The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-03
THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
ORDERED BY CONGRESS- TO
FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION.

NLneuy-SecouA DhJ.
THURSDAY, April 2, 1868.
The Convention met at IL o'clock.
Prayer by the chaplain.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
ME-. Gibson was granted an indefinite
leave of absence, to take effect on wed
nesdav. He asked for it on account OF
his health, which was suffering on account
of his attendance upon the Convention,
and because he did not wish to resign at
this late day.
PETER JONES thought that Mr.. GIBSON
was the best member Of the House, ana
was opposed to granting the leave.
BAYSE called attention to the remark.
He didn't mind disclosin political Sc
crets; but dc gentleman from GreeneVlIie
had said dat GIBSON was de best man oar
PETE wanted to explain, but he was de-
cided out of order.
Mr.. J. C. GIBSON thought that TINS ma ma
ter ought to be investigated. a ha' nc
had declared upon this floor that Con-
seryative was the best man upon tne nooi'
ond this was a crime that should not po
The CuA1E still decided PETE out OF
OTuGG , III "hiS'i
upon an appeal.
MONEY MATTERS.
Mr. CLEMENTS, from the Money Commit
foo renorted verbally that they had con-
suIicd With various bank officers and capi-
.aI;Stc and had had an intervle" VIII
Caneral Schotield. The committee aitel
dno dclibsration, recommended that tne
ord;nance last reported be adopted VIII
ont Mr.. OWENS amendment making tho
certificates payable after the lst OF July.
A. r GIBSON stated that he had seen
conaraI Schofeld, who had expressed MS
;sa,nroval of the suspension OF the pay
.l,ont of the interest of the State depI'
anI mentioned the appropriation OF >Ilo,-
GOO r,odc fol. the Legislature that was 10
I,o'.o moi last year, and that OF &l0O,Oo0 lor
+ha ConventiCn, beside the 500, 1000 appro-
nriotcd for the payment OF the interest.
1Thn first and last mentioned approprla-
+;ono were to come into tho treasury by
the LIST of July, and the redemption OF the
cnrtifcates proposed to be issued would
not interfere with the payment of the
State interest. The interest was a matter
the Convention had nothing to do with,
and he would be governed entirely by Cir
cumstances when the time for its payment
arrived.
After some discussion, the amendment
of Mr.. OWEN was lost-ayes, 10; noes, 81.
The ordinance passed as follows, by
vote Of ayes47, noes 81:
/" an Ordinance to Provide for the Payment
of the Expenses Of the Convention.
"1he people Of Virginia, BY their dee
oates IN Convention assembled, do orda'n,
That the Auditor of the State be directed
to issue certificates of Indebtedness to the
members, officers, and agents of this Con-
vcntion, in payment Of the per diem and
necessary expenses. Said certificates shall
be receivable in payment of all liabili-
ties due the State Of Virginia, and re-
deemable at the ofliceof the State Trea-
surer. This ordinance shall DO in force
from its passage"
The ordinance was read hrSt ana Sc
cond time, and referred to the Committee
on Contingent Expenses.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
The report on the basis OF representa-
ton was taken up and considered By para
graphs.
Pending it's consideration the Conven
ton took recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention met at 4 O'Clock.
The consideration Of the report on the
basis OF representation was resumed. A
very palpable gerrymander was effected by
making Chesterfield and Powhatan com
pose one district, with three members.
The report gave to Chesterfield two dele
gates and Powhatan one, and with what OBJ
iect other than that of making the large
Radical majority in Powhatan neutralize
the small Conservative majority in Chester
field, thus giving them two more delegates,
can hardly be conceived.
UNDERWOOD moved to make Henrico
and Richmond city compose one district,
to have eight delegates, because Richmond
was in the centre Of Henricu county, and
the county was the place Of residence of
many of our most prominent business
men. Their interests were, therefore,
identical. The report Of the committee
gave to Richmond six delegates and Hen
rico two.
The amendment was carried-ayes, 40;
noes, II. Another barciaced piece of
gerrymanderiDg.
Pending the consideration Of the report
the Convention adjourned.