The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-31
The Tia.yinjG Convention
ORDERED BY CONGRESS 10 81
FRAME "a STATE CONSTITUTION.
TH1RTY.NINTH BAY.

-
FRAME "a STATE CONSTITUTION
TH1RTY.NINTH DAY.
THURSDAY, January 80, 1853.
The Convention met at the usual hour
and was called to order by Mr.. PLATTE
Prayer by Rev. Hall (colored).
Mr.. E. GIBSON arose to o privileged ques-
ton. He had been. stopped on yesterday
while discussing resolution. Certain
words spoken by him were ordered to be
put down, and he had been stopped and
not allowed to 20 on. He claimed that now
be had right to answer the charges by
defence OF apology, just as he chose.
He claimed that the words spoken by him
were not more disrespectful than those
spoken by the member from Alexandra,
and that the CHAIR was the most culpable
party, if any were culpable, because he
did not promptly call him to order. He in
tended to Justify his words.
HINE arose to q point Of order. The
gentleman had insnlted the House, and
was arraigned, and could not go on.
The CHAIR decided that the member
could 20 on to defend himself.
Mr.. GIBSON said that he did not see the
sense of the point of order. If he had
intended to insult this body, he would
have scorned to have done it through q
third party. He could not see the justice
of allowing members on one side to reflect
upon or criticise the acts of one of the co0r-
dinate branches Of the Government, and
arraigning members on the other side for
criticisipg those of another branch.
THINE arose to point OF order. The
gentleman from Alexandria had not spoken
of any branch of the Government. He
spoke of Andrew johnson and his acts, and
not of the President of the United States.
Mr.. GIBSON said that. he had spoken of
Congress only in regard to its acts. Out
side of its acts he knew nothing of Con-
gress.
Several points of order were raised.
Mr.. MADDOX (Mr. GIBSON having Temporal
rily yielded the foor) said that he had in
terrupted him (GIBsoN) from no captions
spirit. He simply desired to stop such
remarks as the gentleman was making,
which be considered insulting to the house.
This object having been accomplished, he
would now withdraw his objections.
Mr.. GIBSON and others objected to the
withdrawal. Mr.. GIBSON proceeded, amid
many objections, to defend himself. be
claimed that his remarks were in order.
He did not consider Congress the prop and
mainstay of all the acts Of this Convention.
He was alluding to the acts of Andrew
Johnson and Congress in regard to the
people of the South, especially in regard
to pardon, as humiliating, and passed with
view to degrade.
Mr.. H1NE arose to point of order. de
did not think that the gentleman had a
right to enter into the merits or dement's
of Congress.
The CHAIR decided the point well taken.
The gentleman could not enter into the
merits or dement's of the President or
Congress. !.
Mr.. GIBSON said he was very well salts
fed, He had been charged and arraigned,'
and the only way to defend himself was to
show that his remarks were proper and
unsuitable. This was denied him, and the
members on the other side stood afraid to
hear his defence.
Mr.. FRENCH urged that the gentleman
from Giles be allowed to proceed.
Mr.. WALTON hoped that Mr.. GIBSON
would not press his defence. If the gen.
tlemen on the other side consented to be-
come defenders of Andrew johnson, the
gentlemen on his side ought to be satisfied.
After some further discussion the CHAIR
declared resolutions in order.
PAYING DEBTS.
Mr.. THOMAS offered the following
RESOLVED, That with view of arriving
at permanent mode of settling old debts
so as not to be burdensome to the debtor
the Committee on the Judiciary be in
structed to inquire into the expediency
of reporting an ordinance providing for the
payment annually of one-fourth of the
principal and interest of debts contracted
prior to the war, and to inhibit the Legis-
lature from enacting any further stay laws.
Also, into the propriety of inserting into
the Constitution permanent homestead
as to debts hereafter contracted" Re-
ferred.
CHARGES FOR D1soRDERLY WORDS.
Mr.. HINE offered the following:
!" Resolued, That Mr.. EUsTACE GIBSON, q
delegate in this Convention from the coun-
ties of Pulaski and Giles, having, while in
debate, nsed the following words-viz., I
think we have had violations enough in the
petty tyranny first set up on this subject
by Andrew johnson, and after that time
by that infamous tyrant the Congress of
the United States,' has violated the privi-
leges of this House by rejecting upon the
body that called this Convention into ex-
istence; therefore be 1t
RESOLVED, That the said EUsTACE Glib
SON be brought to the bar Of the House
and reprimaded by the President thereof"
Mr.. SNEAD offered the following substi-
tute:
s'Resolued, That the remarks made on
yesterday by the gentleman from .Alexan.
dria in reference to the conduct Of the
United States, the Chief of the Executive
Department of the National Government,
in the matter ofgrantiDg pardons, and the
remarks of the gentleman from Giles in
reference tc the Congress of the United
States, the legislative and coordinate de-
partment of said Government, deserve the
censure of this Convention"
The original and substitute were laid on
the table.
REPORT ON SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. HUNNICUTT, from the Committee on
Elective Franchise, &c.; submitted a ma
jority report. In submitting it he stated
that Messrs. MARYE, GIBSON, WILSON, and
L1GeATT, would offer, in day or so; mi
nority report. The following is the ma
jority report :;
) "Article -.
ss1he Elective Franchise.
"SEcT1oN L. Every male citizen of the
United States twenty -one years old who
shall have been resident of this State
six months, and Of the county, city,