The Daily Dispatch: November 26, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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State Convention.

The Convention was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the First Baptist Church.

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Report.

Mr. Haymond, from the Committee on Elections, submitted a report providing that the Convention shall proceed to fill vacancies in the General Assembly in the following counties and districts: House of Delegates--Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Monongalia, Marion, Welzel, Taylor, Harrison, Preston, Wood, Lewis, Doddridge and Tyler, Ritchie and Pleasants, Mason, Kanawha, Putnam, Wayne, Glimer, Calhoun and Wirt, Cabell, Jackson and Boane, and Upshur; Senatorial Districts — Harrison and Ohio. Providing, also that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to effect, or in any wise impair, the right of either house of the General assembly to judge of the election, qualification and returns of its own members in case of any cont st.

Laid on the table and ordered to be printed

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The case of Judge Pitis

Mr. C. K. Mallory moved to take up the following resolution. He said he had information of the existence of positive evidence that Judge Pitts was in league with the Yankees:

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the President to inquire into the loyalty of Judge Edward P. Pitts to the State of Virginia and to the Confederate States, and that said committee have power to summon witnesses.

The motion was agreed to and the resolution adopted. Committee--Messrs. Morris, mallory of Elizabeth City, Curtis, Slaughter, and Turner of Warren.

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Communications from the Executive.

The President laid before the Convention the following communication from the Executive:

"Executive Department, Nov. 23, 1861.

"Gentlemen of the Convention:

--In response to your resolution, adopted on the 22d inst., and communicated to me this morning, I state that I know of no officers of the Army or Navy of the United State, who resigned their positions and tendered their services to Virginia, that failed to receive appointments in her service. I have been informed that some of the officers who had so resigned and had been commissioned by the State of Virginia, under your ordinance of the 17th of April last, have not been commissioned in the Confederate service. After I received your resolution, application was made to Adjutant General Cooper for a list, but he declined in courteous terms to furnish it.

"The list herewith communicated was received from the Navy Department, and furnishes the information desired as to the officers of the Navy.

"I am informed, that some marine and coast survey officers, commissioned by Virginia, have not been commissioned by the Confederate States.

"Respectfully,

"John Letcher."

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Officers of the United States Navy on the reserved list, who resigned since the secession of Virginia, and have not been appointed in the Confederate States Navy: Captains Hugh N. Page, H. H. Cocke; Commanders Joseph Myers, Wm. Green; Lieutenants Bushrod W. Hunter, John L. Taylor; Master H. A. F. Young.

Officers who resigned several years since, appointed in the Virginia Navy, and not appointed in the Confederate states Navy: Commander Wm. Leigh; Lieutenants Wm. Taylor Smith, C. St. Geo. Noland, Andrew Wier, Beverly Randolph, Leonard H. Lyne, Chas. E. Thorburn; Surgeon A. Y. P. Garnett.

The foregoing communication, with another from the same source, was referred to the Committee on Confederate Relations.

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Sacrifice of property.

Mr. Modre presented an ordinance in relation to the sacrifice of property. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

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Order of the day.

The Convention resumed the consideration of the 2d section of Article V. of the proposed amended Constitution, relating to the

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Executive Department.

Mr. Moffett moved to strike out all after the word ‘"elected,"’ in the 11th line, to ‘"contested,"’ in the 14th line, and insert: ‘"If such number be a majority of the whole number of votes cast, and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest number of votes, not exceeding three, the General Assembly shall by a joint vote of the two houses elect the Governor."’ (The effect of this amendment is to abolish the plurality rule in the election of the chief executive officer,) A protracted debate ensued, until finally the previous question was moved by Mr. Barbour, and the vote was first taken upon striking out the portion indicated, resulting — ayes 76, noes 21. The proposed amendment was then agreed to, and the section, as amended, adopted.

Mr, Stuart moved to insert the words ‘"one of"’ in the third section, before the words ‘"Confederate States"’ Agreed to, and the section adopted.

Mr. Price moved to strike out from the 5th section the provision requiring that the Governor ‘"shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate appoint, Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals and of the Circuit Courts."’ After considerable debate, a motion to pass by the section for the present was agreed to.

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Court of Appeals.

Mr. Wysor moved to strike out the 1st Section of Article VI, and insert: 'The Judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court of Appeals, in such inferior courts as the Legislature may from time to time establish, and in the Justices of the Peace.' Pending the consideration of the subject, the Convention adjourned.