The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-25
TIE Tirg5aaf0 Contention
ORDERED BIZ CONGRESS TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
THIRTY-FOURTH DAY.

THIRTY-FOURTH DAY.
FRIDAY, January d, 1868.
The Convention met at the usual hoar
Prayer by the chaplain.
BANKRUPT ACT.
Mr., THOMAS called up the resolution Of
Mr.. ALLAN providing for the appointment
of q committee of five to memorabilia Con-
grasa to extend the time for the action OF
the bankrupt act.
Mr.. ALLAN argued in favor Of his reso-
luton.
Further discussion ensued, and the reso-
luton was adopted.
The CHAIR appointed the following com.
mittee: ALLAN, THOMAS, CANADA lnegro)
HARRISON, and WooDsoN.
RELIEF FOR SUFFERING BLACKS.
Mr.. W. II. ROBERTSON called up his reso-
luton providing for the appointment Of
committee Of three to wait upon Con-
gress to ask relief for the suffering blacks
Some discussion ensued.
Brother HODGES said dat he had consid'
cred de resolushin, and he thought dat de
Beero was fur de present good enough to
kiver de pint. He thought dat de best way
to benefit desc pepil was to 60 to work and
make good constitushun, an make in dat
constitushun a movishin pervidin fur de
State of FergiDny to perwide fur its OWL
poor, and git rid of dis Freedman's Beero
an petitionin Congress, an all dat kind O
thing. De quicker dat constitushun should
be made, de larger and more libral his SOU
| would git towards Congress, and every
body else. The resolution was lost.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
The morning hour having expired, the
question of postponing Mr.. PoRTER's pro.
posed article was resumed. MIR. SNEAD on
the floor. He continued his argument in
opposition to the idea that jury service
was q right and not duty-referring
during his remarks, to the gentlemen On
the Conservative side of the house who
would not support this measure because
they would not vote themselves as igno-
ramuses."
Mr.. BowDEN desired to know if the gen
tleman meant to say that the gentlemen
on his own side were ignoramuses.
Mr.. SNEAD replied that he had said
nothing of the kind; but he would say that
he would consider himself an iguoramus
should he vote for the proposition. Mr..
SNEAD, in concluding, said that no conside
rations should hinder him from expressing
his convictions of what was right. lie
came to the Convention for the purpose oil
extending the ballot to the colored man,
and of accepting the Congressional plan OF
reconstruction. He did not consider that
he was required to sustain every piece OF
arrant nonsense proposed, simply because
it emanated from his side. He did not
mind the whispers Of members around
him that SNEAD was not all right. He in
tended always to oppose propositions a:
dangerous and cratic as this.
Mr.. THOMAS followed Mr.. SNEAD at some
length. At the conclusion of his remarks
the previous question was called and sus.
tanned with ayes and messages, So noes
SO.
The vote upon the postponsment result.
ed: Ayes, 81; noes, 81.
After some discussion as to what was
next in order, the LIST section of the Con
stitution was taken up and adopted.
The I'd section was then taken up.
Mr.. HINE moved to amend by striking
out the words "justice of the peace" ant
inserting as hereinafter provided. Adopt
ed.
The I'd section, as amended, was thel
| adopted.
The following is the Bill of Rights, etc.
as adopted by section. The consideration
of it, as q whole, is postponed:
Report ofthe Committee Of the Whole on the pre-
anble, Bill of Rights, and dtuiSion Of the po,o
erS Of government:
| The committee to whom were referred tn
preamble, Bill of Rights, and Division of tn
| powers of government, have had the subject
to them referred under consideration, ant
| have, in performance of the duties devolvet
| upon them, agreed to recommend to the Con
\ vention the adoption of the following pream
| BILE, Bill of Rights, and articles one and TIVE
of the Constitution:
A Declaration Of Rights, made by the representa-
tiUes of the good people Of Virginia, assembled
In fatN and free Conpenttoa, ,ohich rights do per
tain to them and their poStertty as the oasis Gaat
| foundation Of government.
l. That all men are by nature equally FREE
! and independent, and have certain lnheren
rights, of which, when they enter into state
of society they cannot, by any compact. DE
prive or divest their posterity-namely, thu
enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means
of acquiring and possessing property, ant
pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety
g That this State shall ever remain mem
/ Der of the United States of America, and tha1
| the people thereof are part OF the american
nation, and that all attempts, from whatever
source or upon whatever pretext, to dissolve
said Union or to sever said nation, are unau
thorized, and ought to be resisted with The
whole power of the State.
3, That the Constitution OF the Unlteo
States and the laws of Congress passed IL
pursuance thereof constitute the supreme law
| of the land, to which paramount allegiance
and obedience are due from every citizen, any
| thing in the constitution, ordinances, or laws
| OF any State TO the contrary notwithstanding
1. That all power is vested IN, ana conse'
quently derived from the people that mag.s,
trates are their trustees and servants, ana u
all times amenable to them.
D. That government is, OF ought TO be, lnstl.
tuted for the common benefit, protection, AND
security of the people, nation, or community
OF all the various forms of government, tha'
is best which is capable of producing Inc
greatest degree Of happiness and safety, and Is
most efectually secured against the danger OF
administration and that, when any 60
yernment shall be found inadequate or con-
trary these purposes, majority Of the
community hath an indubitable, unalienable,
and ,indefeasible right to reform, alter, or
abolish it. in such manner as shall be judged
most conducive to the public veal.
g. That no man, or set OF men, are entitled
to exclusive or separate emoluments or priyi-
leges from the community but In considera-
ton of public services, which, not being de-
seendable, neither ought the offices of magis-
trate. legislator, or judge TO be hereditary.
7. That the Legislative. executive, and judi
cial powers should be separate and distinct;
and that the members thereon may be re-
strained from oppression by feeling and par
ticipatipg the burthens Of the people, they
should at fixed periods be reduced to private
station, return into that body from which
they were originally taken, and the vacancies
be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular
elections, in which all, or any part of the
former members, to be again eligible or ineli
gible. as the laws shall direct.
S. That all elections ought to be free, and
that all men having sufficient evidence of per-
common interest with, and attach