Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-02-05
virginia State Convention.

OF Delegates oh Hi'
time: H. noonle
:. nil. 10 take the sense Of the PeoP,e
a non the call of Convention ana 10
uproyide for organizing the same; ?. ,..r.
P'T whereas il is represented to the gen,
eral assembly that a portion OF the goOo
ne 90 If this commonwealth are deslrouS
Peo oPpmeUding The constitution Of the State
md hat there is difference OF opinion as
to the manner of organizing Convention !;
FIR tina, purpose; and this assembly ieel J.
to he their duty to ascertain and give eiiec'
10 the wishes of the people in the prem-
SEES: r,;,.L,1I
!. Be ii therefore enacted, That I'shall
be the duty of the officers authorized 10
conduct elections within this common
wealth at the time and places OF holding
their respective elections for delegates 10
the general assembly in the month OF
April next, TO open separate polls Tor the
purpose of taking the sense of the people
upon the following questions flrs',
Whether they desire convention or mol
And second. Whether such convention
shall be organized upon the basis OF whl'e
population exclusively, or upon white
population and taxation combined The
polls to be opened shall contain four col
umns, and shall be headed on the one side
of the poll book thus: Shall there be a
convention TO amend the constitution OF
this commonwealth? 2"
Convention. No Contention.
And on the other side of the poll book
thus: Shall the convention, if called, be
based on white population alone, or upon
white population and taxation combined!
Uhite Basis. Combined Basis.
The officers conducting the elections shall
take the vote on the questions aforesaid,
Of every person qualified according to the
existing laws Of this commonwealth to the
vote for delegates to the general assembly,
who shall come forward during such cleo
ton to give lis vote, and shall cause the
names of those who vote for convention
to be written in the first column under the
word Convention ) the names Of those
q
ten in the second column under the words
. No convention : the names of those who
vote that the convention, if called, shall
be based on white population alone, IN the
third column under the words White ba-
Sis and the names Of those who vote that
the convention, if called, shall be based on
population and taxation combined, In the
fourth column under the words Combined
basis And no person shall be permitted
to vote on said questions more than once,
either in the same county, or i'll different
counties.
End, provides for the qualification Of the
officers to conduct the polls,
3rd, provides for the appointment OF
polio clerks, and means 10 ensure the cor
RICHNESS Of The polls.
4lh, to purge the poll-books, and trans.
nit them, verified, 10 the Governor Of the
State.
sub, 9th and 7lh, make it The Cover
nor'S duty 10 ascertain the result of the
polls from the poll-books transmitted him;
to make publication thereof; and, in case
the people having determined i'll favor OF
a Convention on either basis, to make
proclamation for holding general election
of Delegates TO said Convention. The
mum Der Of delegates for the district COM
posed of Jefferson, Berkeley ard Clarke
Counties, is fourj Shenandoah, Hardy
and Page, four; Frederick and Hamp-
shire, four.
9Th, provides for holding an election by
lawful voters for delegates to the conven-
lion on the fourth Thursday in August
next, no voter to vote but once under a
penalty Of 500.
9th, that the same persons who shall
conduct the polls for ascerlaining the sense
of the people on the subject of COnven-
ton in April next. shall conduct the cleo
ton in August also.
10Th, makes the refusal or failure Of any
person TO perform any duty required BY
this act, subject to a fine of $500.
llrh. The delegates elected TO the Con-
vention shall meet in Richmond on the I'd
Monday in October next, with powers to
alter or amend the State Constitution.
l2h, empowers the Convention to be
the judge ofits own powers and privileges,
and TO employ necessary officers and au-
thorize them to be paid by the auditor a
proper remuneration.
18Th, in case Of contested elections the
Convention 10 be governed by the existing