Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-06
A BILL
.ss..5 .. 5.s ,seiey A BILL rsasssffsy4s
Concerning Convention to amend the Constitution

poruon OF the people OF North Carolina DESTROYS
of amending the same; and although the General
Assembly disclaims all right and power in itself to
ordain and establish amendments of the Consttu-
ton is considered to be its duty to adopt measures
for ascertaning the will of the people in the prem
SEES, and to carry that will into effect in the most
convenient and eficacious manner, when ascertaned
Therefore,
|. Be 1t enacted by the General assembly of the
State Of North Carolina, and 1t as here6y enacted by
the authority Of The same That the Courts of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions of the several Counties in the
State at the term thereof to be held after the
first day OF April one thousand eight hundred and
htty-hvc, shall appoint two inspectors to superintend
the polls to be opened at each and every separate
election precinct in said Counties for ascertaning by
ballot the will of the fiecmen of North Carolina re-
latve to the calling of State Convention and if
any such Court or Courts shall fail to make such
appointments or if any person appointed shall
fail to appear and act such at the election herein
after directed to be held, it shall be the duty of the
Sheriff of the County or his deputy at any precinct
with the advice of Justice of the Peace or if no
Justice be present with the advice of three eehol-
ders, to appoint inspector, when the Court shall
have failed to make appointment orin place of any
person who has been appointed and failed to appear
and act; and the inspector or inspectors thus ap-
pointed, when duly sworn by Justice of the
Peace faithfully to perform their duties in such cleo
ton, shall have the same authority if appointed
by Court aforesaid.
2. That it shall be the duty of the Sheriff in each
and every County in the State open polls at the
several election precincts IN his County on the first
Thursday in August next when all persons qualified
according to the Constitution to vote for members
of the House of Commons may vote for or against
State Convention to amend the Constitution those
desiring such Convention to vote with written or
printed ticket " Convcntion, " and those not wish
ing Convention, to vote with like ticket " No
Convention. "
3 That it shall be the duty of tae said Sherifs to
make duplicate returns of the polls in their respec
tive Counties to before the Clerk of the Coun-
ty, Court, copy of which shall be deposited in
said Clerks office and the other copy transmitted to
the Governor of the State, at Raleigh. within ten
days after the holding of said polls.
4. That it shall be the duty of the Governor, as
soon as he shall have received the returns of the
SherifS in the presence of the Secretary of State
Public Treasurer and Comptroller, to compare the
votes for and against Convention; and if it shall
appear that majority of the votes poled in ia
of it, he shall forthwith issue his Proclamation
announcing the result, in three newspapers publish
ed in the City of Raleigh and he shall likewise is
writ of election to every sheriff in the State,
requiring him to open polls for the election of dele
gates to a Convention, under the same regulations
and penalties that prescribed for holding other
State elections, the first Thursday in October A
d. 1855.
3. The persons who shall have been inspectors in
the election for taking the vote Convention shall
act in the capacity in the election Of delegates
but in of failure the vacancies shall be suppl
ed in the manner provided as aforesaid.
6. That the several County Courts shall allow the
Sheriff the compensation for this for other
elections; and any Sheriff or other officer appointed
to hold said elections who shall fail in his duty,
cordng to the requirements of this act, shall forfeit
and pay to the State the sum of one thousand dol
lars, to be recovered in the name of the State in
suit to be Immediately instituted by the Solicitor of
the circuit before the Superior Court of the County
z. That all persons qualified to vote for members
of the House of Commons under the present Consti-
tuition shall be entitled to vote for members of the
said Conventions and all free white men citizens ofhs
State who shall have resided in the for two
before said election and at the time thereof
ilegibe to the House of Commons under the pres
shall In olro
Convention.
g. That each County in the State shall be enti-
tied to elect and send to said Convention the
number of me mbers that she is entitled to in the
House of Commons under the apportionment now
eXiSting and if any vacancy shall happen by death
or otherwise after such election, and before the
meeting of said Convention, the Governor shall inn
medately issue writ of election to supply such va
cancy.
g. That the delegates chosen shall convene in
the City of Raleigh on the first Monday OF Decem-
Der, A. d. 1855; majority of all those elected shall
constitute quorum for the transaction OF business
and if quorum shall not attend that day, those
assembled may adjourn from day to day, until
quorum shall appear and qualify
10. That no elected delegate shall be permitted to
take his seat in said Convention until he Shall have
taken an oath support the Constitution of the Uni
ted States and also the following oath, namely:
ca. b. do solemnly affirm Gas the case may
beg that will faithfully and mpartially perform my
duty in this Convention by revising the Constitution
of this State, and proposing and supporting amend
ments to the same in such particulars only as in my
opinion the public good shall require. So help ME
God
IL. That the public Treasurer be, and he is here
by authorized to pay upon the warrant OF the Gov
ernor, such sums may be necessary for the con-
tngent charges of the Convention, and also to each
member of the Convention two dollars per day for
his service in the same and five cents per mile for
his travelling expenses to and from said Convention.
H. That it shall be the duty of the Governor, i'm
mediaey after the passage of this act, to transmit
| copy of the same to each and every Clerk OF
County Court to be posted at the door of the Court
House of his County, and to cause the same to be
published in at least two newspapers in the State,
until the meeting of said Convention.
49, That by the vote of the people in favor of a
Convention, in the manner herein before provided,
this act shall be considered to have been ratified and
its provisions ordained by them; and the delegates
elected aforesaid, in Convention assembled, shall
| have power to consider and propose such amend
ments to the Constitution of North Carolina as to
them shall seem best suited to establish justice
sure domestic tranquility, and preserve the blessings
of liberty in the present condition of the people of
the State. ak
| IA That the said Convention shall have power,
and it shall be its duty to adopt ordinances for sub
the surages of the freemen of the State, qualified
to vote in the House of Commons, at such time
shall be designated by ITSELF and majority of their
votes shall determine the question of their ratifca
ton or rejection: And the said Convention shall
also provide all necessary ordinance, and regula-
tons for carrying int effect the Constitution as
amended provided the same shall be ratified by the
popular vote aforesaid.
10 That this act shall be in force from its ratif-
| cation.
The GOVERNOR OF New York The official vote