The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-04-21

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- To the Public. Drsirtrr - 49,. -
g che &. s e s. s . inpo.y
sppiied to the Hon. j. NJ Bo,ts for snSo,ssss
!eeuion o. my belief leaving mysef enfireIy .nhse,
80 me- @ zen, which reply append stating At the
lawyers, among whom Is the Hon. Alsx' HoII;dsx
JAMES r. BRIDGES.
Tn nn.i Az PR The question having been msoted
~ circles as 20 my eligibility to the State ece
1ne public, ! would resort to your better Judgment.
- 30 you think that residence out Of ones NATfvE
in. Iar limited time, disauali6es him for hold
humhiy ask your opinion, and yield to your deci
Son. lam, respectfully,
Hon. JoHS MINOR Boris. ''
RICHMOND, April I4th, 1856.
my DEAR SiR: II was late tonight when received
your note, requesting my opinion as to your eligb
ity TO the Office of SHERIFF for the city OF Rich
hSnd, and whether residence in another State for
limited tame, would effect disqu sli6cation.
attach below the provisions OF tt Constitution re-
iative to the office by which it win be perceived that
residence Is the only thing required TO enable any
who may be chosen by the people to fill that Office
am not aware that there has been any legislation
on this subject and take it for granted there has
not inasmuch as the qualifications of that officer hav-
ing been fixed in the Constitution Ii self il will not he
competent for the Legislature add supercede or
detrnct from such as ara therein pre- scrihed.
With Constables and Orerseers Of the Poor the dis
erection seems to have been left with the legislature
but not so with County Clerks Surveyors, 4ttovueps
Tor the Commonwealth, Sheriff Commissioners of the
HereARe all of whom required to be residents
merely, except the Attorneys for the Commonwealth
who may be elected even without the qualification of
residence
have therefore no hesitation in ri wing IL to Won a.
my opinion that your having been citizen of another
State during portion of the last FIVE or ten years
does constitute the slightest i'm OF, iiment tn
right to hold the Office il elected TO it provided Won
actual and bona de resident of the city at the
time of election.
herewith send the constitutional provisions re-
ferred to, which you will find below
am, very respectfully, your obedier servant.
JNO. M Bolts
To JAMES R. BRIDGES, Esq
County Officers
so. The voters of each county shat elect Clerk
Of the County Court, Surveyor, dttovucy for the
Commonwealth. Sheriff and so many Commissioners
Of the Rerenue may be authorize by law, who
Clerk and the Surveyor for the term of six years. the
Attorney for the term of four years; the Sheriff and
the Commissioners for the term of two years. Con-
stables and Overseers of the Poor shall be elected by
the voters, as may be prescribed by law
81. The officers mentioned In the preceding Sec
ties districts for which they were respectively
elected. No person elected for two cessive terms
to the office of Sheriff. shall be re-egb lie to the
office for the next succeeding term, shall he, du
ring his term of service, within year thereat
ter. be eligible 10 any political office.
81 The Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Attorneys
for the Commonwealth. Clerks of the Circuit and
and County Courts and all other county officers shall
be subject to indictment for malfeasance miseasance
other neglect Of official duty; and upon conviction
thereof, their offices shall become vacant
sp l8-3t