Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-03
A BILL,
To take the sense Of The People on a call Jcr Con.
rention and to proUids for organizing the sans.

RESPECTIVE eleCtOUs uelegate6 10 the Gcneral As
semby in the month Of April next, to open separate
polls for the purpose Of taking the sense Of the people
upon the question: whether they detre Con ention or
nor5 The polls to be opened shall contain two columns
and shall be headed on the one side Of the poll book
thus: "Sha there be Convention to amend the Con.
sttution OF this commonwealth. e
coNvENrIoN. 40 coNvESrIos
The officers conducting the elections shall take tho vote
on the question aforesaid ofevery person qualified
cordIng TO the existing laws Of this commonwealth 70
vote for delegates TO the General Assembly, who shall
come forward during such election give his vote and
shall cause the namrs Of those who for conven-
ton TO be written in the FIRST column under the word
"Conventicn; the names Of those who against
convention 10 be written the second column under tho
words convention; aud no person shall be permit
ted 10 vote on said question more than once, either in
the same county, or IN different counties.
g Ii shall be the duty Of the officers before they com.
mence taking the poll provided for in this act 10 take
and s1bscre before some justice of the peace for their
county or city the following oath affirmation: "Ws
a. b. &c., do solemnly swear Cor afirm) that. in con.
Quoting the poll concerning conyention, will, to tho
best OF Judgment, admit I'LL persons to entitled
TO do So and reject all entitled and hatso far a
ponds US, will make JUST true and fair return
Of the results according 10 law. SO help US God"-
And the justice shall return said oath or ahrmaton 50
taken aud subscribed to the clerk whom polls for del
egates the General Assembly made returnable by
law
3. The officers conducting the elections shall appoint
writers who shall make oath affirmation before some
Justice of the peace, that they will take the poIs faith
fully and impartally and they shall deliver TO them
poll books prepared in the manner prescribed by this
act and after The Of all the electors who havo
voted shall have been entered they shall conclude the
polls whereupon the officers conducting said election
Shall certify al the foot thereof the correctness Of SAID
polls, and forthwith deliver the same 10 the clerks 10
whom the polls for delegates TO the General Assembly
are rerhabic ~ law, 20 &c by them safely Kept and
preserved in their respective offices.
A. II shall be the duty Ut the several clerks aforesaid,
and OF the officers who may have conducted the said e.
lection the hoase Of any county or Of the may
ors or other officers who may have conducted the said
election in any city, town or borough, within ten days
after the reception by said clerks respectively Of said
pos 10 examine said poll books, and TO strike there
from the of such persons shall have voted more
than once aud said clerks and conducting officers shall
add On SAID polls, and shall transmit By mail 10 the Ex
ccuve Of this commonwealth true statement Of Inc re-
suit Of the same verified b. oath or affirmation before
some Justice of the pcace, IN form following, VIZ:
"We A. B clerk Of and Z. d., tcho con.
Co"rt-house Cor IN the city. town or borough OF
y do soennly stcear Cor afirm,) that Ds
haze carefully examined corrected and summed up The
POLLS taken for said County, or City. totcn borough
of and that rotes tcere poLled for a Con.
peniion; rotes againsta Convention.
II. b, Clerk, &c.
&. d, Conducting Officer.
Subscribed and strorn to before me, Justice Of The
Peace y. r." a..
s. II shall be the doty Of said executive TO ascertain
the results, exhibited by said statement OF the polls
within five days thereafter to declare the same BY proc
lamatIon 10 be published in such newspapers as in tho
opnion of the Executive will be best calculated 10 diff
fuse general information thereof, and at least once .
week until the day Of election hereinafter appointed
and if b. ascertaned that majority oil The votes cast
are in favor OF convention he shall ut the same time
and in like manner make proclamation tor holding gen.
era election of delegates to said convention, according
TO the and districts prescribed in the sixth
section of this act. The election OF delegates 10 said
shall be held the fourth Thursday in Au.
gust next 49,
g. [rhe sixth section apporons the districts, which
having been published heretofore, 10 omitted
T. BE it further enacted, That the persons qualified
according to law TO vote for members Of the House OF
Delegates, in said county, CITY, town or borough 10 tn
shall assemble at their respective court
houses or other places appointed by law TOR holding
ecions Of members OF the General Assembly, on the
fourth Thu, sday August next, aud then and there
vote for as many discreet and proper persons as members
Of the said convention designated IN the sixth Sec
tiun Of this act for their respective districts No per-
son shall be permitted to vote more than once either IN
the same county different counties and any person
no shall violate this provision that contained in the
last clause OF the first section oil this act shall forfeit and
pay the commonwealth, for the use Of the Literary
Fund, sum OF one hundred dollars 10 be recovered
other penalties ard forleiiures.
g. The persons appointed and authorized by law 10
,uperinend and hold election; in the month Of Aprilnex
Tor members Of the General Assembly. IN the several
countless cities, towns and boroughs, shall conduct said
election for delegates 10 said convention and the Same
shall Ee held in like MANNER and each elector shall DO
entitled in like privilege from arrest and the persons
holding said election and the writers appointed 10 keep
The pos shall take aud subscribe the oa'h or amrma
ton and the justices before whom the same may be made
shall make the like return Of the certificates thereof,
and the officers conducting the election in counties, Cities
towns and boroughs composing district, shall proceed
TO ascertain and declare who elected in like MANNER,
and shall give like certificate Of election, as is pre-
scribed BY law in o elections Of Senators TO the
General Assembly and in case Of an equality Of votes
given TO two or more persons, an election snail DC made
Il of Gan ha
conducting said election shall meet at the Court house
OF the county, city town first named in their respec-
tive DISTRICTS within the time prescribed by law Tor The
assembling ofthe officers conducting Senatorial cleo
ton for the purpose ofcomparng the polls and other
wise dschargng the duties required OF them; and the
original poll books shall be returned BY said officers to
the clerks OF their respective county or corporation
courts within the time prescribed in cases OF Senatorial
elections and the said clerks shall file and safely pre-
serve the same. .
g. If any person shall fail or refuse to perform any du
~ required Of him BY this act upon conviction thereof
by Indictment OF inormatOn he shall be EMERGED in
sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, in the dscre.
tion OF Jury .
TO- The persons who shall be elected in pursuance Of
this act SHALL the second Monday ID October next,
meet aud assemble at the Capitol IN the City OF Rich.
mond in general Convention, to consider discass and
propose new Constitution, or alterations and amend.
ments 10 the existing Constitution OF this commonwealth
H. The said Convention shall DC inc Judge OF us oWn
privileges and elections, and the members thereof shall
have possess aud enjoy in the most full and ample man
ner ali the privileges which members elected TO, and
attending on The General Assembly are entitled to; aud
moreover shall be allowed the same pay for travelling
TO- attending on and returning from the said
i, now allowed members Of the g neral Assembly
for like services Aud said Contention is hereby cm.
ered 10 appoint sch officers, and 10 make them such
asonabe allow for their services as 1t shall deem
proper which several allowances shall be audited by tho
auditor or public and paid by the Treasurer OF
the Commonwealth upon proper warrants
l2 In the OF any contested election 10 the Con-
yention the same shall b. governed in Prospects by
the existing laws in regard 10 contested elections to tho
Senate. ,u,
49, The Executive Of this commonwealth shall nsSe
power TO award writs of election TO supply vacancies
which may happen in the Convention BY death, reno
VAL resignation or other ncapacty OF any members e.
ccted 10 serve therein according to the provisions OK
ton but if any such vacancy shall happen after tho
meeting of the said Consenicn the presiding officer Oh
the same shall award the said writs, aud The clccfou
such wrts shall be conducted in all respects as the
,I,ciou. herciubefore provided for. 80.
Ia IL shall be duty Of the presiding oficcr OF inc
said convention 10 certify copy Of the constitution a.
the same shall be amended, 10 the General nssemoy'
in order that provision may be made oy law lor saph
ting the same the good people OF TINS conmonWeann
and for organizing the government un'.r .e '"oca
in case il be approved anu Ia'ih'd.
l5 Tire expenses incurred IN proSln.ns Tue pol' oo0x
l ~