The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-20
The T5rg51aiG Contention
ORDERED BIT CONGRESS TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.
DAY.

- y
SATURDAY, January 18, 1868.
The Convention met at the usual hour.
Prayer by the chaplain.
JUDICIARY.
Mr.. THOMAS, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, submitted a report upon the
resolution of Mr.. JAMES providing for
scaling debts contracted prior to the 80
day Of April, 1865, down to twenty aVe
per cent. As, also, upon 8 resolution
wjpine out slave debts. The committee,
at some length, gave the reasons why such
action should not be taken, and did not
hesitate: to declare that it would De uncon-
stitutional, and could be SO decided before
the courts Of the State. The commlttee,
in conclusion, asked to be relieved IRON
further consideration of the subject. The
renort was laid on the table and ordered
to be printed.
REPUTATION.
Mr.. PLATTE offered the following
&C Resolued, That committee ct hVe
members be appointed by the GEAR 10 IN
nnire into the expediency OF authorizing
and recurring the General Assembly TO
imnose upon all holders, owners, or claim
ants of Judgment, chooses in action, bonds,
notes accounts, or other evidences OF In
debtedpess, contracted before the 9Th OF
Anril. 1865. or founded upon considera-
ton arising before that day, an annual LAX
of not less than ten nor more than twenty
per cent. of the whole amount OF money
Claimed to be due and payable-the amount
co collected to be reserved as an addltloh
to tbe State fund"
After some debate, in which Messrs.
SNEAp and THOMAS opposed the resolution,
and Mr.. ROBERTSON favored it, the vote was
taken with ayes and noes, and resulted :
Ayes, AZ {; noes, 10. 49, 49,;
Mr. SSEAD submitted petition for prl-
vate relief; which was referred TO 'ne
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. PoRTER's resolution providing lot
the calling of the ayes and noes In oon',
mittee of the Whole was taken up anu
adopted.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
The morning hour having expired, the
..nort of the Committee of the Whole on
the preamble, Bill of Rights, etc., was
taken up. J.. oon
A motion of Mr.. HAwxHURsT to con-
slider the report by sections was carried.
The first section was then READ anu
adopted. ,;o,,
of the second section, which should De
made the third section
"That Virginia is, and OF right ougnt
TO be. a coequal member and integral part
and parcel of the Government of the
United States, and as such is entitled to
all the benefits enjoyed by, and subject to
all the burdens imposed upon, the several
States composing said Government, by the
Constitution thereof and the laws passed
pursuant thereto"
A motion to lay on the table was lost.
After considerable discussion it was then
adopted.
The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
and seventh sections were read and adopt
ed. The eighth section was read, and Mr..
offered the following as SUBJ
sttute:
"That all elections ought to be free;
and that all men mot disqualified by crime,
insanity, or idiocy,) have the inherent right
of suffrage, and cannot be taxed or de-
prived of their property for public uses
without their own consent or that OF their
representatives so elected, nor bound by
any law to which they have in like man
ner assented for the public good"
Upon this Mr.. HAwxHuRsT argued at
length.
Mr.. E. GIBSON opposed it; and pending
his remarks the hour for adjournment
l216) arrived, and the Convention took
a recess until 4.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention met at half-past 2
o'clock. There were ffty-seven members
present.
The discussion on Mr.. HAwxHURsT's pro-
posed substitute was resumed, and con-
tinued for some time.
Mr.. SCOTT moved to postpone the
amendment and section until the Commit
tee on Franchise report. Lost.
The Convention then adjourned.