Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-15
the Federal Constitution


the convention had q right to require
an oath OF its members not prescribed
by law. he then spoke at length upon
the question OF whether The members
were ofdcers and ably argued that they
were not.
Senator Daniel dealt with the legal
side OF the proposition almess entirely
and cited many authorities to sustain
his position.
Senator Daniel consendsd that 1t
was Eot the spirit OF the lew calling
the body together that the members
should De deemed ofEcers, and that the
precedeDts Of 125 years we<e against
that view.
Aessers Thorn, wysor, Gsrter ask ed
Senator Daniel severslquessions which
he answered with his usual -Sourtesy,
snd they engaged in Q bsiea raining
debst,.
FOB THEkaAra-
Mr., r. walton Moore spoke for Mr..
Thom's motion and said he thought,
out of abundant caution. tho. the oath
should be taken. He thought care
should Ice taken 30 that litigation
would NOS arise over the work Of the
convention.
he did not. see how the tsasisg of the
oath could violate any conscience and
he thought it by fsr safest that it
should be taken.
Mr. Brown, of Bedfccd, wee sgaiBs,
taking any oath, and Mr. GBraxton
agaiH toek the floor.
He replied in an able manoer to the
'-emarks OF Mr.. Moore, and emph ssizsd
his formerpoints with much force.
He asked II the convention would
deny his people the riPhs OF represen-
tetion by arurar Of their choioe. should
he refuse to tAke the oath. Heysaid he
had no objection to the gentleman
from Norfolk taking the oath or ss
many as he desired TO take. but he was
opposed to Tossing those 10 take it who
wsre opposed to taking any OATH.
,oRzkE DEAL or RARN.
Senator Glass followed Mr.. Rrsrton
and-spoke ably along the same line.
He,thought o great dead OF harm
could come troE1 taking the oath and
he really believed he would permit
himself to be expelled from the oOon-
vention before he would take an oath
which would prevent the true people
OF this State from gaining eontroi of
their government.
Mr.. Them,w was again heard ct some
leugth, and he axgled with great abik.
ty in favor OF his resolution and in rs
ply to the points, brought out by those
who opposed is. &c was in his iudg-
ment question of the validity OF the
acts OF the convention and not one Of
whether this or that man should be
forced to take an cath.
IF what we do here is void" he de-
clared, then it is impossible that the
voice of the people at the polls should
give is validitVo
Judge Campbell, of Amherst, inter
rupted the debste to request that the
main aisle be cleared 40 the members
sitting near IL were about 10 sufFo-
cate.
The chair ordered the aisle cleared
and Mr. ThOm proceeded with his re-
marks
Judge Anderson was next recogniz I'd
and argued ably against Mr.. Thom's
motion and contended that the posi-
tion OF member of the convention
was not that Of an Officer.
Mr., Thorn spoke again briefly and he
and Mr.. Glass engaged in . running de.
bate over the suffrage clauses of the
Virginia and United States Constitu.
ton.
Mr.. Glass warmed up and sAid Mr..
Thon's resolution begged the whole
question and was q quibble.
kI9HT AS WE'LL ADJOURN.
He said il the oath was taken and car
ried out. the convention had 90 well
adjourn as far As any suffrage reform
was concerned.
Mr.. Braxton moved to lay ths rsso-
luton OF Mr.. Thorn on the table. 1t
was seconded by Mr. 0'FIaherty and
adopted by vote OF 56 to 81.
Hon. John Goode Was elected perma-
nent chairman and Mr.. Joseph Button,
clerk. The body adjourned for the
day.