Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-30

BY the Governor,
GEORGE ". MUSFoRp,
Secretary Of the Commonwealth.
An oRp1SANcE TO REPEAL THE RATIFICATION OF
the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, BY TUE STATE OF VIRGINIA., AND TO
RESUME ALL THE R'GuT AND OVERS GRANTED
UNDER SAID CONSTITUTION.
The people Of Virginia in their ratification OF
the Constitution CT The United States Of Ameri.
ca adopted BY them in Convention, on the
twenty fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty.
eight, having declared that the powers granted
under the said Constitution were derived from
the people of the United States, and might be
RESUMED whatsoever the same should be per.
vertcd to their injury and oppression, and the
powers, not only to the injury Of the people of
Virginia, but to the oppression OF the Southern
slaveholdiug States,
Now, therefore, we, the people Of Virginia,
do declare and ordatn, that the Ordinance
adopted by the people Of this State in Conven-
lion on the twenty. fifth day of June, in the
year Of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred
and eighty eight whereby the Constitution Of
the United States Of America vas ratified !;
and sll acts of the General Assembly OF this
State, ratlfyiug or adopting amendments 10 said
Constitution, are hereby repealed and abro
gated that the Union between the State Of
Virginia and the other States under the Con
s~titution aforesaid, is hereby dissolved, and
that the State Of Virginia is in tue full posses
sioa and exercise Of all the rights Of sovereign.
" which belong and appertain to a free and
independent Stats. And they do further de
clare that said Constitution Of tho United
States Of Americs is no longer binding On any
OF the citizens Of this State.
This Ordinance shsll take effect and be m
act Of this dag, when ratified 6y u majority Of
the votes Of the people Of this State, cast Il. G
pull to be taken thereon. on the fourth Thurs.
Jay in May next, in pursuance Of . schedule
hereafter to be enacted.
Doae IL Convention in the city Of Richmond,
on the seventeenth day Of april, il the Year of
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
one, and in the eighty. fifth year OF the Com
monwcalth Of Virginia
a true Copy, jso. [. ErBASS,
Secretary IT Convention.
SCHEDULE.
1t shall DO the duty of tine officers conduct.
ing tee elections directed by law 10 De held on
the fourth Thursday in May next at the places
appointed Tor holding the same, to open q poll
10 take the sense OF the qualified voters of this
Commonwealth, upon the ratification or re
lection Of "An ordinance TO repeal the r~atiica-
ton OF the Constitution Of the United States
Of America, by the State Of Virginia, and TO
resume ali the rights and powers granted IN,
der said Constitution" adopted in Conyen.
ton, at the city Of Richmond, on the seven
teen;h day Of April, one thousand eight hun
dred and SiXty.one.
3. The poll. book shall be headed 1.-The 0rdi.
nance Of Secession" and shall contain two
columns, one headed "For Ratification" and
the other For Rejection" and tie names OF
those who vote for the ratification Of the SAID
Ordinance shall be written under the former
heading, and tie names Of those who vote for
iis rejection shall be written under the latter
heading.
9. Tie said officers shall make return Of the
number Of persons voting for each proposition
at the time and in the manner prov,ded ny low.
as ia tie case OF other elections and shall forth
with deliver the returns, together with the
poll books to the clerks Of their respective
counties and corporations; and it shall be the
duty of such clerks respectively to transmit
tulllicu!dlClS lUC lOl vi AK SO'ilIIUIi-
wealth, copies Of the said returns so delivered
to them.
4 The Governor shall, without delay, make
proclamation OF the result, stating therein the
aggregate vote for and against the ratification,
TO be published in such newspapers in the
State as may be deemed requisite for general
information; and if majority Of said votes be
cast for the ratification of the said Ordinance,
he shall annex to his proclamation a cop?
thereof, together with this schedule.
:. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
Ause TO be sent to the clerks of each county
ard corporation. as many copies OF this Sched-
ule and Ordinance aforesaid ~ there are piac S
OF voting therein, and three copies to each Of
the military commanders hereinafter referred
to, using special messengers for that purpose
when necessary. And it shall be the duty Of the
said clerks, TO deliver the same to the sheriffs
for distribution, whose duty it shall be forth.
with TO post the said copies at some public
place in each election district
6. The expenses incurred in providing poll
books and in procuring writers to enter tue
names of the voters therein, shall be betrayed
rs in the case of the election Of members to
the General Assembly.
Z. the qualified votors OF the common.
wealth who may be absent from the counties
or corporations Of their residence, on the day Of
election n tho military service Of the State
NAV vote for the ratification or rejection Of the
said Ordinance at such place or places within
their encanpmeDt or, as the commander AT
such encampmcnt shall designate, whether the
said encampment shall be within the limits Of
this State or not. For each place OF voting he
shall appoint q superintendent, three commits.
s%ioners, and as many clerks as shall be neces-
sary, who, after having been first duly sworn
by him shall perform the duties required Of
and be liable to the penalties imposed upon
such officers u .der the election laws OF this
State.
s. The officers conducting the said election
shall, on the day after the election, or as soon
thereafter as may be, deliver the poll books
to their said commander, who shall forthwith
forward the same to the Governor Of this Com
monwealth, who shall count the said votes III