The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-15
The Trgiae50 Convention
ORDERED BY CONGRESS TOi
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
FIFTY.SECOND DAY.

FIFTY.SECOND DAY.
FRIDAY, February II, 1868.
The Convention met at the usual hour.
Prayer by the chaplain.
A communication from the Lincoln
Council Union League, No. 5, of Lovetts-
vile, Loudoun county, asking the Conven-
ton to insert into the Constitution a clause
providing for impartial suffrage, social,
civil, and political equality, was presented.
1t contains much on education. Referred
to the Committee on Education.
JUDICIARY.
Mr.. THOMAS, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, submitted q report upon the
petition Of citizens of the first congress
sional district asking that certain property
be exempt from levy on debt
DOCUMENTS FOR REPORTERS.
Mr.. THOMAS offered the following:
"Resolved, That a copy of all documents
and reports presented for the use of this
Convention be furnished to each reporter
for the papers in the city by the Secretary
of the Convention" Laid over, as giving
rise to debate.
CREATING DISABILITIES.
Mr.. CARTER offered the following:
Resolued, That no minister Of the gos-
pei, priest of any religious denomination,
or salaried officer of any banking corpora
ton or company, and no attorney for the
Commonwealth, shall be capable OF being
elected a member of either House OF the
General Assembly,"
Mr.. J. G. GIBSON moved to amend by In
sorting lawyers, doctors, farmers, me-
chanics, and laborers.
MIR. ALLAN moved to lay on the table.
Carried-ayes, 46; noes, 80.
IN NAVIGATION COMPANIES.
Mr.. C. L. THOMPSON offered the follow
ing:
HReSolved, That the Committee on In
ternal Improvements inquire into the ex-
pediency of amending the forty-sixth sec
ton of chapter 81 of the Code OF Virginia
so as to authorize counties, towns, and
corporations, to subscribe for stock in nayi-
CATION companies" Laid on the table.
R1vANNA RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Mr.. C, L. THOMPSON offered the follow
ing:
aResolued, That the Committee on In
ternal Improvements be instructed to in
ouire. into the expediency of reporting q
bill enabling certain companies to conf
plete the improvement of the Rivanna
river"
AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL PERIOD.
Mr.. JAMES offered the following:
"Whereas the State of Virginia was
subjected to a %usurpation of laws entirely
foreign to her own Code and antagonistic to
the Constitution of the United States i;
and whereas that usurping power, with all
its works and codes, wa declared uncon-
stitutional by the law-making power of the
United States and whereas the people so
%subjugated by that usurpiDg power have
been relieved by the power of the United
States from the compulsory position of
obeyipg laws to which, by legal suffrage,
thew never consented; and whereas that
during the interim between the 18th day
of April, 1861, and the Sd day of April,
1865, a period of nearly four years, they
we're virtually not allowed the exercise of
their wills, but were in a state of the great
est confusion as to what mode and plans
they should adopt for their OWL safety and
succor; and whereas transactions entered
into during that time cannot now be con-
sidered binding;
"Resolued, That this Convention do or
dain and adopt as a fundamental law that
that period between April 9th, 1861, and
April 5th, 1865, being made unconstitu-
tional, be not recognized by law" Re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
ELECTIONS.
The report of the minority of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections was
called up, and made the order of the day
for Thursday next.
OYSTER TAX.
Mr.. SNEAD's proposed amendment to
the second section of the report on Taxa
ton and Finance was taken up, when the
morning hour expired. Discussion ensued.
This being Mr.. PARR's pet subject, he, of
course, made a speech, or, rather, "two or
three remarks"
He said that be had listened with atten-
ton and dissatisfaction to the discussion,
and he was more surprised in his
life than at things he had heard; and why?
Because there had been gentlemen
aspeaking about things that they knew
nothing of. He represented o constituency
that knew something about oysters. Some
of these members knew something about
mountain oysters, perhaps, but they didn't
know anything about the real oysters. He
was no speech-maker. He was just from
the plow-handle, and he had been killing
corn, end root-grubbing, and doing all
other sorts ofhard labor all, his life: He
a constituency. He had no
to reward; nor no enemies to
publish. Some Of these gentlemen were