those evils were not universal, but local in their extent. The gentleman was ready to admit that the principle involved in the first of the resolutions was such as required a Committee from all parts of the State; he believed the same principle would be found to apply to all the other resolutions. Mr. M. then stated the reasons why he should not offer his two resolutions, and concluded by a compliment to the judgment and standing of the gentleman from Richmond.

Mr. Marshall rejoined. If his friend had understood him to say that every part of the community was not interested in every part of the Constitution, he had greatly mistaken his meaning. But the interest they take in the other parts of the Constitution not geographical in their bearing, was not local or geographical in its kind. Gentlemen on one side of James River, for instance, had the same interest in the Executive Department of the Government, as those on the other side. That interest did not depend at all upon their residence; on that Department, therefore, he could see no reason for a Committee taken from all parts of the State; but the case was very different when the question of the basis of representation was involved. As that subject was not necessarily separated from the Legislative Department, he saw no need of reporting on it by a separate Committee. As there was nothing geographical in the Executive or Judicial Departments of Government, he could not see the need of having a Geographical Committee to consider them; and as a large Committee was likely to be slow in reporting, he preferred one of more limited numbers.

After some remarks of Mr. Johnson, going to shew the inconvenience of large Committees, he expressed his determination to vote for the amendment, leaving all other Committees but one to be appointed in the ordinary mode by the Chair.

The question was then taken on the amendment of Mr. Scott, and decided in the negative-Ayes 39, Noes 46. So the amendment was rejected.

The resolution was then carried, ayes 51.

A conversation now arose as to certain documents, the printing of which was desired with a view to ascertain as far as practicable, the present population of the State. Mr. Joynes offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary cause to be printed for the use of the members of this Convention 100 copies of the Census of this State, taken in the years 1790, 1800, 1810 and 1820; and also, in separate tables, 100 copies of the aggregate militia returns of each county in those years, and in the year 1829, and the three years preceding. Messrs. Joynes, Claytor, Doddridge, Green, Mercer, Upshur, Scott, and B. W. Leigh, took part in this discussion; but before the gentlemen had agreed upon all the documents to be printed, Mr. Powell moved to lay the resolution of Mr. Joynes upon the table.

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Stanard, the House adjourned.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1829.

The Convention met at 12 o'clock, and its sitting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Lee.

The following gentlemen were announced as having been appointed to constitute the several Committees ordered on Friday:

Committee to consider the Legislative Department of the Government.

Committee to consider the Bill of Rights, and other matters not referred to the foregoing

The President then laid before the Convention the following letter received by him from the honorable Judge Dade, a member elect to the Convention:

To the honorable the PRESIDENT of the Convention, called to alter or amend the Constitution of the State of Virginia.

SIR-Being unable from ill health to attend my duties in the Convention, I take the earliest opportunity of enclosing to you my resignation of that high trust.

Occurring after the meeting of the Convention, it will, of course, devolve the filling of my vacancy on the remaining Delegates..

With the most earnest wishes for the success of your labours, and with the highest respect for yourself and the body in which you preside, I am your most obedient servant, WM. A. G. DADE.

October 5th, 1829.

Mr. Taliaferro of King George, said, that he believed in expressing his unfeigned regret for the cause that had produced the communication just read, he should hazard nothing by saying, that in Judge Dade the Convention had lost one of its most valuable members. He was very sure he should hazard nothing in the view of all those to whom that gentleman was known. As he presumed that some authentic record of the fact of Judge Dade's resignation was requisite, it was his purpose to move that the letter announcing it, should be put on file by the Secretary, and entered upon the Journal of the Convention, but as a previous motion was required by order, he would first move that the letter be laid upon the table: which motion being agreed to, Mr. T. moved that the communication from Judge Dade be entered on the records of the Convention.

This motion was carried nem. con.

Mr. Joynes of Accomack, now moved again the resolution which he offered yesterday, and which was modified so as to read as follows:

Resolved, That the Auditor of Public Accounts, be requested to prepare and lay before this Convention, Tabular Statements, shewing the free white, free coloured, and slave population of each county of this Commonwealth, according to the Census taken in the years 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1820, respectively; the area in acres of each county; the quantity of land taxed in each county, in the year 1828; the amount of taxes assessed in each county, in the year 1828; the amount of tax paid into the Public Treasury, from each county, in that year; the amount of tax accruing on each subject of taxation; the white, free coloured, and slave tythables of each county, in the years 1800, 1810, 1820, and 1829; and also a statement of the free white, free coloured, and slave population of each county, in the year 1829, so far as he can deduce the same by a comparison of the tythables, and the entire population in the years 1800, 1810, and 1820.

Resolved, That the Auditor be also requested, in addition to such Tabular Statements, in reference to each county, to state the information above requested, in relation to the four following divisions of this Commonwealth, viz: 1st, from the sea-coast, to the head of tide-water; 2d, from the head of tide-water to the Blue Ridge; 3d, from the Blue Ridge to the Alleghany; and 4th, from the Alleghany to the wetward. The above resolutions having been agreed to,

Mr. Green of Culpeper, moved the following:

Resolved, That the Auditor be also requested to furnish a statement, from the property books in his office, of the number of persons in each county and corporate town of this Commonwealth, assessed to the payment of any revenue tax, in the year 1828. The resolution was adopted.

On motion of Mr. Doddridge, it was ordered, that the foregoing list of the members of Committees, be printed for the use of the House. And then the House adjourned till Monday 12 o'clock.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1829.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Kerr (of the Baptist Church.)

Mr. Neal, from the District of King George, appeared and took his seat.

The President laid before the Convention the following letter, which was read at the Clerk's table:

RICHMOND, October 12, 1829.

SIR-We discharge a melancholy duty in announcing to you the death of Calvin H. Read, Esq. a Delegate to the Convention of Virginia from the twenty-fourth District, who departed this life on the night of the 6th inst.

This event having occurred since the meeting of the Convention, we, the remaining members of that Delegation, have proceeded, according to the provisions of the act of Assembly, to fill the vacancy thereby occasioned. We have appointed William K. Perrin, Esq. of the county of Gloucester, as the successor of Mr. Read, as will appear by the document which we have the honor to enclose. With high consideration we are, your ob't serv'ts,

THOS. R. JOYNES,
THOS. M. BAYLY,
A. P. UPSHUR,

The honorable JAMES MONROE, President

of the Convention-Present.

On motion of Mr. Joynes of Accomack, the letter was laid upon the table.
Mr. Joynes thereupon moved the following resolution :

Resolved, That the members of this Convention will wear crape for thirty days in testimony of their respect for the memory of Dr. Calvin H. Read of Northampton, who was elected a member of this Convention and who has died since the meeting of the Convention.

On offering the above resolution, Mr. J. said, that when he heard of the death of Dr. Read, he had at first been in doubt as to the propriety of moving such a resolution as he now had the honor to submit. He was not then apprised of the practice in the House of Delegates on such occasions; but he had since ascertained, that it was usual on the death of a member, to adopt such a mark of respect, as that he had just proposed. The gentleman, in remembrance of whom, he asked the Convention to wear crape for thirty days, was one of the most amiable and upright citizens of the State, and although this slight tribute of regard, was in itself, perhaps, but of little value, it might be some consolation to the weeping widow of the deceased, and to his family

and friends, to know, that a testimonial of public respect, usual in other cases of a similar kind, had not been withheld from the memory of Dr. Read.

The resolution was unanimously adopted. Whereupon, Mr. Joynes moved the following additional resolution:

Reso red, That the Sergeant at Arms cause to be delivered, as soon as practicable, to Mr. William K. Perrin of Gloucester, a notification of his appointment as a meinber of this Convention, to supply the vacancy, occasioned by the death of Dr. Calvin H. Read, of Northampton.

Mr. Fitzhugh, from the Committee appointed to fix the compensation of officers, reported in part as follows:

"The Committee appointed to enquire into the compensation proper to be allowed the officers of the Convention, have agreed to the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the allowances to the officers of this Convention for their services, during its Session, shall be to the President, in addition to his mileage as a member of the Convention, eight dollars per day, to the Secretary one hundred and fifty dollars per week, to the Sergeant at Arms thirty dollars per week, to each of the door-keepers twenty-eight dollars per week, and to the person who cleans the Capitol, fourteen dollars per week."

Mr. F. observed in explanation, that the Committee had not found it possible to include in their report, a proper compensation for the public printer, inasmuch as no correct estimate could at present be formed of the amount of public printing he would have to execute. They had also included in their report, an allowance to a person not strictly an officer of the Convention, but performing a subordinate duty in its service, viz: the sweeping the Hall and passages. In taking this liberty, they conceived itself as acting in conformity with the spirit, though not the letter of their appaintment, and in doing so they had followed a precedent set by the practice in the House of Delegates.

The resolution recommended by the Committee, was adopted.

Mr. Doddridge then offered the following resolutions:

"Resolved, That the several Committees consisting of a member from each Senatorial District, have power respectively to appoint a Clerk, and to cause such printing to be done as they may deem expedient in the performance of their respective duties. "Resolred, That the Committee appointed to enquire into the compensation proper to be allowed the officers of the Convention, be instructed to provide and report a fit compensation for such Clerks as may be appointed under the preceding resolution." The resolutions were agreed to.

Mr. Joynes then moved the following:

"Resolved, That the Auditor of Public Accounts be requested to prepare and lay before the Convention a statement of the number of persons in each county of this Commonwealth, who are charged on the land books of the years 1828 and 1829, with taxes on a quantity of land not less than twenty-five acres, or on a lot or part of a lot in a town established by law."

This resolution having been adopted,

On motion of Mr. Brodnax, the Convention adjourned to meet to-morrow at one o'clock.

[This alteration in the hour of meeting, being designed to allow further time to the several Committees now in session.]

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1829.

The Convention met at one o'clock, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Kerr.

Mr. Marshall of Richmond said, that he was charged with a memorial from a numerous and respectable body of citizens, the non-freeholders of the city of Richmond. The object sought in the memorial, was an extension of the right of suffrage. The language of the memorial was respectful, and the petitioners accompanied their request with such arguments, as to them appeared convincing, in support of the object in view.

The memorial was thereupon received, and read as follows:

The Memorial of the Non-Freeholders of the City of Richmond, respectfully addressed to the Convention, now assembled to deliberate on amendments to the State Constitution:

Your memorialists, as their designation imports, belong to that class of citizens, who, not having the good fortune to possess a certain portion of land, are, for that cause only, debarred from the enjoyment of the right of suffrage. Experience has but too

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clearly evinced, what, indeed, reason had always foret 'd, by how frail a tenure they hold every other right, who are denied this, the highest prerogative of freemen. The want of it has afforded both the pretext and the means of excluding the entire class, to which your memorialists belong, from all participation in the recent election of the Toy, they now respectfully address. Comprising a very large part, probably a majority of male citizens of mature age, they have been passed by, like aliens or slaves, as it destitute of interest, or unworthy of a voice, in measures involving their future political destiny: whilst the freeholders, sole possessors, under the existing Constitution, of the elective franchise, have, upon the strength of that possession alone, asserted and maintained in themselves, the exclusive power of new-modelling the fundamental laws of the State: in other words, have seized upon the sovereign authority. It cannot be necessary, in addressing the Convention now assembled, to expatiate on the momentous importance of the right of suffrage, or to enumerate the evils consequent upon its unjust limitation. Were there no other than that your memorialists have brought to your attention, and which has made them feel with full force their degraded condition, well might it justify their best efforts to obtain the great privilege they now seek, as the only effectual method of preventing its recurrence To that privilege, they respectfully contend, they are entitled equally with its present possessors. Many are bold enough to deny their title. None can show a better. It rests upon no subtle or abstruse reasoning; but upon grounds simple in their character, intelligible to the plainest capacity, and such as appeal to the heart, as well as the understanding, of all who comprehend and duly appreciate the principles of free Government. Among the doctrines inculcated in the great charter handed down to us, as a declaration of the rights pertaining to the good people of Virginia and their posterity, "as the basis and foundation of Government," we are taught,

"That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity: namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

"That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people.

"That a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish the Government.

"That no man, nor set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges, but in consideration of public services.

"That all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have a right of suffrage, and cannot be taxed, or deprived of their property, without their consent, or that of their representative, nor bound by any law, to which they have not, in like manner, assented, for the public good."

How do the principles thus proclaimed, accord with the existing regulation of suffrage? A regulation, which, instead of the equality nature ordains, creates an odious distinction between members of the same community; robs of all share, in the enactment of the laws, a large portion of the citizens, bound by them, and whose blood and treasure are pledged to maintain them, and vests in a favoured class, not in consideration of their public services, but of their private possessions, the highest of all privileges: one which, as is now in flagrant proof, if it does not constitute, at least is held practically to confer, absolute sovereignty. Let it not be urged, that the regulation complained of and the charter it violates, sprung from the same horored source. The conflict between them is not on that account the less apparent. Nor does it derogate from the fair fame of the Convention of '76, that they should not have framed a Constitution perfect in all its parts. Deliberating amid the din of arms, not merely on a plan of Government, but on the necessary means for conducting a most unequal struggle for national existence, it was not to be expected, that the relative rights of the citizens, could be maturely considered, or adjusted in detail. From any change of the regulation, in regard to suffrage, a subject prolific, always, of much dissention, they might have feared to generate feuds among those, upon whose harmony of feeling and convert of action, depended the salvation of their country. They left it, therefore, as they found it. The non-freeholders, moreover, unrepresented in the Convention, and for the most part, probably, engaged in resisting the common enemy, fair to infer, in the actual condition of the country, had neither the opportunity nor the inclination to press their claims. Nor should it be forgotten, that the Convention having been chosen by the freeholders, whose political power was derived from the abrogated Government, many of our wisest Statesmen regarded the Constitution itself, as wanting in authority, or at least as repealable by a succeeding Legislature: and, accordingly, it has, in point of fact, since undergone a material change, in the very provision now in question, touching the right of suffrage.

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If the Bill of Rights may not challenge respect, the opinions of any individual, however eminent, will be still more lightly regarded. Yet your memorialists cannot but