Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-15
THE CONVENTION BILL.

Both have been committed for trial"
THE CONVENTION BILL.
The following i. the bill providing for the assembling
of State Convention, passed by both Houses of the
General Assembly:
An ACT to provide for lectng members oa convention,
and TO convene the same.
l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that it
shall be the duty of the commissioners and officers who
appointed supentend and conduct elections for
county and corporation officers in May last at the places
established for holding elections for members of the Gen
eral Assembly, to open polls for eecting delegates to
Convention The said election shall be held on the 4th
day of February in the year of our Lord 1861
At the time the said commissioners and OIL
shall open separate poll to take the sense OF the
qualified voters to whether any action OF said Conyen-
ton dissolvng connection with the Federal Union
or changing the organic law of the State shall be sub
med to the people for ratification or rejection; and in
order ascertain the OF the voters upon the ques
ton aforesaid, the said officers shall cause TO be kept
poll be headed upon the question OF referring such
action to the people for their decisiOn which said
poll books shall have two columns, one beaded "for
errug to the people," and the other against re-
ferring to the people," and the names of those who
vote for the former shall be written under the former
heading and those who vote for the latter under the
latter heading When the said officers meet as here
in provided they shall ascertain and make return OF the
number of persons voting for each proposition. They
shall forthwith send the clerk Of their respective
counties corporation, copy thereof whose duty
snail be to transmit Immediately copy thereof to the
President of the Convention at Richmond, and also to
the Governor of the Commonwealth In case any OIL
Ger appointed as aforesaid should fail to act his their
place shall be supplied in the mode prescribed by the
law of Virginia for general elections.
2 The Convention shall consis. OF one hundred and
fy.two members to be chosen for and by the several
counties and cities Of the Commonwealth, as prescribed
by tue second section of the fourth article of the
Constitution of this State for the election OF members
of the House of Delegates. The county or counties
which alternately vote for delegates TO the General A.
semby under the said article OF the said Constitution,
and which AT the next election for delegates would b.
entitled to elect delegate delegates shall elect the
same number of members of the Convention and IN the
same manner that they would be entitled to II the cleo
ton were for members of the next session OF the Gene
RAJ Assembly.
3. Any person may be elected member of the Con
yenton who at the time of election has attained the
age of twenty-five years. and is citizen of this Com
monweah. All persons shall be qualified TO vote on the
question or in the election aforesaid who are entitled to
vote for members OF the General Assembly, under the
Constitution of the Commonwealth.
The said election shall in all respects be conducted
in the mode prescribed and the officers conducting the
same shall be vested with the powers perform the duties,
receive the came compensation, and be liable to the pc
nates prescribed by the laws of Virginia for general
elections, excep: herein provided.
D. The polls shall remain open for one day only, and
the commissioners experimenting the said election at
the court-houses shall meet in their respective counties
and corporations on the second day alter the election
day shall then cOmOare the polls for their respective
counties and corporations which elect delegate or del
egates and ascertain aud certify the votes OF the coun-
ties and corporations parts thereof comprising cleo
ion districts and deliver certified statement thereof TO
the officers conducting the election at the cOurt-hOuses.
The officers conducting the election at the courthouses
of the respective counties and parts OF counties OF such
election districts shall and compare the returns nj
t,a rls urpd by Ia ~ or
tie fourth day after the election and make returns OF
the election Of which they shall forthwith transmit
by mail the Governor another with the poll books,
hail be delivered th. clerk OF the county or Corpo
ration court 10 be fled in his Office and another 10
the member members elected to :he said Convention
The members so chosen shall meet on "Wednesday,
thirteenth OF February next no tue capitol IN the city OF
Richmond and proceed to adopt such measures a. they
NAV deem expedicnt for the welfare Of the Common
wealth The sessions of the Convention shall be held IL
the apitol until o herwise provided for.
T. In the case OF contested election, the same shall
be governed in I'll respects by the existing laws regard
to contested elections in the House Of Delegates unless
otherwise ordered by the Convention
s. In case of vacancies occurring previous 70 the meet
ing of the Convention the Governor shall issue wrts to
supply the same; and after the said meeting, the writs
shall be issued by order Of the Convention aud the cleo
tons under such ws shall be conducted in all respects
a. the elections herein before provided for.
g. The said Convention shall be the judge Of lie own
privileges and elections and the members thereof shall
have possess and enjoy, all the privileges which mem
bcrs elected to and attending the General Assembly
are entitled to- and shall be allowed the same
ply for travelling TO- attending and returning from
the said Conventions is now allowed to members OF the
General Assembly for like services
10 The sail Convention Is hereby empowered TO ap-
point such officers, and make them such reasonable al
owauces for their services shall deem proper; which
several allowances shall be audited by the Auditor of
Public Accounts and paid by the Treasurer of the Com
monweath, out of any money in the treasury not other
wise Appropriated
H. The expenses incurred in providing poll books and
n procuring writer's to keep the same, shall be betrayed
heretofore in the elections of members Of the General
Assembly.
T. Immediately upon the passage Of this act the Go
vernon shall issue proclamation giving notice thereof
of the time Of holding the election and of the meeting
of the Convention herein provided for.
l3 The Secretary Of the Commonwealth shall cause 10
be sent to the clerks of each county and corporation
many copies of this act there precincts therein
using for that purpose special messengers when neces
sary in his judgment 1t shall be the duty of the clerks
TO deliver the same to the Sheriff for distribution, who
shall forthwith copy to be posted at the door of
his court house aud public place each election
district.
H. This act shall be in force from its passage.