Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-25
AN ACT
CONCERNING A CONVENTION

WHEREAS, il is represented to the General
Assembly, that portion OF the good people OF this
are desirons OF amending the Con-
sti,uton ofthis State and this Assembly feel their
duty ascertain the wishes OF the people thereon
Sect 1. Be II therefore enacted: That itsnan
he the duty of the several Sherfs and ether Off
GERS, authorised TO conduct elections within this
Commonwealth, at the time and place OF holding
their respective elections for Delegates to the Cen
eral Assembly in April next, to open separate
poll tor the purpose of taking the sense of the peo-
pie upon the question, whether they desire Con-
vention or not. The poll to be opened shall con-
tain two columns; for the names of those who
vote in the affirmative, the other for the names
of those who vote in the negative, and shall be
headed thus:
"Shall there be a Convention to amend the Con.
stituiion ofths Commonwealth
CON yENTION. NO CONVENTION.
The Sheriff or other officer conducting the G.
lection, shall take the vote on the question afore
said, of every person qualified, according to the
existing laws of the Commonwealth, 70 vote for
Delegates to the General Assembly, who shall
come forward during the election to give his vote,
and shall write the names of all those who shall
vote in the affirmative, in the first column, under
the word Convention, and the names of all those
who vote in the negative, in the second column,
under the words ''No Convention" No person
SHALL be permitted to vote on the question afore-
said, who is not entitled to vote for Delegates 10
the General Assembly; under the existing laws
OF this Commonwealth, nor shall any one be per-
mited TO vote in any county or corporation, who
shall previously have voted upon the same ques-
ton in another.
Sect. 2. And more fully TO ascertain the sensn
of the good people OF this Commonwealth on this
momentous question, Be 1t further enacted That
at the May and June terms of their respective
county corporation courts Immediately succeed
ing the election aforesaid it shall be the duty of
the respective Sheriffs. other officers authoris-
ed by the law to conduct elections therein. TO open
said polls at their respective places of holding
courts, and to continue them open during the whoio
TO receive and record, as required by the FIRST
section of this Act, all the legal votes, which
may offer themselves TO be polled on this question,
during such terms; at the end of suchterms the
said polls shall be returned to their respect-e
Clerks Offices And it shall moreover be the duty Of
such sheriff o. other officer, to make proclamation
before the door, the fact of such poll being on
ened, the place at which tits kepta of his readf
ness TO receive the votes of all persons entitled b
hist Act, to express their opinions on this que.-
| ton.
Sect. 3. Be 1t further enacted, That after tlc
end OF the June terms in the respective counties
anu corporations aforesaid the said polls shall no
closed, and within ten days thereafter it shall be
the'duty OF the Sheriff other officer conductjne
the polls, and of the Clerk or Deputy Clerk s. ~
the commissioner or commissioners of the revenue
| az there be more than one) of the several coun-
ties or corporations, entitled to elect Delegates AZ
Aforesaid, 10 assemble at the Clerks office of their
respective counties corporations, on some dav IA
! be appointed and made known to them by TN,
| fO
duct the elections therein aforesaid. And if anu
OF them shall refuse fail TO atend it shall be the
duty OF such Sheriff or other officer to give notice
thereof TO the attorney prosecuting for the Conn
monwealth in such county corporation, and
those who DO attend, shall proceed to examine soid
| polls, and having stricken thcrefrom the names Of
all such persons in the opinion of majority OF
them are not legally entitled to vote under this
/ Act, 10 cause two fair copies Of such poll TO be
made out and verified as follows: Each shoot Of
such poll shall be subscribed with the names of the
sheriff or other officer, ofthe clerk or deputy clerk
q oil the commissioner commissioners orthe re.
venue or such OF them as may attend at the scrr,-
tiny OF the polls above required: and at the foo.
of the poll each ofthcm so attending as aforesaid
shall make an affidavit before austice of the peace
to the following effect viz: ''This
I day of the above nauod A y
and G. ID. SC. whose names are subscribed 10 ths
above poll made oath Cor afTirmation) before me a
justice OF the peace for said county Cor corpora-
tion,) that they have closely examined said poll:
! that they have stricken theTefrom no person who
I IN the Judgment oil majority OF them had a legal
riSht TO vote, and that the name of no one remains
tneFeon, whom majority of them concur in be
heying IS not entitled TO vote acc ording to the
existing laws of this commonwealth And the a.
toresaid q. b. and e. d. (ihe Sheriifs or other Of
hcers conducting the polls also made oath Tor az
hrmation) that they conducted the polls aforesaid
and verify believe it represents fairly the votes
given, by the persons whose names appear there
on, according to the best of their knowledge and
!
day Of - One oonv of ty,a
polls so made out, shall be retained bv tho Clerk
OF the Court, 70 be by him preserved amongst the
iIes OF his Office, the other copy thereof shall be
transmitted by mail, by the said Clerk to the Ex-
ecutive OF this Commonwealth, within ten DAYS az.
ter the proper attestaion of said copies by the u
foresaid officers.
Sect. a. find be It fiTthe,. enacted That shall
! DC the DUTY OF the Executive, TO ascertain the re-
suit, as exhibited by the returns received, ON or
before the LIST day of September next, and within
i've days thereafter, to cause the same to be uIb
lished by proclamation from the Governor, anda
TO communicate the result of all the reurns made
from all the counties and corporations within this
Commonwealth, entitled 70 elect Delegates as a.
ioresaid to the succeeding Legislature and TO take
such steps therein, as may be required of them by
Sec. s. find DC it further enacted, That if anv
Sheriff or other officer authorised 10 conduct an e.
lection, shall refuse fail 10 take poll at his NEXT
ing election, and at the succeeding Nav ana
June teI,..s Of his county and corporation courts
as required by i,is Act, shall fail or refuse to
make cut examine anu authenticate, as required,
copy Of the poll so taken, or II NV Clerk refuse
or tail, by himself or his deputy, 10 aid II, max
ing out, examining, authenticating and trarg4
uniting to the Executive, as required by tIlis
Act, the poll aforesaid, such Sheriff Clerk or
other oiheer' shall forfeit and pay oE such offence
line OF hive hundred dollars; and II any Sheriff
Clerk, or other officer shall refuse or fail to per-
form any other duty required of him or them by
this act, he or they shall forfeit and pay fine not
less than one hundred, more than five hundred
dollars, for which 1t shall be the duty of The attor-
ney for the commonwealth TO prosecute in behalf
OF the commonwealth, and for the benefit of the
Literary Fund
Sec. G. Be IL further enacted, That il shall bo
al flsa rtff;s, a.. IL