Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-16
An Act
An Act
Revising and reducing into one act the pro.
vistons of the Charter Of the TOwn Of
.Siaunton. -

Siaunton.
Passed 22d May, 1852.
1. Be it enacted by the General Assem-
bly, That the Territory, within The limits
prescribed in the act passed the. 18th day
of February, 1848, entitled "An act ex.
tending the limits Of the town of Staunton
in the County of. Augusta, and for other
purposes. shall continue to be the town Of
Staunton and the white inhabitants within
said limits and their successors shall on and
after the Wednesday after the fourth Mon
day in March, 1853, be corporation by
the name and style of the "town. Of .Staun-
tom" and the 54th and 56th chapters of the
Code of Virginia, SO far as they are con-
sistent with this act hall be applicable to
The said corporation and to The council Of said
Town.
Q. There shall continue to be for the said
Corporation q Court which shall be called
the "Court of Hastings for the town of
Staunton, and the same shall be held by
the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen ofsaid
town. or any three of them, except where
1t is otherwise provided. The monthly
term of said Court shall be held on the
Wednesday after the first Monday in
each month; and the quarterly terms there
of, shall be in the months of February,
May, July and October,
8. The said Court shall continue to have
Jurisdiction, and the said Mayor, Recorder
and Aldermen shall continue each to have
the powers of Justice of the Peace, not
only within the said corporate limits, but
also for the space of one half mile without
and around the limits OF said town in all
matters arising within the same according
to the, laws of the Commonwealth. And
any presentment in said Court by grand
Jury for an offence against the said laws
committed within the jurisdiction OF said
Court may be presented in said Court IN
like manner, and like proceedings to be had
thereon, as in the County Court OF Au-
gusta. & .r. -. ...,.,
4. The Court of Hastings shall have the
sole power to settle tavern rates, and to IL
cense in the manner prescribed by law,
tavern7keepers and retailers of wine, ardent
spirits or mixture thereof within the linn
its of said town. .~
5. There shall be board called "the
Council of the town of Staunton" which
shall be composed ofthe Mayor, Recorder,
six Aldermen and four Councilmen, any
seven of whom shall constitute quorum
to transact business. The Mayor, or IN his
absence, the Recorder shall be President OF
the Board and in the absence of both May
or and Recorder, the Council shall choose
a President pro te,npore. The Mayor or
Recorder or any two members may con-
vene special Session of the Council.
6. The Council may grant out of the
town treasury compensation to the Mayor
not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars
a year; and may require the Mayor to- hold
regular terms of Mayors Court for the
trial of cases cognizable by Justice of the
Peace. The Mayor shall exercise control,
and superintendent over the police officers,
and administer the police regulations of the
town in pursuance Of law and of the ordi-
nances of the town.
7. Every white male citizen of the Com
monwealth. of the age of twenty-one years,
who has been resident OF the Slate tor
two years and of the said town for twelve
months next preceding any election, and
no other person, shall be qualified to vote
for all officers elective by the voters Of said
town. No person shall be eligible to any
office named in the next succeeding Sec
ton who is not qualified to vote under this
section. - :.f,
8. On the Wednesday afser the first
Monday in April, 1858, there shall be e.
lected by the voters Of said town eleven
persons to serve as Recorder, Aldermen
and Councilmen, Mayor, who who shall
be en-oGcio member of the Council, a
Sergeant, Clerk for the Court of Hastings,
and an Attorney for the Commonwealth for
said Corporation And on the same day
annually thereafter, an election shall be
held for eleven persons to serve es Recor-
der, Aldermen and Councilmen, Mayor
and Sergeant 4; on the same day in every
fourth year thereafter, for an Attorney for
the Commonwealth; on the same day in
every sixth year thereafter, for Clerk of
the Hastings Court and on the same day
in the year 1854. and in every second year
thereafter, for Commissioner of the Rev.
enue for said Corporation.
g. Every such election shall be held at
the Courthouse in said town, or at such
places as the Council may prescribe ; and
If from any cause an election be not held
on the day appointed therefor, the Council
shall designate another day for such elec-
ton.
10. The Council shall appoint for each
place of voting, FIVE Commissioners. any
two of whom may act, to superintend, and
an officer to conduct every such election ;
but if no such officer be appointed or pres
ent, the Commissioners may appoint the
officer to conduct the election. The Com
missioners shall have the powers and per-
form the duties prescribed by the sixth Sec
ton of chapter seven of the Code of Vlr-
gnia, and shall take the oath required in
the seventh section Of said chapter, GER
tifcate of which shall be returned to the
Clerk of the Council to be preserved in his
Office. The second section of said chap
ter shall apply to the pull at such election.
II. Under the superintendent and con-
troll of the Commissioners, the officer ap
pointed to conduct the election (after taking
the oath prescribed by tine tenth section Of
said chapter, certificate Of which shall be
returned to the Clerk of the Counci) shall
cause the polls to be opened publicly for
the election, shall pro lain and see record
ed the votes admitted by the Commission
ers, preserve order and remove force. He
shall employ writers at such rates of COM
pensation as the Council may direct and
such writer's shall respectively take an oath,
to be administered by said officer, to record
the votes faithfully and impartially. He