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

places of voting, and decide by their votes between
the propos,ions thus presented. In the event thu
General Assembly shall fail, in the year one thou
sand eieht hundred aud sixty-fve, or in any ten'f
wear thereafter, to make such re-apportionnent o
certificate. the Governor shall, Immediately after
the adjournment Of the General Assembly, by
proclamation, require the voters of The Common
wealth TO assemble, at such time as he shall aP
point, at their lawful places of voting, and 10 de-
clare by their votes;
First. whether representation in the Senate and
House of Delegates shall be appur!ioned on the
"Suffrage Basis;" that is, according TO the num-
her of voters in the several coulIies, Cities towns
and Senatorial districts o. the Commonwealth
| Or second, whether representation in both
Houses shall be appOrtioped on the "Alixed Basis,
that is, according to the number OF white nhaolt-
ants contained, and the amount of all State taxes
paid in the several counties, cities and towns ol
The commonwealth, deducting tEerefrom all taxes
paid on licenses and law process, and any capita
lion tax on free negroes, allowing one delegate
for every seventy sixth part of said inhabitants,
and one delegate for every seventy part oi
said taxes, and distributing the Senators In like
manner;
Orthird, whether representation shall be appor-
toned in the Senate on taxation that Is, accord
ing to the amount of all State taxes, paid In the
several counties, cities and towns OF The common
wealth, deducting therefrom all taxes paid On IL
censes and law process, and any capltation lax on
free negroes, and in the House OF Delegates on
the "Sutfrage Basis" as aforesaid
| Or fourth, whether representation snail oe ap-
porlloned in the Senate on the "hllXed BASIS" as
aforesaid, and in the House Of Delegates on the
"Suffrage Basis" as aforesaid and each voter
shall cast his vote in favor OF une OF said schemes
of apportonment, and no more.
| 6. 1t shall be the duty of the sheriff, and other
officers taking said polls, to keep the same open for
the period Of three days; and within ilVe days al
Ter they are closed to certify true cnples thereof to
the Governor, who shall as early as may be, as
certain the result Of said vote, anG make procama-
ton thereof and in case it is ascertaned that
majority Of all the votes cast is in favor ol either OF
the principles of representation, referred as aiure-
said to the choice of the voters, the governor shall
communicate the result Of such vote to the gener-
al assembly at its first regular session thereafter
but in case it is ascertaihed that majority Of all
the votes cast is not in favor Of either OF The princ-
ples of representation referred as aforesaid to the
choice of the voters, it shall be the duty ofthe gov
ernor, as soon as may be after ascerainlng that
fact. in like manner 10 cause the voters 10 decide
between the two principles Of representation which
shall at such previous voting, have received the
greatest number of votes and he shall ascertain
and make proclamation of the result OF The said
last vote, and communicate the same to the gener-
al assembly at its next regular session and In
either case, the General Assembly, at the regular
session thereof which shall be held next after the
| taking of the vote, the result of which shall have
been so communicated to it by the Governor, shall
re- apporlion representation in the two houses re-
spectively in accordance with the principle of iep-
sentation in each, for which majority OF the
votes cast were given and it shall be the duty OF
the General Assembly in every tenth year !hereaf.
Ter to re spportion and distribute The number OF
I senators and delegates in accordance with the
same principle.
| 7. ANY person may be elected Senator, who, at
the time of election, has attained the age OF twen-
,y-five years, and is actually resident within the
district, and qualified 10 vote for members of the
General Assembly, according to this Constitution.
| And any person may be elected member oa she
| House Of Delegates, who, at The time OF elecuon,
has attained the age of twenty one years, and Is
actually resident within the county, city, town,
or election district, qualified to vote for members o!
the General Assembly, according to this Constltu-
tion: but no person holding lucrative onice, no
minister Of the gospel or priest OF any religious de-
nomination, no salaried officer OF any banking cor
poralion or company, and no attorney Tor lhe Com
monwealth, shall be capable Of being elected a
meu Der of either house of Assembly. The remo-
val Of any person elected to either branch Of the
General Assembly from the county, city, town or
district for which he was elected, shall vacate his
office.
8. The General Assembly shall meet once in
two years, and not oflener, unless convened by the
| Governor in the manner prescribed In this Consll-
tuition. No session of the General Assembly, after
the first under this constitution, shall continue lon
ger than ninety days, without The concurrence OF
three ffths of the members elected TO each house,
in which case, the session may be extended for a
further period not exceeding thirty days. Neither
house, during the session of the General Assembly
shall, without the consent Of the other, adjourn for
more than three days,ncr 10 any other pacethan that
in which the two houses shall be sitting. A ma
jor,y Of each house shall constitute quorum to do
business, but a smaller number may adjourn from
day to day, and shall be authorized to compel the
attendance Of absent members in such manner and
under such penalties as each house may provide.
g. The House of Delegates shall choose lis own
Speaker, and in the absence OF The Lieutenant Uov-
eruor, or when he shall exercise the olhce ol Uov-
ernor, the Senate shall choose from their own body,
president pro tempore: and each House shall ap'
ppint its own officers, settle its own rules Of pro
ceedng, and direct writs Of election Tor supplying
intermediate vacancies but if vacancies shall occu
during the recess of the General Assembly, such
wrils may be issued by the Governor, under such
regulations as may be prescribed by law. Eact
house shall Judge of the election, qualification anc
returns ofi,s members, may punish them for dis
orderly behavior, and, with the concurrence OF two
.hirds oyneI n npmSp hnt not SeCODC lime fU
the same offence.
10. The members of the Assembly shall receive
for their services compensation, to be ascerlanet
by law, and paid out of The public treasury but M
act increasing such compensation shall take efec
until after the end of The term for which the mem
bers Of the House of Delegates voting thereon wer
elected. And no senatur or delegate during TIT
term for which he shall have been elected, shall b.
appointed to any civil office Of profit under th
Commonwealth, which has been created, or the e
noluments Of which have been increased, durin!
such term, except Offices filled by elections by tn
people. =,
IL. Bills and resolutions may originate in eilhe
of the two houses of the General Assembly, to b
approved or rejected by the other, and may be a
kmended by either house, with the consent of th
other.
l2. Each house of the General Assembly shal
keep journal of lis proceedings. which shall b
published from time to time, and the yeas and nay
IF the members of either house, on any question
shall, at The desire of one fifth of those present.
entered on the journal. No bill shall become law
until il has been read on three different days os til
session, in the house in which it originated, unles
two.thirds Of the members elected to That house
shall otherwise determine.
4, e oh