Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-02-14
Am Act,

dlency OF calling a Convention 10 cnahSe Ihe
Constitution.
Whereas, The opposition of public opinion
manifested to the present Constitution, clearly
demonstrates that many of its provisions are
defective, and that its general workings and ef
fects are not in harmony with the views anc
wants of the people, but are destructive Of
their best interests, and subversive OF the gen
eral prosperity and progress of the State ant
Whereas, a Constitution thus defective ane
Inadequate to the wants, and destructive ofthe
vital interests, of the people, and the general
welfare of the State ought to be Immediately
changed
Therefore, be it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives in General Assem-
bly, convened, =.
Sec. /. That on the twelfth day of April
next following, a poll shall be opened at each
of the election precincts in this State, now es'
tablished by law, for the purpose of receiving
for or against the calling of a Convention to
change the Constitution.
Sec. 2. That the Governor shall issue his
proclamation, ordering the said polls to be
opened in the time, manner, and form now pre-
scribed by law, for ordering a poll to be opened,
for the election of Members to the General AS
sembly, and the said polls shall be presided over
by the same Commissioners, to be appointed
in the same manner, and the voting shall be
conducted, and all proceedings shall be had in
the same manner, as is now provided by law,
in cases of elections to the General Assem-
bly,.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, &c. That ev-
cry qualified voter, voting for, or against, a con-
~vention shall have written or printed on his
ballot, the word convention" if he be in favor
of such Convention, and tine words "No Con-
%vention," if he be opposed to such Convention.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, &c, That
the several Commissioners, presiding at said
polls, shall make returns of all votes received
for a Convention, and Of all votes received
against a Convention, to the respective return
ing officers of the Parishes, in the same time,
manner and form, as is provided by law, for
making returns of elections to the General AS
sembly; and the said several returning officers
of each Parish, shall make returns of said yo-
tiers to the Secretary of State in the same man.
ner, time and form, as is provided by law, for
making returns Of elections to the General AS
sembly.
Sec. s.. Be it further enacted, &c, That on
the tenth of May next, 1852, the Governor,
Secretary of State, and Attorney General, in
the presence of all such persons as may desire
to attend, shall proceed to count the votes so
given as aforesaid, for and against a Conven-
ton. If majority ofall the votes taken at the
polls hereinbefore provided to be held, shall he
in favor of calling Convention, the Governor
shall Immediately issue a proclamation, making
known the result of such votes, and shall at the
same time issue his proclamation, ordering the
several sheriffs of the several Parishes of this
State, to issue writs of elections, for the num-
bers of Delegates to which the respective Par
ishes may be entitled, the election of one hun
dred and twenty-nine persons to serve as dele
gates in a State Convention: said Delegates
shall be chosen at a special election, to be held
on the fourteenth day of June, 1852, in the
manner and form now provided by law for the
elections of members of the General Assem-
bly, and the several Senatorial Districts, shall
elect the same number of Delegates, as they
now elect Senators to the General Assembly, |
and the several Parishes and Representative
District, shall elect the same number of dele
gates as they now elect Representatives to the
General Assembly.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, &c, That the |
qualified voters of this State, voting for dele
gates to said Convention, shall designate. on
their ballots, the name or names of the persons
voted for, as delegates for the Senatorial Dis.
trlet, for those voted for as delegates from the
Representative District or Parish, as the case
may be. The returns of the returning officers
OF the several Parishes shall be made to the
OF State in the same manner and time
and form as for members of the General As
sembly.
Sec. Z. be it further enacted, &c, That any
commissioner, sheriff, or other officer, wilIfully
failing, or negiecting, to perform any ofthe du-
Ties imposed on him by this act, shall be fined in
a sum, not less than one hundred nor more
than one thousand dollars, or punished by in-
not EXCEEDING twelve months,
or both, at the discretion OF the court.
Sec. 3. BE it further enacted. dc, That if
any commissioner of election of any precinct,
fail to make return to the returning off.
GER of the Parish, of any poll, or vote, reoui-
red to be returned by this act, within ten DAYS
after the time of closing any of the polls re-
1ulred by this act to be opened; or if any retur-
ming officer of any Parish, shall fail to make re-
.urns, it shall be the duty of said returning
officer, or the Seeretery Of State, as the case
nay be, to send for, and obtain, the said re.
urnc, at the expense of the State, to be REIN.
,ursed by him tothem through whose neglect
ne SAID returns shall not have been delivered: I
ne amount shall be sued for by the District {
Attorney of the District wherein said retur. 4
ing officer so failing, may reside. }EsT q
Sec. y. Be it further enacted, Sc, That the 6
eiegates eiectedto said convention, shall meet
: tue seat OF government on the fifth day. of c
uiy next 1852. In case any person elected '
2 SAID convention should die, or resign, a new '
lection shall be forthwith ordered by the Gov 9
rnor to I'LL his place, in the same manner, and {
me, as is provided by law for filling a vacancy fl
the General Assembly. "
See. 10. Be it further enacted, &C., That the u
eiegates to the said convention shall receive [
'e same mileage, and per diem pay, to which 81
oers of the General Assembly are now by Ct