Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-14
WEDNESDAY. APRIL IL. 1850.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
Attempts at simpl,6cs alton so often result
in qualification. that We arc almost detsr-
red from oar purpose Of explaining that
part of the new Constitution " hich relates
TO the sight Of suffrage There ore. how
eres. somc terms necessarily us,d. as free
hotd. Porcsnsrs. fenoEts IN common. joint
tenants. rsresicn. remainder. Sc which
may not be property undo rs,ooe by all our
readers. They are terms whish. IT, the Law /,
have . definite and fixed meaning. and no
other words ccold have been property used
in heir stead by the trainers OF the Con
:iitutlon. We arrange the persons entitled
10 vote, under the following classes: and
II may not be improper to repeat here,
that all these are entitled 20 vote n Mon
day next for or against the new Constitu.
tion.
]. All persons qualified TO vote by the
old Constitution and Laws.
2 Every white male citizen Of the COM
monweaith. resident therein, having fire.
bold estate Chat is an estate for his own
life. or the life OF another. or any greater
esiate) in lands ofthe value oftweo,y fs.
dollsra II 10 not necessary that the voter
should be in actual possession. lf his Ten.
ant occupy the land il is sufficient.
8. Every such citizen, having freehold
estate in lands. jointly with others. ir his
share be worth twenty five dollars.
4 Every such citizen who la, fee SIM
pie estate in land worth fifty dollars. which
will como into possession at the death Of
any other person or persons; as where
land is devised 20 The mother during her
life, and at her death to go to the children
each Of the sons 81 years old and resi-
DEM ri'izen will be entitled To vote. even
during the life Of the mother. if bis share
Of the land be worth fifty dollars,
(The frrsholdcrs aforesaid must ha,,
been 50 possessed, SIX months before III.
time OF voting, unlcs. their title shall have
come 10 them 10y descent. devise, marriage
or marriage s-ttlement
s Every such clt,zco. having a lease
recorded IN the clerk. Office. of land worth
At least twenty dollars per year. for term
winch was originally not less than five
year. and being himself in actual occupa-
tion of the land
months before the ime Of voting. has been
hOnse- keeper. and head Of family. and
shall have been assessed with a part Of IN,
rereitise of the Commonwealth. within the
preceding year. and actually paid the same
(Thr coaDty levies are not a part Of th.
recenue OF the Commonwealth, but paw
ment OF the tax on lands. slaves, horses.
mules. carriages. merchants licenses. IA
SeTn licenses. or some other tax which
goes int the treasury Of the state. is nc
eessary TO entitie this class Of citizen, TO
thu right Of suffrSec)
In case Of two OF more persons owning
land whIoh ~ not Of sufficient value ia en-
title each Of them 10 vote. they shall to
geiher have AZ many votes as the value Of
the land shall entitle them TO The mode
IN which such votes are TO given, shall be
fixed by the Legislature.
All aforementioned officers. soldiers.
seAmen and marines ia the service OF the
United States. all pAup-rs. persons OF M.
sound mind. and every person convicted
OF any infamous offence. are excluded
from the privilege Of voting.
The foregoing is given as our own inter.
prststIon Of that section Of the Corsii,u
tcn which relates 10 ihe right Of suffrage:
The section itself is also pablished tina, our
readers may compare them and detect
auy errors which NO may have fallen into.
The returns from the election. which
we publish to-day. sbew, that the new