The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-01
The Vsrgiao6G Contention
+ ORDERED BY CONGRESS TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
rORTIETH DAY.

FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
49,. FORTIETH DAY.
FRIDAY, January 81, 1868.
The Convention met at the usual hour.
Prayer by the chaplain:
:, VISITORS TO THE CONVENTION.
The PRESIDENT expressed the hope that
members would not send up too many ap-
plications for admission to the floor.
The Journal of the previous day Wasthen
read and approved.
THE CASE OF Mr.. HUNTER.
Mr.. THOMAS, from the special committee
appointed in the case of Mr.. HUNTER, sub:
mitted report detailing the circumstances
attending the expressions used by that
gentleman towards Mr.. HUNNICUTT. The
report concluded With the following reso-
luton: at7
"Resolued, That Mr.. HUNTER do appear
at the bar of this house and be reprimand-
ed by the President of the Convention.
Mr.. LIGGATT moved to lay the report on
the table. He did this because Mr. Hun
TER was not in his seat.
~ VISITORS AND REPORTERS.
Mr.. CUsr1ss offered the following reso-
luton: ~
"Whereas great confusion and conse-
quent delay Of the work of this body arises
from the great number Of persons admit
ted to the floor therefore be it ia
RESOLVED, That hereafter no person
shall be admitted upon the floor of this
hall without an express vote of this Con-
vention, except the following-to wit
Members and officers Of this Convention,
officers of the State government, persons
already privileged, and gentlemen accom-
panied by ladies; provided that but one
reporter from each newspaper establish
ment shall be admitted" 800
AS the resolution would give rise to dis
cussions, it would lie over under the rules.
A motion was made to suspend the rule.
Hostages, 80; noes, 81.
The resolution was laid over.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
Upon the announcement of the vote the
CHAIR expressed some surprise that most
of the members who voted in the affirma-
tive were the very ones who had made the
greatest number Of applications.
Mr.. CLEMENTS, excitedly, said that he
thought that the President reflected upon
him in the remarks he had made. He
thought the Chair had gone outside of
its position in impugning members in that
way and he thought that the Chair had
the dignity Of its position in
making the remarks.
Several members (Conseryatives) CAR
rest him." j!
Mr.. WHITE seemed to agree with Mr..
CLEMENTS. Tie question was not on the
adoption Of the resolution but on the
suspension of the rules. White citizens
had been admitted into this Convention,
and taken their seats among the reporters.
They had gone with them into the Senate
chamber and returned and dropped pis-
tolls on the floor. He thought that men,
bers had right to vote as they pleased
and that it was not proper for the Chair
man to remark upon the vote they cast.
Mr.. CLEMENTS offered the following
Resolved, That a committee Of five be
by the Chair, to ascertain and
define the duties Of the officers of this
Convention" Laid on the table-syes,
IS; noes, IS. : 49,.
-. CLERKS OF COMMITTEES. =
ANDREWS offered the following:
&C Resolued. That the clerks of the seye-
raj committees that have employed CLERKS
are hereby instructed to discharge SAID
clerks on or before the 9Th of February
Laid on the table. t-,lr.5g 81 y
- ELIGIBILITY OF VOTERS. @7
Mr.. ALLAN offered resolution instruct
ing the committee appointed to visit &C.
neral Scho6eld to petition him further to
modify his order on the subject of registra-
ton so as to allow any person to vote when
his eligibility is questioned, provided that
he shall subscribe to an oath to the effect
that he has been duly registered.
RICHMOND DELEGATES.
Mr.. MAYsE called up his resolution in
the Committee on Privileges and
Elections to inquire into the election of the
delegates from Richmond. ,- j.. j,
Mr.. CAMPBELL offered substitute but
before action could be taken on it the
morning hour expired.
.r. t~4 TAXATION. t.a saTAi
The tenth article Of the report of the
Committee on Taxation and Finance was
taken up, and adopted as follows:
ARTICLE x. The credit of the State
shall not be granted to, or in aid OF, any
person, association, or corporation"
The eleventh article was adopted as fol-
lows:
aART1cLE Xl. No scrip, certificate, OF
other evidence of State indebtedness, shall
be issued except for the redemption OF
stock previously issued, or for such debts
as are expressly authorized in this Consti-
tuition"
Mr.. SNEAD moved to amend the twelfth
article by adding the words "except for
internal improvements" Discussion en-
sued. s. 5~ is: - sas1
MIR. PLATTE offered the following as an
amendment to the amendment:
"And all charters hereafter granted by
the State to any corporation as common
carriers shall provide that no distinction
shall ever be made by said corporation
against any person on. account OF color,
race, or previous dition." !,
Pending the consideration of this, the
Convention took recess. Is
AFTERNOON SESSION.
/ The Convention was called to order by
WHITE, who ordered the roll to be called,
which wss done and quorum being
present, Mr.. LIGaATT took the floor and
spoke at length against the amendments
to the twelfth article, and in favor of the
original article. He was followed by Ar.
HuNNIcuTT, who, of course, opposed any
thing that came from the Conservative
side. Mr.. SNEAD, followed HusSIcUTT,