The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-18
The Tirg5aei1 Convention
ORDERED BY CONGRESS TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
TwENTY-EIGHTH DAY.

FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
TwENTY-EIGHTH DAY.
TUESDAY, January II, 1868.
The Convention met at the usual hour.
Prayer by the chaplain.
PARDoNING POWER.
Mr.. CARR, from the Committee on the
| Pardoning Power, presented lengthy re-
| port which was laid on The table for print
ing.
LAND TAX.
Mr.. CARR offered the following:
| RESOLVED, That tax. for the purpose
of establishing and maintaining common
schools be levied on lands in this State
| in the following manner-vlz., For the
first 100 acres owned by the husband, wife,
or children of any family, Is cents; Sc
cond. for 200 acres owned in like manner,
so cents third, for 900 acres, rs cents;
for 400 acres, 81 for 500 acres, Sl.5O;
and for every hundred acres over 500,
tax of 50 per 100 acres, and capitation
tax of 81 for all male citizens over twenty
one years."
| RESOLUTIONS.
| A perfect cataract of resolutions were
poured in upon the Clerks desk. We give
some Of them below:
By LEWIS LINDSEY:
"Whereas that there is great distinc-
ton made in the present State law OF Vlr-
yinia in regard to the hiring out to the
highest bidder the State convicts (that
have been convicted of some Infamous
crime) for the benefit Of the Common
wealth, and are known that distinction
is made by the present State authorities
in attempting to shield from public view
convicts on account of family standing OF
said convicts by keeping them concealed
within the prison walls, are hiring out the
} poor white and colored convicts for the
benefit of the State therefore be it
"Resolved, That the Committee on
Prisons be requested to report to this Con-
!; vention the expediency Of drafting in the
present Constitution by this Convention
clause as following:
".That there shall be no distinction
made in any prison among the prisoners
on account of family standing or anything
else. but to enforce all laws alike IN TINS
State on all persons who have been found
entity and sent to prison for punishment"
Mr.. PARR offered the following:
"Whereas it is of great Importance that
the Convention should close its labors as
soon as possible; therefore
| Resolued, That committee OF thlr-
teen be appointed by the Chair to draft
| Constitution as whole, and submit it to the
Convention, and that all the present COM
mittees be instructed to report at once to
said special committee what progress they
have made, that the special committee be
enabled to avail itself of the result of their
abors, and that said special committee be
granted liberty to sit during the sessions of
| the Convention" Laid on the table.
LINDSEY offered the following:
Resolued, That the Committee on Limi-
tations and Guarantees be requested to re-
port to this Convention the expediency OF
inserting a clause in the constitution now
being framed by this Convention to pro-
tect all persons in the full enjoyment ofall
| their political and civil rights within the
State Of Virginia.
Resolvsd, That all public institutions
and incorporated companies, or public
places. where licenses or charters are
granted under the laws Of Virginia, shall
be accessible to all persons alike, who
shall desire to avail themselves Of these
privileges thereof. Any abridgement of
any of these privileges shall be declared
a violation of the spirit of this Constitu-
ton"
Referred to Committee on Limitations.
HOLMES offered the following; which
was laid on the table:
"Resolved, That the Committee on In
ternal improvements be directed to con-
slider the propriety Of requiring the Board
of Public Works to provide for q call OF
the stockholders of the Richmond and
York River Railroad Company to assem-
ble at an early day, to consider the pro-
priety of consolidation with the Richmond
and Danvlle Railroad Company-the
: stockholders having been misrepresented
by their proxies in meeting of stock.
! holders on the 7th day Of January, 1867"
| CANADA offered resolution providing
for the appointment of State geologst
which was laid on the table.
Mr.. ROBINSON offered the following
: which was referred to the Committee on
, the Judiciary:
Whereas in the elections for all county
officers now holding Office colored men
were excluded from voting; and whereas
) of the eighteen judges of the State re:
Gently nominated by the Governor ano
elected by the Legislature seventeen are
disloyal; and whereas nearly every officer
appointed by the Governor, elected by the
Legislature or by vote of the rebels al
the polls, are prominent only for the
ardent and vindictive part they took il
the late rebellion; and whereas it is i'm.
possible for loyal men TO receive even
, handed Justice from many Of our State
courts; and whereas nearly the whole pa,
tronage of the State is under the contro
of rebels, who use their Offices to oppres:
loval men and retard reconstruction be il
RESOLVED, That this Convention request
, our National Congress to remove from Of
flee all persons who cannot take the con-
gressional test oath, and that this Conven.
ton be authorized to I'll the vacancies
thereby occasioned; and also request Con-
( oress to pass law allowing civil suits tc
. he brought in the United States Circuit
Court by parties swearing that they be.
lievc thew cannot obtain substantial justice
from the State courts"
: Cox offered the following:
RESOLVED, That the elective franchise
and qualification for Office be requested tc
report to this Convention the expediency
of ENGRAVING in the Constitution the fol
lowing clause:
! "sAll persons, before registering, must
, take and subscribe the following oath:
eel, -, do solemnly swear (ol
affirm) that / will support and maintain
the Constitution and laws Of the United
: States and the Constitution and laws Of
the State Of Virginia that I am not ex-
Guided by any clause in this Constitution
| r ~