Mr. Henry: I move that this committee be continued and the matter recommitted to them, and that when they have completed their report it be printed and circulated among the members of the Association, before our next meeting, so that we may be prepared to act upon it. Mr. James C. Lamb: I would suggest that the Constitution provides for a standing committee upon that subject—Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. Mr. Henry Then I withdraw my motion to recommit to the present committee, and move that the report of the standing committee, when completed, be printed and circulated among the members of the Association before the next meeting. Carried. The report was then adopted. Mr. McGuire Now that the committees have all reported, I move that we accept the invitation extended by Mr. Hinkley to send delegates to the next meeting of the American Bar Association. Carried. Mr. McGuire: I think these representatives should be elected by the Association, and I take pleasure in presenting the name of one gentleman, and I know all present will concur with me when I say that he will make a worthy representative of the Bar Association of our State. I refer to Mr. William R. McKenney, of Petersburg. I hope it will be your pleasure to send him. Seconded. Messrs. C. M. Blackford, W. W. Henry, S. Griffin, J. W. Riely, R. M. Hughes, F. H. McGuire, A. P. Thom, L. R. Watts, and R. C. Marshall were also put in nomination and seconded. Mr. James Lyons: I move that nominations be now closed and the vote taken. Carried. At the request of Messrs. Blackford, Henry, Riely, Hughes, Thom, Watts, and Marshall their names were withdrawn. Mr. F. H. McGuire requested that his name might be withdrawn. Mr. Henry: Mr. McGuire has done more to get up this Association than any one else, and I think he is a proper person to send. I insist that he allow his name to remain on the list. DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION. 27 Mr. Alexander Hamilton: I move that the three gentlemen whose names are now on the list-Messrs. McKenney, Griffin, and McGuire— be elected by acclamation. Carried. Mr. McKenney: I now move that a committee be appointed to examine into and report as to the advisability of adopting the Constitution of the National Bar Association. Mr. C. V. Meredith: It will not take five minutes to understand the objects of that Association. Every man who reads the Constitution is bound to see that if carried out they are most beneficial. It is nothing more than to entitle you to representation. You bind yourself to agree to nothing. I repeat, this ratification is nothing more nor less than to entitle you to representation in this Association. I hope a committee will not be appointed, unless it reports at once. I do not think it is necessary to appoint a committee at all. It is just as simple as the invitation extended to us by the American Bar Association. Mr. Alexander Hamilton: I move as a substitute that we accept the statements of Messrs. Meredith and Sands, and adopt the Constitution and By-laws of the National Association. Mr. Thomas P. Bagby, of West Point: I move as a substitute for the whole that we appoint a committee and give them the power to adopt the Constitution and appoint delegates. I do not think we ought to adopt anything we have not read. I have no doubt it is all right, but I do not think we ought to adopt it without having it at least read over. I do not see any necessity for haste in adopting it. The members ought to know what they are voting upon. Mr. W. H. Sands: This Constitution provides that if at any time an Association ceases to send delegates, and to contribute the sum of five dollars for each, it ceases to be a member. At the next meeting we can decide whether or not to remain in the Association. Mr. A. P. Thom: I do not understand that anything very serious is going to happen to us if we adopt this Constitution. These gentlemen are attempting to get up an Association on a national scheme, and it is desirable for the smaller organizations to be represented, and therefore I hope the resolution of Mr. Hamilton, of Petersburg, will prevail. Mr. Bagby's substitute was lost. The Vice-President: The question is upon adopting the substitute offered by Mr. Hamilton, that the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Bar Association be adopted by this Association. Adopted. Mr. Sands: I move that we go into the election of the six delegates to the National Bar Association. Mr. W. R. Meredith, of Richmond: If you will notice, the Constitution divides the State into five grand divisions, and it is necessary to know what counties are embraced within those divisions. I move that a committee of five be appointed for the purpose designating the different counties in those divisions, so that these delegates may be apportioned among the different sections of the State. Mr. W. R. Meredith subsequently withdrew his motion, and moved as a substitute for Mr. Sands' motion, that the Chair appoint the six delegates to the National Association, and that they be chosen from the different sections of the State. Carried. The Vice-President appointed the following delegates: C. A. Graves, of Lexington; L. D. Yarrell, of Greenesville; R. R. Prentis, of Suffolk; J. Hampton Hoge, of Montgomery; J. H. Dinneen, of Richmond; C. M. Blackford, of Lynchburg. On motion, the Association then adjourned sine die. ROBT. R. PRENTIS, Temporary Secretary. JAMES C. LAMB, Secretary and Treasurer. |