Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-11

thousand eight hundred and fifty four, bill, en-.
titled "a bill amend the Constitution OF the State
Of North Carolina" was read three times in each
house of the said General Assembly, and agreed to
by three.tit1hs of the whole number of members of
each house respectively And Whereas the bill so
agreed to hath been duly published six months
previous to the election of the members of this pres
ent General Assembly, according to the clause Of
section one OF article four of the amended Constitn
ton, and the directions contained in the second
section of the said bill; and it is the intention, by
THIS bill, to agree to the preamble and first section
OF the bill aforesaid containing the said alteration Of
the Constitution of this State: And whereas, large
number OF the people DISTINGUISHED by the free
hold qualification now required of voters for MEM
bers of the Senate; therefore,
BE it enacted by the General assembly Of the State
Of North. Carolinu and it is hereby enucted By the
authority Of tile same, Gwo-thirds of the whole
number of members of each house concurringO That
the second clause Of the third section of the first
a'ticle of the amended constitution, ratified by the
people ct North Carolina, on the second Monday Of
November in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred
and rty-ive Shall be amended to read as follows:
Every free white man Of the age of twcnty-one
years, being native naturalized citizen of the
United States, and who has been an nhabitant of
the State for twelve months Immediately preceding
the day of any election, and shall have paid public
taxes, shall be entitled to vote for member of the
Senate for the district in which he resides
SEC. l. Be 1t enncted by tie General assembly Of
the State Of North Carolina and it is Aereiy sn"ct
ed by tile authority Of tie same, That the foregoing
amendment to the Constitution of this State, as en-
bodied in the preceding section Se submitted by the
governor to the people on the first Thursday in
August, 1857, sixty days notice having been s ven
in ten newspapers
SEC 2. lie it FURTHER enacted, That the courts of
pleas and quarter sessions Of the several counties in
the State, at the term thereof to be held next after
the first day of April, 1857, shall appoint two in.
,l1, ln
each and every separate election prec net in the SAID
counties, for ascertaning the will of the freemen OF
North-CarOna relat We to the ratification OF said
amendment; and if any such court courts shall
fail to make such appointments, or if any person so
appointed shall fail to appear aud act such al the
election hereinafter 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 trccholders to appoint inspector where the
Court shall have failed to make appointment, or
in place of any person who has been appointed and
ia led to appear and act and the inspector or in
slectors thus appointed, after being duly sworn
faithfully to perform their duties in such election,
shall have the same authority if appointed by
court aforesaid.
SEC. g. BE it fnrther enacted, That it shall he the
duty of the SheriS in each and every county in the
State, 10 open polls at the several election precincts
in his county, on the first Thursday in August, 1857
and the same shall be kept open for one day from
the hour Of ten O'clock in the morning to the hour
OF six O'Clock in the afternoon, under the rules
and regulations now exist for the election OF
members Of the General Assembly, when all per-
sons qualified according to the constitution to vote
for members of :he House of Commons may vote for
or against ratification Of the said amendment !;
those desiring such amendment to vote with writ
ten or printed ticket "Approved those OF contra
ry opinion 10 vote with written or printed ticket
| mot Approved.' That said SheriiiS shall compare
and certify the results of the elections, before
| the Saturday following and transmit the same in
twenty days thereafter to the governor of the State.
SEC. 4. BE it FURTHER enacted, That it shall he the
duty of said SheritfS to make duplicate return OF
the polls in their respective counties, sworn to be-
fore the clerk of the county 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 twenty days after the holding OF
| said polls.
SEC s. Be it further enacted That the sheriff< be
allowed the same compensation for this as other
elections; any sheriff other offer appointed
to hold said election 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 snit to be immediately
instituted by the solicitor of the circuit before the
| superior court of the county.
SEC 6. BE it further tnuctea That it shall be the
| duty OF the governor, he shall have
ceivcd the of the sherif> in the presence OF
the secretary Of State, public treasurer and comp
tr"ier, to compare the votes for and against rati-
! ticaion of said amendment; and if it shall appear
that majority of the votes pnllcd in favor of it.
he shall forthw it'll issue his proclamation announc
ing the result; and thcreupon, the governor shall
| cause to be endorsed the said amendment en-
| rolled by the two hniScs Of This General Assembly
| and shall annex thcrcunto a certificate 'under hs
| signature, declaring the said amendment has beer
ratified by the people of NorthCarona and tht
secretary of State shall countcrSgn the said ccrtifi
cate and annex thereto the great seal ofhe State ant
the said amendment so enrolled with the certificate
! Aforesaid shall be forever kept among the archive:
of the State. in the Office of the secretary aforesaid
[RM.fed tile sh d"y Of Jtn"nrv, 1851