The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-28
Western Virginia Convention.
AN ORDINANCE FOR THE REORGA NIZA-
TON OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

The following is copy of the Ordinance
adopted by the Convention at Wheeling.
Under it, Hon. Frank Pierpont, of Marion
county, has been named as Governor:
The people of the State of Virginia, by
their delegates assembled in convention at
Wheeling, do ordain as follows:
l. A Governor and Lieutenant Cover
nor for the State of Virginia shall be ap.
pointed by this convention, to discharge the
duties and exercise the powers which per-
tain to their respective Offices by the exist
ing laws of the State, and to continue in
Office until their successors be elected and
qualified.
2. A council, to consist of five members,
shall be appointed by this convention to
consult with and advise the Governor re
specting such matters pertaining to his Of
fetal duties as he shall submit for consider
alton, and to aid in the execution of his Of.
fetal orders. Their term of Office shsl ex-
pire at the same time as that of the Cover
nor.
8. The delegates elected to the general
assembly on the 23d day of May last, and
the Senators entitled, under existing laws,
to seats in the next general assembly, who
shall qualify themselves by taking the oath
constitute the Legislature of the State, to
discharge the duties and exercise the pow
ers pertaining to the general assembly. They
shall hold their Offices for the terms for
which they were respectively elected They
shall assemble in the CITY of Wheeling on
the - day OF -, and proceed to or
ganlze themselves as prescribed by existing
laws, in their respective branches. A ma
jority in each branch of the members gu Ii
fed as aforesaid shall constitute guarantee
to do business. A majority of the members
of each branch thus qualified, voting affir-
matively, shall be competent to pass an act
specified IN the twenty-seventh section of
the fourth article of the constitution of the
State.
4. The governor. lieutenant governor,
members OF the legislature, and all officers
now in the service OF the state, or of any
county, city, or town thereof, or hereafter to
| be elected or appointed for such service,
including the judges and clerks of the sew
eral courts, sheriffs, commissioners of the
revenue, justices OF the peace, officers of city
and municipal corporations, and officers of
militia and volunteers of the state not mus
tered into the service OF the United States,
shall each take the following oath or affirm
alton before proceeding in the discharge of
their several duties
solemnly swear Cor affirm) that will sup
port the Constitution of the United States, and
the laws in pursuance thereof as the supreme
n q nd in he nr6i 20
the convention which assembled at Richmond
on the 18th day of February, 1861, to the con-
trary Notwithstanding; and that | will uphold
and defend the government ordained by the
convention which assembled at Wheeling on
the llth day of June. 1861, and The legislature,
governor, and all other officers thereof, in the
discharge OF their several duties as prescribed
by the last mentioned convention.
5. Ii any elective officer who is required
by the preceding section to take SAID oath
Or affirmation, tail or refuse to do so, it
shall be the duty of the governor, upon sat-.
lstactory evidence of the fact, 10 issue his
writ declaring the office to be vacant, and
providing for special election to fill the
vacancy, at some convenient and early day
to be designated in said writ, OF which due
publication shall be made for the informa-
ton OF tue persons entitled to vote at such
election, and such writ may be directed, at
the discretion OF the governor, to the sheriff
or sheriffs of the proper county or counties,
or to special commissioner or commissions
ers to be ordered by the governor for the
purpose. If the officer who fails or refuses
to take such orth or affirmation be appoint
ed otherwise than by election, the writ shall
be directed to the appointing power, requir-
ing it TO fill the vacancy.