Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-20
Tbe Constitutional sasbtg.
An Act concerning Convention.
[ pUsScd .ynnunrN :.

ty tn ascertain the wishes of The people thereon:
Sect l. BE itH,erIfG enacted Thai il shall be The
duty ofthe several Sheris and other officers auhoi.
sed TO conduct elections within this Commonr ca, al
The time and place OF holding their respective cleo
tions for Delegates 10 the General Assembly in April
next, 10 open separate poll, for the purpose of la
King the sense OF the people upon the question: whe
Their they desire Convention not. The poll 10 be
opened shall contain two columns; for the name
OF those who vote in the Affirmative the other for The
names of those who vote in the negative, aid shall be
headed thus:
''ShaiI there be Convention amend the Constitu-
ton OF this Commonwealth
= CONVENTION. NO CONVENTION
The Sheriff or other officer conducting the electon
shall take tue vote the question aforesaid O! every
person qualified, according TO the existing the
Commonwealth, 10 vote for Delegates 10 the General
Assembly, who shall come forward during the cleo
ton TO give his vote, and shall write the names of all
those who shall 10 tie airma tive in the first col
unn, under the word "(onv euton,'' an! the Of
all those who vote in the negative III the second col
uInn, under the words mo Conventions No person
shall be permitted 10 vote on the question aforesaid
who not entitled to vote Tor Delegates 10 the General
Assembly; under the existing laws OF this Common
wealth, shall any one be pe-ntted 10 vote in any
county or coTporation who shall previously have voted
upon the same question in another.
Sect 9. Add more fully to ascertain the sense Of
the good people of this Commonwealth this
tons question, BE Il frttsi enacted, That at tic May
aud June of tleir respective county or corpO
ration courts, Immediately succeeding the election
fnresaid, it shall be the duty of the respective She
other officers authorised by Law 10 conduct elections
therein, to open said polls their respective places Of
holding courts, and 10 continue them open during tue
whole of sand terms when they shalt be ready al all
times to receive ana record, required 10y the first
section OF this Act, all The legal votes which may offer
themselves to be po!ied this Question, during such
TERMS the end OF whiEh terms, the sait polls shall
he returned 10 their respective Clerks Offices. And it
shall moreover be the duty of snch sheriff other Off
Ger, make proclamation before the door, of the
Of such poll being opened, The place at which i. Is
kept and of his readiness 10 receive the votes Of al!
persons e'ted by this ACT, TO express their opinions
Gu this question.
Ssct. 9. BE II faFiter cnactc9, That after the end
of the June terms IN the respective counties aud
pora,ions aforesaid, the said polls shall he closed,
and within ten days thereafter it shall be the duty
the Sheriff Or other officer conducting the polls aud
OF the CiertS Deputy Clerk, & Of the commissioner
commissioners of the reveaucr fthe be .sau
one} OF the several counties oraons, entitled
to eject Delegates aforesaid 10 assemble at the
Clerk's Office OF their respective couatieS corpora
tions some day to be appointed and made known
10 them By the Sheriff other officer authorised by
law to conduct the elections therein aforesaid Aud
ii any oil them shall refuse or fail 10 attend it shall be
the duty of such Sheriff other officer give notice
thereof 10 the attorney prosecuting for the Common
wealth in such county or corporation, ana those who
do attend, shall proceed 10 said polls, and
having stricent herefrOm the of ali such per-
sons in the opinion of majority of them not
legally entitled TO vote under this Act 10 two
far copies OF such poll to be made and verified
follows: Each sheet of such poll shall be subscribed
with the OF tue sheriff or other officer, Of The clerk
or deputy clerk & OF the commissioner commission
scrutiny OF the polls as above required; ani al the
foot oil the poll, each of them attending aoro ad
shall make affidavit before justice OF the peace
tire following effect VIZ This
day of the abayc named 4. r. ant
G.. y {2c. whose names subscribed to the above
poll made oath Tor al:naton) before justice c
the peace FOR said county or Corporaon,) that they
have closely examined said poll; that they have sirc
thercrom person who in the Judgment ola major
iy of them bad legal right To VOTE aud tat tic
of no one reniTns thereon, whom majority of then
concur in believing is not eoied TO vote accordiu;
10 tue existing laws Of THIS Commonwealth, And til
aforesaid s. Il. and G.. ID. the !eris Or other off
conducting tie polls also made oath Tor affirmation
tia. they conducted the poll aforesaid, and verify be
IeYe ii represents firly the gwen, by the per
sons whose names appear thereon, according to Tn
best Of their Knowledge and belief. Given under IN
hand this day Of
One copy of the poll so made cut shall be retained b
the Clerk of the Court, TO be by him preserved anoDgs
the flies of bis Office, the other copy thereof sa
ba transmitted by mail, By the said Clsrk, 10 th
Executive of this Commonwealth ithin ten days ate
the proper attestation Of said copies by TIC aOresa:
Officers.
Sect. i. qnd be Il further cnqcied That it shall b.
the duty Of the Executive to ascertain the result. 3
exhibited BY the returns received or before the Is
day OF SePteHIhsr next, and within iiTe days tBerea
ter 10 Tire 10 be published by prociamao
rom the Governor and also 10 communicate Tie re
suit of all the returns made from all the counties an
corporations within this Commonwealth entitled {
eject Delegates aforesaid to the succeeding Legis
fa'ure and 10 take such steps therein, may be
quired of them by law.
Sec. o. md be t. irltcy enqctcd That il anr She
rif other officer authorised 10 conduct Az ciecD,
shall refuse fal to take poll at his most spin
election, and at the succeeding AI5y aDl Ja0e term
c his equity and corporation courts, as red b
this Act, shall id or refuse 10 make eSainu
aud authenticate, required, copy of the poll
taken, or ifany Clerk refuse fail by himself or b
deputy, to aid In making out, examining, autheGlica
ing aud transmitting TO the Executive, required b
this Act, the poll aforesaid such Sheriff, Clerk, Q
c(her officer shall forfeit and pay for such offence
fine OF FIVE hundred dosrs and II any Sheriff Clerk
other officer, shall refuse fail 10 perform any oe
duty required of him or them by this act lie or the
shall forfeit aud pay iue less than ono buudre
more than five hundred dollars Tor which slia
be tbe duty of the attorney for tie commonwealth
prosecute in behalf Of the commonwealth, and for Ii
benefit of the Literary Fund.
Soc s. Be II GtriIcr caaftcd That it shall be ii
duty of the Execmige f,tll.rill aler ihn nas.ana