Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-13

standing armies and ships of war; by affecting to
render the military independent of and superior 10
the civil power by combining with others TO SUD-
jec Us to foreign jurisdiction, giving his assent 10
their pretended acts of legislation; for quarterng
large bodies of armed troops among us; Tor culhh9
off our trade with all parts of the world Tor impos
np taxes on us without our consent; for deprlVing
us of the benefits of the trial by ury for transport
nr us beyopd seas to be tried for pretended ofences
torsuspending own legislatures declaring them
selves invested with power to egisate for US IN all
cases whatsoever; by plunderng our seas, ravaglng
our coast, burning our towns, and destroying lhe
lives Of our people by melting insurrecons OF our
fellow subjects with the alluSements OF forfeiture
and confscation by prompting our negroes 10 rise
in arms among us, those very negroes, whum oy
an inhuman use of his negative ne had refused US
permission to exclude by law; oy endeavorlng 10
bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merci-
less Indian savages, whose known rule OF warfare
is an undistnguished destruction OF ali ages sexes
and conditions of existence by transporting hlther
laroe army of foreign mercenartes, to complete
the work of death, desoation and tyranny then al
ready begun. with circumstances ofcruely and per-
fidy unworthy the head of a civilized nation; by
answering our repeated petitions Tor redress with
repetition of injuries aud finally by abandoning the
helm of government and declaring us out of his al.
legiance aud protection by which several acts OF
misrue the government Of this country as before
exercised under the crown of Great Britain, was.
totally dissolved did, therefore, having maturely
considered the premises, and viewing with great
concern the deplOrabe condition to which this once
happy country would be reduced, unless sumo reg
ular adequate mode of civil poity should be speed
ily adopted, and in compliance with the recoTnmen'
dation of the general Congress, 0rdain and declare
form of government ofVirginia:
And whereas, Convention held on the first
Monday in October, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and twenty nine, did propose 10 the peo-
pie of the Commorw wealth an amended Constitution
or form ofgoverument. which was ratified by them
And whereas, the General Assembly of Virginia,
by an act passed the fourth OF March, IN the year
one thousandseight hundred and fifty, did provide
for the election, by the people, OF delegates TO meet
in general Convention, TO consider, discuss ana pro-
pose new Constitution or alterations and amend
ments to the existing Constitution OF this Common
wealth and by an act, passed on the thir'eouth oi
March, in the year one thousand eight hundred ana
! ffty-one, did further provide for submitting the
same to the people for ratification or reJeclion
! We, therefore, the Delegates Of the guod people
of Virginia, elected and in Convention assaulted,
in pursuance Of said acts, do propose TO the people
the following Constitution and Form of Govern
ment for this Commonwealth:
ARTICLE J..
Bill Of Rights.
The Declaration Of Rights, as amended and pre-
fixed to this Constitution, shall have the same re-
aton thereto as it had to the former Constitution.
ARTICLE II.
Dirision Of Po,vers.
The Legislative, Executive and Judiciary De
partments shatl be separate and Distinct, so that
neither exercise the powers properly belonging to
either of the others; shall any person exercise
the powers of more Than one Of them al the same
time except, that justices of the peace shall be ell
igbe 10 either House Of Assembly.
ARTICLE III.
Qualification Of Voters.
|. Every white male citizen of the Common
wealth. of the age Of twenty -one years, who has
been resident of The State for two years, and Of
the county, city or town where he offers to vote for
twelve months next preceding an election, and no
other person, shall be qualified 10 vote for members
of the General Assembly and all officers elective
by the people: but no person in the military, naval
or marine service Of the United States shall DO
deemed resident Of this State, by reason OF being
stationed therein. And no person shall have the
right to vote who is Of unsound mind, or pauper,
or non commissioned officer soldier, seaman or ma
rine in the service of the United States, or who
has been convicted of bribery in an election, or of
any infamous offence.
2. The General Assembly at its first session az.
ter the adoption of this Constitution, and after
wards as occasion may require, shall cause every
city or town, the white population OF which ex-
ceeds five thousand, to be laid off into convenient
wards and separate place Of voting to be establish
ed in EACH and thereafter no nhabitant OF such city
or town shall be allowed 10 vote except in the ward
in which he resides.
8. No voter during the time for holding any e.
lection at which he is entitled to vote, shall he
compelled to perform military service, except IN
time of war or public danger: to work upna The
public road or to attend any court as sultOr Juror or
witness; and no voter shall be subject TO arrest I'M
der any civil process during his attendance at elec-
tons, or in going to and returning from them.
H. In all elections votes shall be given openly or
cira uoce, and not by ballot. But dumb persons,
entitled TO suffrage may vote by ballot.
ARTICLE ".
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
|. The Legislature shall be formed of two dis
tinct branches, which together shall be complete
Legislature, and shall be called the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia.
: 2 One OF these shall be called the House of
Delegates, and shall consist Of one hundred and fit
ty.two members, To be chosen biennally for and by
the several counties cities aud towns OF the Com.
monwealth, and distributed and apporlioned as fol-
lows:
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The counties Of Augusta and Rockingham anC
the city ol Richmond shall each elect three dele
gates
The Counties Of Albamarle, Bedford Berkeley
Campbell, Fauquier, Franklin, Frederick. Halifax
Hampshire Harrisn, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lou
doun, Marion, Monongalia, Monroe, Norfolk, Pitt
; sylvana, Preston, Rockbrlge, Shenandoah anC
Washington shall each elect two delegates:
The Counties Of Boetourt and Craig shall to
geher elect two delegates:
The Counties of Accomac, Alexandria. Amhers,
AppOmattox, Barbour, Brunswick, Buckingham
Cabell, Caroline, Carroll, Charlotte, Chesterfield
, Clarke, Culpeper, DinwiddIe, Fairfax, Fauquier
Floyd, Fluvanna. Giles, Gloucester. Goochland
Gmyson, Greenbrier, Hanover, Hardy. Henrico Hen
y, Highland Isle Of Wigh, jackson King William
Lee, Lewis, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mar
shall, Mason, Mercer, Mecklenburg, Montgomery
{ Morgan, Nansemond, Nelson, Northampton, Page
Patrick, PendletOn, Pocahontas, Princess Anne
Prince Edward, Prince William, Pulaski, Putnam
Randolph, RappahannOck, Roanoke, Scott, Smyth
j., Southampton, Spottsylvania. Taylor, Upshur
Warren, Wayne, Welze, Wood and Wythe, au
the cities of Norfolk aud Petersburg shall each e
lect one delegate:
The Counties Of Lee and Scott in addition
the deleuates 10 be elected by each, shall togehe