Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-27
fHE Easls REPORT.

<Se4 sA& t%{S1at - 49, ~Sss@E*Ss~'"~~
coanmitiee. Subsequently,, however, the
report was reconsideTed and adopted. with
slight modification. Several conflicting
propositions hare since been made, but il
Is the decided opinion ofthe Enquirer that
the principles Of the compromise below
will be incorporated into the new consti-
tuition and il Is now hoped the conven-
ton will terminate their labors BY the 10th
Of June, 20 that the election in the fall win
be under the new constitution. Here 10
the committees Report:
Strike out propositions A and B in said
report. and insert the following:
l. The Legislature shall be formed Of
two distinct branches, which together shall
be complete Legislature. and shall be
called the General Assembly Of Virginia.
2. One Of these shall Be called the
House Of Delegates. and shall consist Of
one hundred and 6fty Members. 10 b.
chosen bieneially Tor and BY the several
counties, cities and towns Of the Common
wealth; whereof. eighty-two Delegates
shall be chosen for aud by the counties,
cities and towns lying West of the Blue
Ridge Of mountains. and sixty-eight for
and BY the counties. cities and towns lying
East Of the Blue Ridge. and said Dele
gates shall be distributed and apportioned
as follows, 10 wit:
3. The other House Of the General As
scmbly shall be called the Senate, and
shall consist Of City Members. to be elec-
ted for four years; Of whom, thirty shall
be chosen for and BY the counties. cities
and towns lying East Of the Blue Ridge Of
Mountains, and twenty for, and BY The
counties, cities and towns lying West
thereof; and for The election Of whom,
the counties. cities and towns shall be di.
vided into fifty districts 10 be composed Of
contiguous territory. and - compact in
form - may be. Each county. city and
town Of the respective districts, at the time
Of the FIRST election Of ito Delegate or De-
legates under this Constitution. snail vote
for one Senator, and the Sheriff. or other
officers holding the election for each coun.
~, city and town, within Ave days =. far
thest afler the last election in the district,
shall meet 1t some convenient plsce, with
in the respective districts, and from the
polls 50 taken. ia their respective counties,
cities and towns, return ~ . Senator, the
person who shall have the greatest num-
Der Of votes in the whole district. Imme-
diately after the Senators shalt BE- Assem-.
bled in consequence Of such election, they
shall be divided by lot into Two classes.--
The seals Of the Senators Of the fret class
shall be vacated Al the expiration Of the
second year, and Of the second class 81 the
expiration OF the fourth year. after such
FIRST election. and which rotation shall be
continued biennially. so that one half may
be chosen every second year; and for the
election Of Senators the counties Of -
shall form one district, SC.
4. II shall be the duty Of the General
Assembly in the year 1865. to re appor.
ton representation in the Senate and
House Of Delegates and in the event the
General Assembly shall no. be able to
agree as TO :he principle Of representation
on which such re.spportionment shall be
made. or shall fail 10 make such re- sppor.
tionment, then the Governor Of The Com.
monweath shall. by his Proclamation. i'm.
mediatcly thereafter. require the qualified
voters Of the Commonwealth to assemble
in their respective counties. ci,ies and
towns, and 10 declare by their votes
whether representation in the two houses
Of the General Assembly, or ia either Of
them shall be apportioned according 10
the number Of qualified voters 10 the Com
monwealth, or according to the number of
white inhabitants contained, and the
amount Of all taxes raised by the Legisla.
:ure, paid in the several counties, cities
and towns Of the Commonwealth, deduct
ing therefrom ell taxes paid on lisences
and law process, and allowing one dele.
gale for every seventy fifth part Of the
said inhabitants, and one delegate for evey
seventy 9Th part Of the said taxes, and
distributing the number Of Senstors in like
manner; Or whether representation shall
be apportioned in both Houses Of the
General Assembly according 10 al the
white population contained in, or the
whole amount Of taxes raised by the Leg
islatore, paid in the several counties. ci-
ties and towns Of the Common wealth.
.. I. shall be the duty Of the said she.
riffs and other officers taking said polls.
within Ave days after the same shall have
been closed, to certify true copies thereof
to the Governor. who shall thereupon a.
early % may be. ascertain tie result Of
the said vote and make proclamation there.
Of. Il shall also be the duty Of the Gov
ernor 10 communicate the same to the
first General Assembly which shall con.
vene after the taking Of the said vote, and
the said General Assembly ,hereupon, ..
the regular session thereof which shall be
held next after The taking Of said vote.
shall apportion representation in each
House oflhe General Assembly, according
to the principle Of representation therein.
for which majority Of the qualified vo-
tiers shall have declared their preference,
by The vote aforesaid: and thenceforth il
shall be the duty ofthe General Assembly,
in every tenth year there after. to reap
portion and distribute the number Of SEN
stors and Delegates throughout the Com
monwealth. according 10 the same prin-
ciple Of representation.
The report above was decided in the A.
frmativs as follows;
AYEs-Messrs. Armstrong, .4yfk9r.