Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-03-12

JtF Tue Cdl q a J6iace7t!l0'l fCT amending
Tie Consultation Of The State '
- Nj. EDMUNDS said: | rise, Mr..
Speaker,to take part in this discussion
with much reluctance. The subject
is familiar to mos. of the members OF
this House, and lis examination must
needs be tedious and uninteresting.-
The principles involved have been ably
discussed by the wisest statesmen and
the purest patriots that our country
has ever produced. Bat sixteen years
have elapsed since the last Convention
assembled. and many of the sages and
patriots ofthat day have passed away
from among us. The recollection of
the arguments they advanced has faded
from the memory of the survivors. A
new generation has sprung up around
US, and 1t becomes necessary to review
and to collate the arguments that have
been advanced. Ii would be presump-
'tnons to hope that any new views can
be furnished to this House, and moth
ing but an imperious sense of duty to
my constituents would induce me to
address them. With this apology, |
proceed to give brief synopsis of the
bill, and the substitute proposed by
the minority Of the Committee.
The bill reported by the majority of
the Committee directs the officers au-
'thorised to conduct elections within
this Commonwealth, to open separate
polls in April next for the purpose of ia
king the sense of the people upon the
question, "whether they desire Con-
yention or mott" Qualified voters are
alone authorised TO vote.
The officers conducting the election,
after concluding the polls, are directed
to certify the correctness of the polls,
and to hand them forthwith to the
clerks fthe county, who shall, within
ten days thereafter, transmit to the Gov.
ernor certified copies thereof. SIS 5-
The. Governor shall ascertain the
result from said polls. before the first
day of June next, and, within five days
Thereafter, declare the same by procla-
nation. If a majority of the whole
number ofvotes shall have been cast in
favor Of a Convention, the publication
of the proclamation shall be repeated
at least once week until the last day
of July. il 4r,-sts sr.7 - .a.s,
aea If a majority shall vote fora Conyen-
ton, the election of representatives 10
the Convention shah take place on the
Court days of August next. Each
county is authorised to elect as many
representative to the Convention as
ii now elects delegates to the Legisla-
ture. - NV s@'e1 81 'ae
The persons elected as members q
the Convention shall assemble at the
Capitol in the city Of Richmond, or
the Isl day of October, 1876, in gener-
al Contention, TO consider, propose
and discuss new Constitutions or al
.eterations and amendments to the exis
ling Constitution. Esiijs' 3s
Nc The bill reported by the minority O
the committee and offered as substi
stnte, proposes 70 submit to the peopl,
the question whether they desire
Convention 10 amend the Constitute,
:. Of the State, organized upon the basi
Of the free ,chite population" =.
The same persons are required t
conduct the election, Certified copie
ofthe polls are TO be transmitted to III
Governor, who is directed. TO declar
!hs result within With FIVE days by the proc
lamatlpn,sl ssgi ca basas!r sssar
THE Governor is required to com
udunica.e the result to the next Legis
.lature, sswhose duty it shall be to TAX
,,spch- stepsand .passsuch lawsas sha
ssbe,necessarys fer the election of III
membersto the said Cenventions II
assembling and organizing thereof, :
shall be consistent with. this act"