
Hubbards cupboard, went to see Gen. Scho
field. The General was polite, as he always is
and listened attentiyely to Chief Justice Under
wood THAT is to be- and his more practical anG
sensible colleague. The General replied tha
he did not consider, under the circumstances
that he would be justified in signing the pay or
dinance as requested, and accordingly declined
At their suggestion he agreed to refer the mat
! ter to General Grant-whch the sequel shows
he did without delay The Auditor informed
the committee that he could get money from
the bankers of Richmond at 10 per cent dis
count, but this the committee thought too high
and the Auditor agreed with them that they
had better go to Washington and see what they
could do with moneyed men there. This they
did. They conferred with General Grant, but
he had already received Gen. Schofeld's COM
munication, and was, of course, informed as to
the state OF the case and the object oftheir mis-
sion. He told them that he would communi
cate with Gen. Schofeld, and at their request
| let them know the next morning the substance
of his communication. When the time specif
ed arrived, the General informed them that he
had advised General s. to make arrangements
| to pay them to the 9th of April--this being the
time to which General S. informed him in his
communication, he would be able to make ar
rangements for their payment Gen. Grant
however said they must be paid, and did not
MIR. Clements said, attemptto exercise any des-
potlc control over the Convention. He had no
power to order Gen. Schofeld in the matter
They subsequently saw financial gentleman
| yh fho tbo a
to raise the money at per cent. from the First
National Bank of Richmond, the First Nation
al Bank of Washington, and tMcKenzie's s.
Bank of Alexandra, provided, however, that
General Schofeld would give the transaction his
endorsement. With this understanding they
brought him to Richmond, but when he called
upon General Schofeld, the latter proposed the
issue Of certificates of Indebtedness, payable in
August, as the basis of the loan This the
banker declined. Afterwards the committee
had several conferences with the General, the
result of which was tho ordinance offered.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
EDUCATION.
The consideration of this subject was resumed
and the third section adopted which provides
that the Legislature, at its first session, shall
provide uniform system of free schools, and
for its gradual introduction into all counties by
1876. and as much sooner as practicable. The
proviso Of Mr.. French, that in no case shall
white and colored children be taught at the
same time in the same house. was lost-ayes,
2l noes, 81.
Mr. Gibson's section providing for separate
schools and for the capitation tax of tax payers
to be appropriated to the education of children
of their respective colors, was laid upon the ta-
ble-ayes, 50; noes, 2t.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the committee on the Legisla-
tive Department was taken up, and the first
three sections passed by. All the sections, ex-
cept the 18th, which was also passed by, were
adopted, from the ath to the l4th inclusive.
The only material change made, so far, upon
the old Constitution is, that State Senator has
now only to be q instead of % years of age, as
formerly. It is also provided that the Legisla
ture shall not sit longer than 60 days without
the concurrence of three-6fths of the members,
and then that the session shall not be extended
more than 90 days.
THE CEETlfloATEa OF INDEBTEDNESS. -...
TUESDAY, March 3l.-The ordinance for the
issue of certificates of Indebtedness was taken
up, when Mr. Owen moved to amend so as to
make them payable after the first of July next.
Mr. Porter moved to refer the whole subject
to a committee OF seven
1t was elaborately discussed until the hour of
recess by members on both Sides
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention met at P. NJ, when the
consideration Of the means Of raising money by
| certificates, &c, was resumed. The previous
question was called, and Mr.. Porter's resolution
to refer to committee of seven adopted
| The chair appointed Messrs Clements, Cur
tbs, Hlne, Owen, French, Morgan, Gibbony.
| Efforts were made to get the chair to appoint
Mr. Hawxhurst his impeacher, but he oouldn {
see it.
| THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT..
The remaining sections of the report of the
Committee on the Legislative Department were
adopted, except the first, third and the thir-
teenth, which are yet to be considered. They
make no material change in the present consti-
tuition An additional section was also adopted,
similar to that found in all of the former con-
stitutons of Virginia, exempting members from
arrest during the sessions Of the General As
sembly, except when charged with treason, fel-
ony, or breach of the peace, and from obeying
civil process as heretofore provided to wit, du-
ring the session and for fifteen days before the
meeting and fifteen days after the adjournment
| Il.