The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-09
THE CAUgUsEs.
The Rival Bodies in Session YESTERDAYS

! The Rival Bodies I'm Session Yesterday
THE QEEsENBERRYs CAUCUS VOTE TO Gt
INTO ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
ON THE 17TH-THE LEE CAUCUS APPOINT
! A COMMITTEE TO DRAW UP A DECLARA
TION OF REASONS FOR THE CoNTNu
| ANCE o THAT ORGANIzATIoN-pER
/ sONAL.
On Monday afternoon at the adjournmen,
Of the two houses OF the General Assemble
notice was read out from General w. III
+. Lee, chairman, for q meeting Of the Con.
seryatiye caucus in the hail of the House
Similar notice, signed by Senator W.tD.
Quesenberry, calling meeting Of that eau
Gus for 4:30 p. NJ, was read out to the men,
bers by the clerks Of the two houses.
| The latter caucus met at the hour ap-
pointed-Senator Quesenberry in the chair,
and Messrs. Wood and Fowler secretaries.
There were about serenty-fiYe members
of the two houses present or vouched for.
Mr. Paul moved that the members of this
conference will vote to fix Thursday week
as the time for the election Of the officers
outside Of the Basement Offices.
mir. Barbour thought that by the time
named the General Assembly would be
ready to vote for all the officers. -
Speaker Allen believed it would be un-
wise to fix time for the election previous
to final action upon the resolution creating
a commission to re0rganize the Offices. Per-
haps If that resolution from the Senate
were adopted In the House it would be we'll
to await the report OF the commissioners.
Personally, he had no objection to going
into an election. ,a.-.
Mr. Massey thought the time had better
be fixed without further delay.
r Speaker Allen said that il they went into
an election and the commissioners reported
in favor Of doing away with one Of the Off
cers-as he thought not unlikely-that Off
Ger would have been elected for bis term,
and could not be cut of.
TIE DAY OF ELECTION. M ga
Mr. Harrison of Sussex offered rs sub
stitute that members will vote to go into
election for all the State officers on We'd
nesduy, January 10th. except the two Au-
ditors and Treasurer. GThis doesn't in
clude judges.l Adopted.
Mr.. Tyler offered the following: 81
RESOLVED, That no member Of this catl-
Gus be bound in his action in the Joint
houses OF the General Assembly in the elec-
ton OF officers by any action Of this caucus
unless the nominee Of this caucus receive
unanimous vote.
Mr. Massey said that that would be equiv
alent to having no caucus at all.
The resolution was withdrawn.
Mr.. Robinson suggested that the meeting
of adjusters be held tomorrow (Wednes-
day) evening. He saw here the chairman OF
the
Speaker Allen: I call the gentleman to
order.
The Chairman: What is the point?
Speaker Allen: This is not a meeting of
any particular wing of the Conservative
party; but OF the Conservative members Of
the two houses.
The Chairman Certainly the notice could
not be given out except by the courtesy OF
this body.
On motion Of Mr.. Massey, Mr. Harrison's
resolution was reconsidered and amended
by striking out Wednesday, 10th, and in
serting Thursday, 18th.
Adjourned, to meet on Tuesday night,
18th Ito make nominations), or sooner ii
caled together by the chairman.
Perhaps it would be more satisfactory TO
the gentlemen interested to state that there
were seventy members of~the two houses
present, and that four or FIVE others, who
we're attending committees or were other
wise engaged. sent excuses.
THE OTHER CAUCUS.
The Conservative caucus, General w. II.
F. Lee chairman, met in the hall of the
House last night-Maior Walker, OF North
cumberland, secretary. The roll was not
called, but an unofficial count showed sixty
eight present. Five others, who were. abb
gent sent excuses .s".
The following, offered by Mr. Bohannon,
was adopted:
Resolved, That the secretary OF this Con-
servative caucus OF the General Assembly
be, and he is hereby, instructed to make
out correct roll OF all the Conservative
members OF the General Assembly who were
regularly nominated and elected in accord
ance with the rules and regulations Of the
Conservative party, or who were elected as
Conservatives in counties and cities where
no nominations were made, which roll shall
be called at every meeting OF this caucus
when 4 vote is taken.
COMMITTEE OF NINE.
The following was offered By Mr.. Smith
OF Nelson:
Whereas representations have been pub
lished editorialy and otherwise by which it
is alleged that the caucus composed of some
OF the regular Conservative members OF
this General Assembly, about twenty 1nde-
pendents $50 called), and several others
whose political status is not known il they
are not Republicans, which caucus is pre-
sided over by DR.. w. D. Quesenberry, is
constituted il accordance with the usages
which have prevailed in reference to joint
caucuses OF the Senate and House. and con-
sequently it is claimed to be the true expo
nent Of the will OF the Conservative party
in the General Assembly; therefore be it
Resokued. That a committee OF nine-four
from the Senate and five from the House
be appointed, who shall prepare and make
a report to this joint conference at its next
meeting, setting forth the causes which vim
dicate and justify the action taken by it, the
regularity and legitimacy Of its organiza-
ton, and the necessity and duty OF main
tanning it, in order to perpetuate the pur-
poses and preserve the plan OF organization
Of the Conservative party; and shall also re-
port what, in their Judgment, should be the
future course Of this conference in regard
to making nomination OF all officers OF the
State which are to be elected by this Gene
raj Assembly, including judges OF the cir
cult courts.
Mr. Wallace moved TO strike out the pre-
amble.
Mr.. Koiner was in favor of laying the
whole subject upon the table.
Mr.. Marshall spoke in support OF the pre-
amble and resolution.
General Taliaferro offered the following
substitute for the preamble:
That whereas this conference has been
reported as not representing the Conserya-
tive party OF the General Assembly, there
fore, in a spirit OF conciliation and with O
view OF inducing full cooperation Of all
who were elected as nominees of COnserYa.