New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-05
VIRGINIA.
The New Constitution.

ancien, Commonwealth for ;helr approval or re
,ec;lon on Thursday. the 23d day Of October
next.
The Constitution IS preiacec oY oHi OF
Rights, which do pertain 20 the People ana
their pestcrliy as the basis and foundation oi
Government This Bill Of Rights declares that
ell men are by nature free snd independent.
having certain inheren, rights, OF which tneN
eaEGes. ~ aay compact deprive or dlvest their
pos,ensy namely, the enjoyment OF life and In
erty. with the means OF acquiring and possess
ing property. and pursuing and obtaining hap
pineSS and safety II further declares, II that
Government is or oughf 10 b. instituted for the
common benefit. protection and security Of the
people, nation or community that 10 man OF
Sc; OF men are entitled to exclusive privileges ,
that the trial by Jury ought TO be held sacred ,
that the freedom OF the Press IS one OF the great
bulwarks OF liberty, and can never be restrained
but by despo,ic governments that no free gov
eminent or the blessings OF liberty can he pre-
served 10 any people but by tirm adherence 10
justice. moderation. temperance and virtue, and
by frequent recurrence to fundamental prln-
The Bill OF Rights contains much more of the
same sort
The Constitution oeSowS the night OF Suffrage on
every white male citizen OF the age of 81 wears, who
shall have been Two wears a resident Of the State.
and one year a resident of the County, City or Town
where ne offers his vote. Insane persons, paupers
non-conmssioned officers, soldiers. seamen and ma
rneS IN the service of the United States and persons
convicted of infamous crimes are deharred the priv
ese of voting The Cities and Towns shall De divided
INTO Wards and Election Districts. and no citizen shall
vote except IN the Ward or District in which he re-
sides. No person shall be liable TO perform military
Jury duty be subject TO arrest on civil process
during the time of holding an election at which he
is entitled to vote In all elections votes shall De
given openly, or rira roce
The Legislature shall De known as the General
Assembly of Virginia" and be composed Of House
of Delegates and a Senate. The House TO consist of
l52 members. to be elected biennaly, and appor-
toned among the several Counties and Cities, accord
ing 10 a programme provided IN the Constitution
which provides for the election Of the House OF Del
egates on the Suffrage basis, representation &C
cordlng TO the free population which gives Yves
tern majority of fourteen IN that branch but the
basis for the Senate gives the Shareholders, or EaS-
tenn portion of the State majority of ten in the up
per House
The Senate consists Of 50 members, TO be chosen
from single districts for term Of four years, one
half the number TO be elected biennislly. Any qua
hhed voter, 25 years Of age. may be elected Sen
ator and any qualified voter 81 years OF age, is eli
glbe 10 the Office of Delegate, excepting such per
sons hold lucrative Offices ministers OF the gospel
priests, salared officers of Banking Companies, and
Commonwealth Attorney.
The Constitution makes II the duty of the General
Assembly IN the year 1865 and every tenth year there
after 10 reapportlon the State for representatives IN
that body and, IN the result of disagreement
between the two branches IN regard to principle OF
appertlonment, each House shall submit scheme
containing principle or rule of representation for
both Houses and the people may decide at the bal
lotbox which scheme they Will adopt Should either
branch of the Legislature fan 20 comply with this re-
qulremeni then II becomes the duty OF the Execu-
tive to submit directly to the voters Of the Common
wealth the following propositons-viZ.
First, whether representation IN the senate ana
House OF Delegates shall be appOrtOned on the
Suffrage Basis !" that is, according 10 the number OF
voters III the several counties. citleS towns, and
Senatorial districts OF the Commonwealth
Or, second, whether representation IN both Houses
shall be apportloned on the " Mixed Basis y that is,
according To the number OF white Inhabitants con
tanned and the amount OF all State taxes paid IN the
several countless cities, and towns of the Common
wealth, deduCtlng theretrOm all taxes paid on IL
cenSeS and law process, and any cdpltatlon TAX on
free negroes, allowing one delegate for every Sc
veniy-sIxth part OF SAID inhabitants and one dele
gate for every seyentysxth part OF said taxes, and
distributing the Senators 10 like manner
Or, third, whether representation shall be appor-
toned IN the Senate on taxation that l., according
TO the amount Of all state taxes, PAID III Ihe several
counties, cities, and towns OF the Commonwealth
deductng therefrom all taxes pad on licenses and
law process. and any capltaon tax on Tree negroes
and IN the House OF Delegates on the "Ssnrage
Basis" a. aforesaid
Or fourth, whether representation shall De appor
toned III the Senate on the Mixed Basis" as atore-
said and IN the House Of Delegates on the Suffrage
Bass" as aforesaid and each voter shall east his
vote ID favor OF OF sad schemes OF apportlon-
ment, and no more.
Should either OF these propositions receive ma
Iony OF all the votes cast then It becomes the rule
for representation. II neither scheme obtains ma
Jority, the Governor is required u resuomh to the
people the Two which shall have received the great
est number of votes and the decision OF the people
is to be fnal to the rule by which the Legislature
shall be governed IN apponloalng the state.
The General Assembly shall meet oiennialiy, and
no session, after the FIRST under the new Constitu-
uon shall continue longer than ninety days without
the concurrence OF thyeehitnS oil the members
elected to each House, IN which case the session
may be prolonged for period not exceeding thf'y
days majority OF each House shall constitute a
quorum 10 do business Two-thIrds OF either House
may expel d member for misconduct, but not a
second tune for the same Ofense. Members OF The
General Assembly shall not be appointed TO any
Office created. or the emoluments OF which snail
have been increased during the term for which they
were elected The Legislature shall hS the pay Of
rs own members.
The privilege Of the wit Of Habsa' orvas shAl not
IN any case be suspended. The General Assembly
shall no, prescribe any religious test whatever The
freedom Of speech and of the press shall remain nvio'
late. No law snail embrace more than one subject
which shall be expressed m lie title The Legislature
NAV provide thai no person shall be eligible TO once
under the Commonwealth who shall be hereafter en-
gagged IN a duel as principal, second, or challenge
IL..ze. A. .a-