The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-16
TnE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
ORDERED BY CONGRESS- TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
Sayautx-afxtil Day.

q ResoEred, That the Committee on FL
nance and Contingent Expenses be, and
thew are hereby, requested to ascertain
whether the last General Assembly made
an appropriation for their anticipated ses-
sion of lS67-'6S; and if so, to recommend
such steps to be taken as will require Its
application to the payment Of the expenses
Of this Convention"
Mr.. CLEMENTS offered the following as
substitute which was adopted:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Tax
alton and Finance be instructed to inquire
as to the necessity-if such necessity eA-
ists.of reporting an ordinance proVldipg
for tax-levy for the purpose of paying
the expenses of this Convention"
FRANCHISE.
The morning hour having expired, the
franchise question was taken up.
Mr.. THAYER offered the following addl-
tional section, after the first section:
"That the above section shall not be
construed so as to prevent persons emil
tied to vote in any county in this State
from voting in any county in which they
reside from voting for Federal and State
officers"
Mr.. CURT1ss offered the following as an
amendments:
"Provided, That for voting for State and
Federal officers no person shall be deemed
disqualified by reason Of less residence
than three months in the county, city, or
town."
The original proposition was adopted.
Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN offered the following,
to come in after the first section:
"Nothing in the preceding section shall
bo construed to prevent from voting NIL
litia officers or persons who accepted and
held any of the Offices therein enume-
rated" Lost-ayes, 26; noes, Al.
The oath OF office was then taken up,
as follows:
GAIL persons, before entering upon the
discharge Of any function as officers OF
this State, must take and subscribe the
following oath or affirmation:
81, -, do solemnly swear or affirm
that I will support and maintain the Copsti-
tuition and laws of the United States and
the Constitution and laws Of the State Of
Virginia; that recognize and accept the
civil and political equality of all men be-
fore the laws, and that l will faithfully
perform the duty of ITO the best of my
ability. So help me God"
Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN moved to amend by
striking out the words "that / recognize
and accept the civil equality Of all men
before the law" This was defeated by
strict party vote-ayes, 81 noes, so.
The original proposition was adopted
ayes, 48; noes, %.
Mr.. SoUTHALL offered the following as
an independent section, to come in after
sectior4:
"No person shall be disfranchised BIZ
the preceding section on account Of having
held any State or county office, except
those who held the offices especially emu
merated therein
A motion (RadicaD to lay on the table
was carried-ayes, As; noes, %.
A motion to print 1000 copies of the
franchise report as it now stands was laid
on the table.
Mr.. MADDOX offered the following addi-
tional section:
fee, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
members Of the General Assembly, Secre-
tary Of State, Auditor Of Public Accounts,
State Treasurer, Attorney General, and
Mayor and Council Of any city or town,
shall, before they enter on the duties Of
their respective Offices, take and subscribe
the following oath : Provided, That the dis
abilities therein contained may be indi-
vidually removed by two-thirds vote of
the General Assembly:
-, do solemnly swear Tor affirm
that I have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States since I have
been citizen thereof; that have volun-
tarily given no aid, countenance, counsel,
or encouragement, to persons engaged IN
armed hostility thereto; and that [ have
not yielded voluntary support to any
pretended government, authority, or consti-
tuition within the United States hostile or
thereto"
Mr.. PLATTE moved to postpone this and
all other propositions concerning the fran
chise question under consideration until
the oath instant, and be printed. This
motion prevailed.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
Mr., THOMAS stated, in connection with
the above motion, that some provision
must be made to pay the printer, or else
he could not get on any longer. This gave
rise to some talk about the money ques-
ton. Pending this, UNDERWOOD submitted
q document from headquarters.
The communication called the attention
of the Convention to the necessity of
making provision for paying the expenses
of the election for ratification or rejection,
etc., and for revision Of registration. There
would be no necessity for levying special
tax, but it was desirable that the required
should be made by ordi-
nance. The amount necessary would be
about 100000.
In conclusion, the General suggested
that the Auditor be authorized to issue
certificates of Indebtedness, not exceeding
the required amount, which certificates
should be made receivable for taxes, and
redeemable at the State Treasury. This
was referred to the Committee on Finance
and Contingent Expenses.
1t was decided by the Convention to
take up the report on the judiciary after
the disposal Of the report on county Or
ganization.
The Convention having decided to ad-
journ until Monday, acted accordingly at
2 o'clock.