State Convention.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 1861.The Convention was opened with prayer to the Rev. Dr. Hoge, of the Second Presbyterian Church.
Relief of Refugees.
Mr. Maslin offered an ordinance for the relief of those persons who have been driven from their homes and deprived of their offices to the enemy.
Civil and military offices.
Mr. G. W. Randolph offered the following ordinance for adoption:‘ Be it ordained, That, during the existing war, voters of the volunteers and militia shall be eligible to seats in the General Assembly, and for any person holding office in this Commonwealth may hold any military appointment under the Confederate Government the war without vacating such office.
Be it further ordained, That Colonel Henry did the Paymaster of the Virginia forces, be, he is hereby, authorized to accept a commission in the army of the Confederate states without vacating his commission as paymaster of the Virginia forces.
On motion, Mr. Maslin's ordinance for the relief of persons driven from their homes was aided, and, the rules being suspended, the ordinance passed.
’
Secret session.
The Convention then went into secret session for the purpose of considering a communication from the Executive.
Order of the day.
After the doors were re-opened, the Convention proceeded to consider the twenty first section of the proposed amended Convention.Mr. Stuart moved to amend the twenty-third section of article IV., by striking out in clause requiring the application of an moiety of the capitation tax upon white persons to the purposes of education in primary and free schools. Agreed to — ayes 55, nays 43.
Taxation.
The twenty-fourth section was passed by, at the present, on motion of Mr. Sutherland who desired time to prepare amendments.
Loans to Corporations.
Mr. Morris moved to amend the 27th section as to provide that the General Assembly shall not make a loan to any company corporation. Rejected — ayes 29, nays 73.
The sinking fund.
Mr. Haymond moved to amend the 28th section, which requires that there shall be set apart annually a sinking fund, by substituting the word may. Rejected — ayes 0, nays
New counties.
Mr. Haymond moved to amend the 33d section which provides that no new county will be formed with an area less than six hundred square miles, by striking out ‘ "six,"’ and inserting ‘"four."’ Rejected — ayes 14, nays 65.The section was amended by striking out the provision allowing the General Assembly at its discretion, to divide counties, and just requiring voters in any county not entitled to separate representation, to vote in the same election district.
Census and Statistics.
On motion of Mr. Stuart, the 36th section, requiring a census to be taken at intervals of the years from the dates of the returns of the Confederate States, was stricken out.
Elections.
Mr. Stuart moved to strike out from the 26th section the words ‘ "but special elections until vacancies in the office or judge of any court shall be for a full term."’ Agreed to Article IV, as amended, was then adopted.
Executive Department.
Mr. Moffett moved to amend the 2d section Article IV, so as to make the Governor Executive by the joint vote of the two Houses in the General Assembly.After a spirited debate, the previous question was called by Mr. Price, and sustained the amendment was then rejected — ayes 42, nays 65.
The Convention adjourned.
