Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-09-11

I'LL Bis and resolutions nay originate IN etther
az de fwo Houses of lie General Assembly. 10 be
approved on rejected by Tie ofher and may e amen-
ga BY either HOUSE. win The euaseat ut the ether
IL Each Heuse Fl the General Assembly shall
keep journal q lis rroceedings, which shall he,
published from time 10 time and he yeas and mars
81 ne members 81 ether Hsnse. 81. AIRY qnessionl
shall al tie desire q eas5lh Of those present be
entered on The journal No bill shall become law
mill it has been read ID three different days Of the
session ii The House il which II originated, unless
two-thinds Of the members elected 10 that House
shall Otherwise determine.
rs. The whole Number of members to which the
State may at any time he entitled 10 the House Of
Representatives u The United Staes shall be APP
portoned As nearly As may be, arAOng thu several
counties cities and towns Of the State according d
their respective numbers which shall be determined
BY adding to the whole number of free persons in
Guiding hose bound 70 service for term Of years.
and excluding Indians not taxed, 4hreettfhs et all
other persons.
IA Iii the app0Ftionment the State shall be divi-
ded into districts corresponding ii number with The
representatives 10 which il may be entitled in the
House of Representatives Of the Congress Of the
United States which shall be formed respectively
Of contiguous counties cities and towns, be compact
and include, as nearly as may be, an equal number
Of The population; upon which is based representa-
lion in the House OF Representatives Of the United
States. i8
Is. The privilege Of the writ Of hsas corpus shall
hot in any case, be suspended. The General As
semhly shall not pass any biA Of aitzinder; any
IL posi- f1stolaw; or any Law impaifing the oblga4
tion Of contracts or any law whereby private prop
erty shall be taken for public uses without just COM
pensatiGn; or any law abridging the freedom Of
speech or Of the press No man shall be compelled
to frequent or support any religious worship place
of ministry whatsoever; nor shall any man be en-
forced restrained molested or burthened in his body
or goods or otherwise suffer, account Of his
ligions opinions orAeiefi but alimen shall be free
10 profess and by argument to maintain their opin-,
ions in matters OF religion, and the shall in no
wise affect diminish enlarge their civil eapaci-
ties. And the General Assembly shall not prescribe
any religious test whatever or confer any peculiar
privileges or advantages on any sect or den0mina-
ton or pass any law,requiring authorizing any
religious society the people Of any district with
| in this commonwealth, to levy on themselves or
others any tax for the erection OF repair Of any
house for public worship or for the support OF any
church or ministry; butt shall belett free to every
person 10 select his religious instructor, and 70 make
for his support such private contracts as he shall
/ please.
I6 No law shall embrace more than one object
which shall be expressed in It's title; nor shall any
law be revived or amended by reference to its title
buf the act revived section amended, shall be re-
/ enacted and published al length.
| II The General Assembly maysprovide that no
person shall be capable Of holding be elected to-
any post Of profit trust or emolument civil milf
tary, legislative, executive or Judicial, under the
/ government Of this Commonwealth who shall here
/ after fight duel or send or aeeep4 challenge To
fight duel, the probable issue OF which may be the
death OF the challenger or challenged, or who shall
be second 10 either party who shall in any man
ner aid or assist in such duel or shall be knowing
| " the bearer Of such challenge or acceptance; but
no person shall be so disqualified by reason OF his
having heretofore fought such duel or sent or ac-
| cepted such challenge or been second insuch duel
| or bearer of such challenge or acceptance.
| tS The Governor, Lieutenant Governor Judges,
! and all others offending against the State BY mall
administration, corruption, neglect Of duty, or other
| high crime or msdemeanor shall be impeaehable
| BY the House of Delegates and be prosecuted before
the Senate which shall have the sole power to try
Impeachments When sitting for that purpose they
shall beo cath or Affirmation; and no person shall
be convicted without the concurrence of-two third
of the members present Judgment in cases Of I'M
parchment shall not extend further than TO removal
/ from office and disqualification to.hold and enjoy
any Office of henor, trust or profit nnder the Com
mon wealth but the party convicted shall neVerthe
less be subject 10 Indictment, trial. judgment and
| punishment according to law. The Senate may sit
/ during the OF the General Assembly for the
! trial Of impeachments. III
,Szaues and Free Negroes. "
10 Slaves hereafter emancipated shall forfeit
| their freedom by remaining in the Commonwealth
more than twelve months after they become actual
~ free and shall be reduced to slavery under such
/ regulations as may be prescribed b. law.
| 20. The General Assembly may impose such re-
strietons and conditions they shall deem proper
T on the power of slave owners to ernancipate their
| slaves and may pass laws for the relief Of the
| Commonwealth from the free negro population BY
/ removal br otherwise. IL
81. The general Assembly shall no, emancipate
any slave or the descendant Of any slave either be-
| fore or afler the birth of such descendant
Iaxati0n and Ffnaace.
% Taxation shall be equal and uniform through
out the Commonwealth, and all properly, other than
slaves, shall be taxed in proportion to its value,
which shall be -ascertalRed in such manner as may
/ be prescribed by law #
90 Every slave who has attained the age of
| twelve years shall be assessed with tax equal to-
and not exceeding that assessed land Of the val
ne of three hundred dollars Slaves under that age
shall nokbe subject 10 taxation and other taxable
| property may be exempted from taxation by the.
vote Of amajority oil the whole number Of members
elected u each House ofthe General Assembly.
81 Adaptation tax, equal to the tax assessed on
land of the value of two hundred dollars, shalltbe
levied onlevery white male inhabitant who has at
tanned the age of twenty-one years; ard one equal
rnoiety suf the capitation tax upon white persons
shall be applied 10 the purpose of education ia pri
mary and free schools; but nothing herein contain
ed saallTevent exemptions OF taxable polls in cases
of bodily n6rmity. n
Is. The General Assembly may levy a tax on
incomes salaries and licenses; but no tax shall be-
levied on property from which any income SO tax
ed is derived the capital invested in the trade
or business in respect to which the license so taxed
is issued.
IS. No money shall be drawn from the treasury
but IN pursuance of appropriations. made by law ;
and statement Of the receipts, disbursements APP
propriaisns and loans shall be published after the
adjournment of each session of the General Assem-
bly,, with the acts and resolutions thereof
~. On the passage Of every act which imposes,
continues, or reyives tax, or creates debt or
charge or makes, continues or reviyes any appro-
priatien Of public trust money or property or re-
leases, discharges, or commutes any claim or de-
mand Of the State, the vote shall BE- determined by
yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting
for and against the same shall be entered on the
journals Of the respective houses, and majority
Of all the members elected 10 each house shall be
necessary to give it the force OF law
%. The liability TO the State of any incorporated
company or institution, to redeem the principal and
pay the interest of.any loan heretofore made, or
which may hereafter be made, by the State 10 such
company or institution, shall not be released; and
the General Assembly shall pledge the faith OF
the State or bind it in any form. Tor the debts on
obligations of any company or corporation
o. There shall be SET apart annually from the
accruing revenue, asum equal to seven per cent of
the State debt existing on the first day Of January
IN the year one thsusand eight hundred and ffty7
two. The fund thus set apart shall be called the
Sinking Fund, and shall be applied 10 the payment
OF the interest Of the State debt and the principal Of
such part as may be redeemable. II no part Be re-
deemahlei then the residue OF the Sinking Fund.
alter The payment Of such interest shall be invested
N ne bonds OF certificates Of debt this Common
wealth. or Of the United States or IL some of the
States Of this Union and applied 10 the payment 81
| the state debt as II shall become redeemable.--
whenever after the said first day Of January a
debt shall be contracted BY the Commonwealth.
there shall PC set apart in like manner, annually
ior thifty-iour years. sum exceeding By enc
per cent the aggregate amount of The annual inter-
est agreed to be paid at he time al Is eontrac,;o
which SUM shall be part OF The Sinking Fund ana
shall be applied IN the manner before directed The