Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-13
STAUNTON. VA. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1861

of contiguous conniies cities and towns, be con
I pact, and include, as nearly as may be, an equ'
number of the population, upon which 10 based 10
, representation in the House Of Representatives
e the United States.
Is. The privilege Of the writ Of habeGs corpt
, shall not, in any case, be suspended. Inc uel
eral Assembly shall not pass any Dill OF affair
der; or any er post Gicto law; or any law impa'
ing the obligation Of contracts or any law whert
by private properly shall be taken for Paoiic use
without lust compensation; or any law aprldgln
the freedom of spesch or Of the press. NO ma
shall be compelled to frequent or support any re
religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever
nor shall any man be enforced, restrained, mo
Tested, or burthened in his body or goods, or 9th
erwse suffer, on account of his religious opinion
or belief; but all men shall be free to profess an
by argument 10 muintain their onnions IN matter
of religion, and the same shall in no wise affect
diminish or enlarge their civil capacities. Ant
the General Assembly shall not prescribe any 70
ligious test whatever; or confer any pecaha
privileges or advantages on any sect or denomna
lion; or pass any law requiring or a1'hor'5ing
nv religious society, or the people OF any dlstrlc
within this Commonwealth to levy on themselve
or Others any tax for the erection or repair OF an!
house for public worship, or for the support OF
nv church or ministry but it shall be lett Tree u
every person 10 select his religious instructor ant
to make for his support such private contract al
he shall please. -,
I6. No law shall embrace moro than one object
which shall be expressed in its title :-nor shall a
ny law he revived or amended by reference 10 it'
title but the act revived, or section amended, snal
be re.enac,ed and published at length
II. The General Assembly may provide that
no person shall be capable of holding, or being
elected 10, any post OF profit, trust or emolument
civil or military, Legislative, executive or judicial
under the government of this Commonwealth
who shall hereafter fight duel, or send chal-
lenge to fight duel, the probable issue OF which
may be The death of The challenger or challenged
or who shall be second to either party, or shall In
any manner aid assist in such duel, or snail De
knowingly the bearer Of such challenge or accep'
tance but no person shall be so disqualified by
reason of his having heretofore fought such duel.
or sent or accepted such challenge. or been second
in such duel, or bearer of such challenge or ac'
ceptance.
IS. The Governor. Lieutenant Governor, jud.
ges, and all others offending against the Stately
rnaIadmnstraton, corruption, neglect OF duty, or
other high crime or misdemeanor, shall be lm-
peachable by the House of Delegates, and be pros.
sole power to try impeachments. When sitting
for that purpose they shall be on oath or athfma-
tion and no person shall be convicted, without
the concurrence Of two-thirds Of the members pres
ent. Judgment in cases of impeachment snail
not extend further than to removal from Office,
and disqualification 10 hold and enjoy any Office
of honor, trust or profit under the Commonwealth;
but the party convicted shall nevertheless be sub.
ject to indictment, trial, judgment and punish
ment, according to law. The Senate may Sit du-
ring the recess of the General Assembly tor The
trial of impeachments.
Slapes and Free Negroes.
10. Slaves hereafter emancipated shall forfsit
their freedom by remsining in the Commonwealth
more than twelve months after they become actu-
ally free, and ehall be reduced to slavery, under
such regua ,ions au may be prescribed BY law.
90. The General Assembly may impose such
I'restric.ions and conditions as they shall deem
proper on tho power of slave owners 10 snanci.
pate thsir slaves; and may pass laws for the re-
lief of the Commonwealth from the free negro
population by removal or otherwise.
81. The General Assembly shall not emanci.
pate any slave, or The descendant of any slave ei.
iher before or after the birth Of such descendant
Tasation and Finance.
90. Taxation shall be equal and uniform through.
out the Commonwealth, and all property other
than slaves, shall be taxed in proportion to ls
value, which shall be ascertainsd in such manner
as may be prescribed by law.
90. Every slave who has attained the age oi
twelve years shall be assessed with tax equal
to and not exceeding that assessed on land of the
value Of three hundred dollars. Slaves under that
age shall not be subject to taxation; and Other
taxable property may be exempt from taxation, by
the vote Of a majority of the whole number OF
members elected to each house Of the General As.
semby.
"a. A capitation tax, equal 10 the tax assessed
on land OF the valus Of two hundred dollars, shall
be levied on every while male inhabitani who has
attained the age Of twenty-one years, and one e.
quail moiely of the capitalion tax upon white per-
sons, shall be applied to the purposes Of sduca
tion in primary and free schools; but nothing
herein contained shall prevent exemptions Of tax.
able polls in cases Of bodily infrmisy.
IS. The General Assembly may levy tax or
incomes, salaries and licenses; but no tax shall bt
levied on property from which any income 20 tax
ed is derived, or on the capital invested in the
so taxed Is issued.
26. No money shall be drawn from the treasu.
ry but in pursuance of appropriations made BY
law; and statement of the receipts, disburss
ments, appropriations and loans shall be published
after the adjournment of each session of the Gen
eral Assembly, with the acts and resolutions there
Of.
81. On the passage Of every act which impo
ses, continues or revives tax, or creates deb
or charge, or makes, continues or revives any ap
preparation Of public or trust money or property
} or releases, discharges or commutes any claim o
demand Of the State, tn. vote shall be determines
by yeas and nays, and the names Of the person
voting for and against the same shall be entere
T on the journals of The respective houses, and
majority Of all the members elected TO each hous
shall be necessary 10 give it the force OF law.
90. The liability to the State Of any incorpora
ted company or institution, 10 redeem the princi
pal and pay the interest of any loan heretofor
made, or which may hereafter be made, by tn
State, to such company or institution, shall nc
be released and the General Assembly shall nc
pledge the faith Of the State, or bind iby any form
for the debts Or obligations fany company or Sol
: poration.
30. There shall be set apart annually, from tn
ACQUIRING revenue, sum equal to seven per cen
of the State debt existing on the first day of Jan
uary in the year one thousand eight hundred an
ffty-two. The fnnd thus set apar. shall be calle
: tho Sinking Fund, and shall be applied to tn
payment of the interest Of the State debt, and tn
), principal Of such part as may be redeemable.
II no part be redeemable, then the residue of tn
g Sinking Fund, after the payment of such interei
s shall be invested in The bonds or certificates
J, debt of this Commonwealth, or of the Unite
q States or of some of the States of this Unior