Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-10-18

- 5a,;rs Ina, have banded together 70 destroy am,
if not by peaceful legislative process m' 50 will the
nocracy bear itself in f,iue--Ke wan 81 ~; ne 6 and
s,,md around Constitution guarding II lo" ~ ainJ
;o II stronger than ever for ia mission among
w., ,hap tnl,,r vino NAV; the internal iaii"s ran " ,
lnw and thu t,euaoogucs cry OF! repeat iie L1'"e'd W.
hnv bo Il deserves the confidence oi The whole people, ny
and maintaining that position which Will protect our
social system from annhilalicn, and our pollcai e
from the poisoned dagscrs OF its protesting iieh's'
MAKING. CONSTITUTIONS aid that men!'er be before
,hc sal s9 amen! the Constitution {" ':s's
10 f coal upon board We 10 o know so That mem
b" lie ,ak Of eps,s s az acc s,' even l.,
the ,iosoples AMI Of the Es'"ii,n her Mvih s
o for Convention ld been successful when hf.i Vi
tered The making '' CONSTITUTIONS Rla,,a Rers!ien
r. ,ho members Of the Convention sitting in Tho ca
MIN, hu feel disposed 10 save months Of labor, and
n Corceo the interest and honorable excitement oil discus
sion they will nd annexed State Constitution, ready
nade TO their hands which have received from the d
,aot State Of Alabama We by no means design TO enofse
ito provisions TO the language Of the day-bu az puhic
journalists simply submit TO the consideration and WIS
dom Of our Constitution makers Some useful hints at
lens, NAV be gathered from this oniue For some iea-
sons this maker Constitutions has passed one OF the
most yeyed subjects that come before The Convention
we mean 1.-THE basis question: lie perhaps found 10 be
;dd, most difficult of solution We have strong conf
all the measures that shall be submitted principle will
be fixed on that shall do justice to all sections of the State
and serve to unite the Fast and West by ndsoube bonds
From the course of events the population Of Virginia will
become more homogeneous every day. and The heaItbnrnng
of TODAY will be in time removed BY the operation Of
tural causes.
In the spirit Of the animated speech Of Mr. Rvea of Prince
George We us that the members OF the Convention VIII
remember that they will bear and forbea and practise to-
wards each other liberal and conciaory feeling, worthy
of The great State whose deslnes they bear in their hands
OUTLINES OF a CONSTITUTION FOR VIRGINIA.
THE CONSTITUENCY
ls The right Of suffrage is extended BY this constitution
to every white male citizen OF twenyonc years OF age who
shall have year resident of the State and six
months resident of the county in which he offers 10 vote
Tue LEGisLATrRE
la The Legislature shall consist OF Senate and House
Of Delegates
spectye countless and shall hold their office for term Of
TWO years.
specve Senatorial Districts, and shall hold their office for
of four years
4th The Legislature shall meet hiennaly.
EXECUTIVE.
ls The Governor shall be elected by tho people, and shall
hold his Office for term of Two years.
ID The members OF the first Legislature md The first Cover
elected under this constitution, shall enter upon The d
lies of their office the time and when the first Gov
shall have served one year, he shall 90 of Office
and election shall be held that the Governors
year OF new, Legislature.
THE JUDICIARY
ls,. The Judicial power OF the Commonwealth sul be
vested in Supreme Court District Courts Circuit Courts
County Courts, and Justices of the Peace.
I'd The Supreme Court shall consist of Chief Justice
and associate Justices who shall be appointed by the
Governor by and with the advice and Of the Senate
3D. The Chief Justice shall hold his Office for Of
twelve years, and the associate Justices for OF eight
years each i So long they behave we'll Under the first a
ponme Of assocaie Justices however the sad
Justices shall yacale their offices in regular succession:
after term of TWO years another after tenn OF four Years
another after term of sx years; the fourth holding his Of
flee during the full term of eight yearsin order that
appointment may be made every years. and they shall
vacac their Offices in the order of their ages commencing
with the youngest.
dlh No person shall be appointed n Justice of the SUI
peme Court before he shall have attained the age Of hr
tyve years act as Justice Of said Count after the age
OF seventy years
DISTRICT COURTS.
L. The State shall be divided into four districts nearly
equal conveniently may be, in each oil which, stated
times Court shall be holden 10 consist Of the Judges OF
the Circuits comprised in that district any four Of whom
shall form Quorun and associate Justice of the Su
prcne Court, who shalt be the presiding Judge of the said
District Court.
2d The District Court shall be Court of Appeals and
shall have jurisdiction over nafng in the District
only.
lst. Each District shall be divided into convenient Circuits
and for each Circuit Judge shall be elected b. tho people
thereof who shall hold his office for Of eight years if
so long h. behave well.
I'd The Circuit Court shal stated times be holden in
each county of the respective Circuits and shall have oriei
nal jurisdiction in all matters civil ana criminal.
3d. No person shall be elected Judge Of the Circuit Court
BEFORE ;e shal have attained TO the age Of thv yeals and
been At least eight year. practitioner Of law in the Courts
4h. The election Judges shall take place the
Same time with the election of any other public ofcera,
State or Federal and such election SHALL in all cases. be by
ballot
THE COUNTY COURTS.
LIST The County Courts shall be composed of justices OF
the peace. five OF whom shall constitute quorum
3D. Each county sha be divided into sections
hoods and Two justices of the peace shall be elected by the
people OF each section neghborhood Provided however
that NJ county shall have less than five justices.
3d. Upon the first election of justices of the after
the adoption Of this constitutions the Oldest among
those elected sha become Sheriff Of tie county, which Of
fec he Shall hold during of two years. and shall there
after be ineligible as justice of the peace The remaining
justices Shall in like manner succeed to the Sheay
cordng 70 their ages for tho specified of years
each being ineligible afterwards and the vacancies being
filled by election they occur until all the justices of the
first election shall have held the office Of Sheriff. after which
orty OF election Provided however that shall
act as Justice of The peace sheriff. after he shall have at
tanned 10 the aye Of seventy five years.
4h NO justice OF the peace SHALL heaides the cmolu-
meuts OF the Sheraly, the contingency Of such cmo
umcn receive any remuneration whatever for his services
ConsablesOne constable shall be chosen by the people
of each section neighborhoud who shall hold his Office
for term OF TWO years and be ineligible for the two sue
ceeding years.
coMMoswEALTHs ATTORNEYS.
lst The Attorney General shall be appointed by the Go
by and with the advice md Of the House
Delegates and shall! hold his Office for OF eight years
I'd District Attorney shall be appointed for each Judi
ca district by the Governor by and with the advice and
consent Of committee of tho House OF Delegates ccmpo
sct Of the members representing the counties comprised in
the distic for which the appointment is made The Dis
ct Attorneys shall hold their Office eight years Provided
however that those of The first appointment shall on, OF
Office by rotation and the vacancies shall be filled as III the
vi the associate Justices D! the Supreme Court.
81. a Commonwealth Attorney shall be elected BY the
people oil each judicial circuit who shall hold his Office Tor
term OF ak years
ith An Attorney for each county shnll be elected by
majority OF the Justices of the Peace who shall hold his Of
hce ier term OF three years
TAXATION.
ssi. Taxes so be " ad ralorem according each c
items wealth. which shal be valued assessed by commits
siones appointed for the purpose by the county The
per cent, or rate OF taxation shall be uniform throughout
The State and shall never exceed Two mills in the dollar
cepi in OF for the purpose OF raising
meet liabilities already existing (Supposing tho taxable
property in Virginia to amount to $4,000 Goo which is
reasonable estimate, mills will yield
a1U9,O0O, independent Of all other resources.)
I'd No bill making appropriations for Internal Improve
ments except for the completion of works already
ced BY the State and for which the State stands pledged
shall become law unless first pass the Legislature By
majority of to thirds of both branches and afterwards be
approved by the people at the posand every such bill
shall specify the ebect of the appropriation and shall
the iegislaa entirely separate fom and unconnected
with, any Other bill.
3d. The Legislature SHALL in case delegate the taxing
power committed 10y this constitution ohe majority
the people u any order enable such