Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-18

taking Of the votes end aud to the officer con-
dncting the SAID election object to the sad
gwen, the shall be stricken from the poll
Il When election shall be held at different places in
the county, ana such tenants in common ornt te-
nants or parceners entitled to only vote, shall be
polled at different places and for different candidates,
their votes shall be stricken from tire polls.
Il hen an election shall be held diirrent places in
the same county, and such tenants common, JOINT
nants parceners entitled to give votes one
shall give their votes at different places and OPPOSE
ton 10 each other the SAID shall be stricken from
the polls If shall appear that all the SAID tenants IN
common, JOINT tenants parceners, did agree be-
tore such votes poled, to whom they should be
given.
4 In of two or more of such tenants in common
Joint tenants parceners in possession, reversion
remainder, having interest in land, the value whereof
shall be insufficient 10 entitle them all vote, If
one OF them may lawfully vote in right OF
ther estate estates county. th" othefs
I may vote the manner # he or they holding
such other estate in the county had no inter- ST
Whatever in the undivided land belonging the SAID
tenants IN common, JOINT tenants or parceners
Rcrer&oners or "Reminiscences
6. Every Such citizen being entitled a reversion
vested remainder in lee, rxpecant estate for life
lives, IN land OF the value of Gffy doUrS, and
srssed 10 be, If any men thereof he required bv
law: and, (unless his title shall have to HIM by
descent, devise marriage marriage sctt.rmen,) hav
ing been entitled for months shall be entitled
vote in the county, city, town or borough, in which
/
ties and be insufficient TO ene him 10 vote in each,
then he shall vote where the greater part Of the land
! lies.
LcasehoidcrS.
T. Every such citi-cn who shall own and be himself
in actual patton Of easchod estate, with the evi
dtnce OF tercordcd tro months before he shall offer
VOTE of term originality not less Man fire ycars, II
hc dRnuai r0iMc Of trenty G0ihlrS, shall BE-
titled vote in the county, city, town borough in
which the land shall lie If the land lie in several
counties and be insufficient to entltle him 10 vote
each then he shall vote where the CRATER part 81 tie
iaRd lies
House-kctpns H,0GS cf Families anil Taxpayers.
= Every sWch citizen, who for twelve months next
has been house keeper and head Of family
within the county, city, town, borough election DIS
r ct where lie may offer 20 vote, and shall have been
assessed with part Of the revenue of the Common
wealth within the preceding year, and actually paid the
same shall BE- entitled 10 in the county. city, town
or borough wherein such house-keeper and head of
family lives.
iofcrs IN UaEamsburg Gnd .irrtoN Borough
O. Every such cH-rH, having such freehold III the
city Of Williamsburg Borough q. Norfolk, rs viii
qualify him TO vote for delegates 10 represent the coun
ly and every such citizen who shall be honsekecper
and shall have resided for months III the said city
borough and shall be possessed of visible estate o. the
value of hnndrcd and SiISr dOilarS and srtySjs
ccnts at least shall actually have Scrrcd oppr
trade within the said city borough for the
of fce years. and shall have obtained certificate
of such service from the Court of ustings, under the
N.
to vote in the SAID city borough respectively.
There is important provision OF the law, TO which
your committee would here invite attention, 1t
erally affects the rights of that class of voters who vote
as hoascGCcpcrS, hcadS Of families and td'-payers
Its provided that when any person shall have paid
to the sheriff his deputy, any money on account OF
any sum due from him for rtrfnuc tai aud for county
term without specifying :or which IT shall have been
.. ~nniI b she duty o: the sheriff, or hrs deputy, to
credit such person for SAID money, or so much thereof
as be necessary for the purpose" paid for hs
0r before he shall credit him for any part thereof
paid for his county levy This provision was intend
ed enable those who had thus paid money TO have II
applied the liquidation of their taxes, and thereby
extend them the pr vrlcgc of voting, they poss ssed
the other requisites Of The law and was designed TO de-
prvr the ,hrr;i> of the winch cases they
had rxrrcd, o DISTINGUISHING voters by cr"dlting the
individual with The payment mad" payment OF the
county levy, and returning HIM delinquent for his re-
/ venue tax
DiSquo'fcahons.
Your Committee having sci forth the various guali
cations now proceed to show the diSgudibcHt,oHS,
which forb the exercise Of the ght If suffrage They
are few and srmpe.-Thc Constitution and laws both
provide that the right If suffrage shall not be- exercised
by any person Of unSOuHG mUd, who shall be pau"
ptr or a aon.r0umtSSiond ctfr,r, S0disr, or
MURINE in the Scrrrc 81 the fnird States, or by any
person cOnricfs OF any infamous Ctcncr And the law
makes further provision, that shall not he exercised
by such hnrc refused 10 gre assurance g td'hy 10
/ TIE Commonwealth.
embrace all the qualifications and disGualhcatlons pro-
vidcd by the Constitution and laws upon the subject oil
the right Of suffrage.
Your committee will now enquire, what are the pro-
visions regulating the manner OF voting tor Electors Of
President and Vice President of the [ ;
The law provides, that every voter shall vote Tor
twenty three electors, from each OF the electoral
districts II Is made the duty Of the Commissioners
who conduct the election 10 receive Z" each person,
whom they shall adudgc to be entitled TO vote in his
county or corporation, paper containing the name OF
twenty prr4ons, for whom such person shall vote
ms electors: The back OF the paper shall be written
the oil the person voting when person however
before his vote shall be pOcd, shall also declare rtrd
yDrs for whom IT is that he electors which he
NAV be allowed to do either by repeating the name OF
each of the twcntyihrce individuals voted Tor, or ny
any other ineligible designation OF them collectively;
and rs the votes given, it shall he the duty OF the
sand Commissioners take exact poll of the names
of all persons so voting under the Of the persons
voted for. And the right IS gwen To any person emu
tied 10 vote in county wherein separate polls are au-
torzcd to either place OF election III The cou-
f " he may prefer. !.
The next and last question your Committee deem 1t
important to investigate what provisions have oeeh
made TO prevent improper voting.
It's made the duty Of the officer conducting 'he e'ec'
ton TO refuse TO enter the poll the vote OF any per-
sU 30, uu:rs7 urirrves sncn per
son To be qualified to vote, or unless such person shall
take an oath, (Which the officer Is authorize" |" admin
.,.r or shall make affirmation that he believes himself
{ H.. duv qualified 10 OF which oath or aiirma
ton note shall be made IN the poll book, opposite re
frrlnr 10 the of the person swearing or Affirming
and the making such oath or alrmaoh, laise'y' sa'
he perjury ~,
The names of electors offering 10 be polled, but re-
rrsnc to make such oath affirmation, shall be enter
ed IN the poll books separate l'sts with The names
of the candidates for whom they voted, and shall be
added 10 the poll if upon scrutiny, the votes be jus
titled
II is provided that no elector shall vote than
once in the same election; shall he be admitted to
Il poll second time and the election, al
It houoh at the first time he shall not have voted for al
! many candidates as BY law he might have voted tor
It and If any person shall vote second time, or sha!
claim ana exercise the right of suffrage in consequence
of having paid part of the revenue OF ,he common
o wealth with which he may have been by his own pro
curement falsely assessed each and every such per
son shall for his offence, forfeit and pay 10 me .oi'
mon wealth for the benefit of the Literary rund, '
sum of thirty three dollars and cents sco
ycrable hy motion The Superior or Inferior Ionft
l. Law held for the county, city, town or Borough II
A. which the offence is committed IN the name ana OF