Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-06
rh. Amnnaea Con.tl,u,lon.

We publish, this morning, the Bill OF hgns anu
Amended Consultation as adopted by the Convention,
yesterday. The amendments, e1cep. those effected BY
elimination, are indicated By Rallies, and otherwise
The important changes IN the organic law agreed 70 oy
the Convention are as follows:
/ Members Of the House Of Delegates to be elected
annually instead of bienHialiy
q The Senate to be divided into four classes, two Of
twelve and two of thirteen Members to bs elected alter
ssI IN rotation so tha. one class shall be elected eve
~ year. At present there too classes, one elected
every too yeare.
The General Assembly to meet every year instead
of bsrHiay Tho limitation Of the length Of session
is e1scinded.
The person having the highest number OF votes for
Governor is no. to be declared elected unless he has
ceiyed majority of the phois number Of vOt'' cast
Il no person receive such majority the General Assemo
IL TO select the Governor from thu persons not exceeding
three, having the highest number ofvOtes.
S. The present Board Of Public Works, as constitu-
.oasy organized, is abolished bu: the General Assem-
bly, is rqued to establish Board subject to ts CONTROL
6. Instead of one Supreme Court of Appeals, there
shall be too Appellate Courts to conss! of three judges
each, one 10 be Court Of Law the other court Of
,qli.y.
T. The District Courts abolished.
s. The General Assembly is invested with power to in
crease the number of judicial circuits. At present. the
lumber il limited to twenty one.
g The judges of the Appellate and Circuit Courts are
o be elected BY the General Assembly instead OF by the
qlalf,d voters a. present.
10 The said Judges to bold oice during good BE-
Aayiot or until they attain the age OF seventy years, or
are removed instead Of term Of years, as now prac-
Used Judges Of Circuit Courts no. required to be
thi ty years Of age.
H. Justices Of the Peace to be elected by the quail
fed voters for Oslvs years. but oneourth Of the num-
bsr to be elected every three years. Vacancies In the
oce Of justice to be filed by the justices of the county
for the residue of the une1pred term.
u. Clerks and Attorneys for the Commonwealth for
either Circuit or County Courts to DO appointed by their
respective courts instead of being elected by the people
49, The Attorney General to be oppoiaed by the Gen.
s-a Assembly for an indefinite tenure of Office instead Of
~ the peopla for STERN of years, as at present
IA. sheriff. to be nominated by the County Courts,
aud oppoiHtsd BY the Governor, and to be eligible to
appointment for any trm If they have duly accounted
for all public dues At present sherifs are elected by
the people for one term aud are not eligible to the same
Office for the next succeeding term.
l5 Ccnstabes, etc., to be appointed by the County
Courts.
To- Only the Mayor, Aldermen, and members OF the
Council of cities and towns be elected by the people.
Tie various officers to be appointed some by the Coun-
cl others by the Hastings Court
Among the minor and verbal amendments are the
following
Commissioned officers soldiers sesmen, or marines ~
ne regular army ns:ead of "n the service) Of the Con-
erate States TO be excluded from the right OF suffrage
object of this amendment to reserve the right Of vc
ting to VOLUNTEERS in the service.
g. The CITY Of Portsmouth Is authorized TO send one
delegate and the residue Of the county ofNorok anoth
CT delegate to the General Assembly. At present two
delegates are elected by the voters Of the city aud county
collectively.
4 Ezscinds the clause requiring the RE-ESAcrxrSr o.
any act or section Of proposed to be amended BY
toe General Assembly.
5 Empowers the General Assembly to prohibit the fu
ture emancipation Of slaves.
6. E1sciuds the provision RToUiRISG 4 molety Of thu
cqplit.tion tax upon white persons TO be applied
the purposes of education in primary schools.
Ex.c!nds the clause relative to the division of coun
ties Hty miles in length, etc.
g. EIscinds the section requiring decinuia census.
O. Requires the General Assembly to pas, laws to en-
srre rights of speedy trial by jury etc, as guaranteed
by the Bill Of Rights.
TO- County Courts to be held monthly BY THREE iue
ces e1oep. when the law requires the pesence Of arg
or number.