Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-06

for the election, by the people, of delegates TO meet
in general Convention to consider, discuss and pro.
pose new Constitution or alterations and amend
ments to the existing Constitution of this Common
wealth and by an act passed on the thirteenth OF
March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and
fifty one, did further provide for submitting the
same to the people for ratification or rejection
We, therefore, the Delegates of the good people
of Virginia, elected and in Convention assembled,
in pursuance of said acts, do propose to the people
the following Constitution and Form Of Govern
ment for this Commonwealth
ARTICLE !.
Bill Of Rights.
The Declaration of Rights, as amended and pre-
fixed ~ this Constitution, shall have the same re-
atOn thereto as it had to the former Constitution.
ARTICLE II.
Dirision Of Po,cers.
The Legislative, Executive and Judiciary De-
partments shall be separate and Distinct, So that
neither exercise the powers properly belonging to
either Of the Others nor 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
igible 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 tor
twelve months next preceding an election, and no
other person, shall be qualified TO 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 be
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 ar
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 nhaSltant 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 be
compelled TO perform military service, except IN
lime of war or public danger TO work upon The
public road or &c attend any court as suor, Juror or
witness; and no voter shall be subject 10 arrest un-
der any civil process during his attendance at cleo
lions, or in going to and returning from them.
4. In all elections votes shall be given openly or
yiva voce, and not by ballot. But dumb persons,
entitled 10 suffrage may vote by ballot.
ARTICLE w.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
|. The legislature shall be formed of two dis
inct branches, which together shall be complete
Legislature, and shall bc 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 fif
~ two members, TO be chosen blennialy for and by
he several counties, cities and towns Of the Com
and distributed and apporiOned as fol-
ows:
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The counties of Augusta and Rockingham and
he city OF Richmond shall each elect three dele
yates
The Counties of Albemarle, Bedford Berkeley,
Campbell, Fauquier, Franklin, Frederick, Halifax,
Hampshire, Harrison, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lou
loun, Marion, Monongalia, Monroe, Norfolk, Pitt
;ylvania, Preston, Rockbridge, Shenandoah and
Washington shall each elect Two delegates
The Counties Of Dotetourt and Craig shall to-
5ether elect two delegates:
The Counties of Accomac, Alexandria, Amherst,
Appomattox, Barbour, Brunswick, Buckingham,
Cabel, Caroline, Carroll, Charlotte, Chesterfield,
Clarke, Culpeper, Dinwiddie, Fairfax, Fauquer,
Floyd, Fluvanna, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland,
Grayson, Greenbrier, Hanover, Hardy Henrico, Hen
" Highland Isle Of Wight, 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,
Spoitsylvana, Taylor, Upshur,
Warren, Wayne, Welzel, Wood and Wythe, and
The cities of Norfolk and Petersburg shall each E.
ect one delegate:
The Counties of Lee and Scott in addition to
10 be elected by each, shall together
,lect one delegate.
The following counties and cities shall compose
election districts: Allegheny and Bath: Amelia
and Nottoway: Logan, Boone and Wyoming
Braxton and Nicholas Charles City, James City
md New Kent Cumberland and Powhatan bod
lrdge and Tyler: Elizabeth City. Warwick York,
and the City Of Williamsburg Essex and King
& Queen: Fayette and Raleigh GImer and Writ:
Greene and Orange Greensville and Sussex: King
George and Stafford Lancaster and Northumber-
and Matthews and MiddleseX Peasants and
Richie Prince George and Surry land Richmond
and Westmoreland each of which districts shall
elect one delegate
At the first general election under this Constitr
lion The County of Ohio shall elect three delegates,
and the Counties of Brooke and Hancock shall to-
yether elect one delegate; at The second general
election the County of Ohio shall elect two dele
gates, and the Counties Of Brooke and Hancock
shall elect one delegate; aid so on, alternately al
general elections.
At the first general election the County Of Rus
sell! shall elect TWO delegates, and the County Of
Tazwe shall elect one delegate: at the second
general election the County Of Tazwell shall elect
two delegates and the County of Russell shall e.
lect one delegate and 50 on, alternately, at sue
ceedng general elections
The General Assembly shall have power upon
application of majority Of the voters of the Coun
ty of Campbell 30 provide, that instead of the two
delegates to be elected by said County, the town Of
Lyuchburg shall elect one delegate and the residue
Of the County Of Campbell shall elect one dele
gate.
3. The other house of the General Assembly
shall be called the Senate, and shall consist Of fifty
MEMBERS 10 be elected for the term of four years
for the election of whom, the counties, cities, and
towns shah be divided into fifty districts. Each
county, city and town Of The respective districts at
the time of the first election Of It's delegates under
this constitution, shall vote for one Senator, and the
Sheri1s. or other officers holding the election for
each county, city and town within five days at far
lhest after the last election in the district, shall
meet a; the Court House of the county or city first
named in the district, and from The poll SO taken in
their respective counties, cities and towns return
Sana Tho IL,