Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-01-16

This will reduce Gov Johnsons MINORITY the State 10
1892 and Lieutenant Governor Leakes majority III 's'e
State to goal II il proper 10 remark hH In "e'Ze an
IN spo,syvans also we believe there are no returns Tor
Iauaoan Governor from precincts which give Mr. Leake
smart majority.
,.re was Yesterday discursvc and Interesting debate
a. to the true construction OF the following ID section oil The
81, article Of the Constitution:
The Governor shall be elected by the voters al he hes
ana places OF choosing members oi the 'enefai
..nrn of IN, elections sIl h. transmitted under seal by
lac proper officers the secretary .! ne tonion"ea'
uno shall deliver them the Speaker OF The House OF Del
cratss on the s; DAY Of the session OF the Gcncii
Assembly TIE Speaker OF the House of Delegates shall
within one WEI thereafter in the presence OF majority u
M Senate an House Of Delegates open the SAID returns
and the roies shall then be counted Inc person hafg '
est uumb.r u shall be declared elected but II tw
or more shall highest apd an equal number OIL votes
ore of them shall be Guvcrno! by the Joint vote
III. two Houses Of the General Assembly Confessed eiec
tInns for Governor shall he decided by Ike VOTE ana me
mode proceeding in such cases shall oc prescribed 0! law"
o, the one hand il was contcndcd TIA, the Constitution
..kes il imperative on the Legislature conclude the
Counting of TIE the frs. week-for il there author
- 10 POSTPONE he of the result for week,
lasr is equal authority vr Pos'ponng II tor Twelve ohS
mad Tins defeating the popular will and keeping legally elect
"A cers ont OF their places Should injustice be done ny
tie on-recepon OF the whole official returns, provision
,x;r ssy provided contest fo' the ntce Of Governor
o. the other side il was argued all that the Constl-
,u,o requires is tina. the Speaker SHALL daring 'he nfS'
week open the returns and that tie Convention OF inc TWO
* buses shall commence The counting within the week.
Should the Speaker Tor instance fail, open the returns un
ii, late on the Saturday OF the first week. then i, would be
impossible to conclude the ~ that week Inc Con
sti,uon they farther argued dgncd 10 give the whole
control OF the subject to the Convention oil "iwo Houses,
ga soon as the seals were br,a- by the Speaker OF the
House.
Our first impression in favor - the frat construction
but more critical examination 1" Inc anguaS: OF tue Con
stitution inc!ines the last obstruction II may turn
GU, that In a close election, III" "scncc OF the returns oil
few counties not received the i week, may defeat the
election OF The canla, received the legal majority Of
the popular vote may b. fire. 10 undergo the ou
BILE and expense Of Wagn NC recall 70 mind tie
TACT that in Massachusetts, Governor elected by one
maori,v In vote If several HUNDRED thousands, the mPor
lance OF this subier apparent Fortunately the ina
inrty of Messr Johnson and Lenhe is 50 larG IL !" al
tach practical 2nient 10 ie question YESTERDAY. l.
should however, the Legislature al me Vii" nccssi
~ OF full ana legislation the SUBJECT imposing
,gd penalties tho Officers required 10 make the returns
to the Legislature .nd generally regulating the "hois su'
Iect.
Committees were appointed yesterday notify the Gov
t:nor ans Lieutenant Governor OF their election We nave
rot heard of any ceremony Of nauguratonbut we doubt
whether the plain old fashioned Virginia mode OF qualifying
privately end uros,en,aousy, befcIca Judge or Justice
sl all departed om IN The present case MI caKe
will take his to-day Presien; oil 'e Senae-and the
new government will go quietly and wc doubt not pros
perousy.
The vote for Attorney General not counted in the Lc-
ssature yesterday The 22 section Of the 9th article reads
thus:
"At every election oil Governor: an Atornc? Genera!
shall be elected ny the the Commonwealth Tor the
term of four wears He shall be by the or
rnor shall! perform such duties ami receive such contep'
non US may be prescribed " law and be removable in i'e
manner prescribed tor the Ienava, OF judge.
This article construed 70 give 10 the Governor the
power /, scrutuza and require him |" Com
mission the Attorney General Nh Eccocks MINORITY w!
bc somewhere between that OF CO" Johnson aud that OF
Mr. I.essa. We gin! 20 see him Al The 'Arerica;'
Yesterday ue health and sr.s-hasEg Just reached the
CITY He will presume, enter upon the discharge
OF his official duties