Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-12-24

nrSt MONDAY In OctODer, IN the year one thousand
eight hundred and twenty nine, di4 propose to
the people of the Commonwealth an amended
Constitution or form Of government which was
ratified by them. ...., se,, - 1.ox..,,...
g. And, whereas, Convention, held on the
first day of August, 1851, did propose to the
people Of the Commonwealth an amended Consti-
tuition, which was ratified by them: hnvl
f. And, whereas, the General Assembly of
Virginia, by an sct passed January 14th,, 1861,
did proxide tor the election by the people, lof
delegates to meet in general Convention to CON
slider the propriety, among other things, OF
changing the organic law Of the State and of
submitting ths same to the people for ratification
or rejection; :a.s. e,suy = Tyesf -rf,f>f
= s.. We, therefore, the delegates of the good
people of Virginia, elected, and in Convention
assembled in pursuance of said act, do propose
to the people the following Constitution and
form of Government for this Commonwealth !
! iif f't''iD ARTICLE +. ~
Z - -. BILL OF RIGHTS
y The declaration of rights, as amended and pre-
fixed to this Constitution, shall have the same
relation thereto as it had to the former Censti-
tuition. z" -et' =
li#oii-. II 'sls4 ARTICLE II. 90 80
=" DIVISION OF POwEIs- =
The legislative, executive and luI.ciary de-
partments shall be separate and distinct, so that
neither exercise the powers properly belonging
to either of the others nor shall any person ex-
ercise the powers of more than one of them at
the same time, except that justices of the peace
shall oe eligible to either House. of Assembly.
r. f ARTICLE III. ..g ~
QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS.
l. Every white male citizen Of the Common
been resilient of the State for two years, and of
the county, city or town where he offers to vote,
for twelve months next preceding an election,
and no other person, shall be qualified to vote
for members of the General Assembly and all
officers elected by the people but no person in
the military, naval or marine service Of the Con-
federate States shall be deemed resident of
this State by reason Of being stationed therein;
and no person shall have the right to vote who
is of unsOnnd mind, or pauper, or non-com-
missloned officer, soldier, seaman or marine in
the regular army or navy of the Confederate
States or who has been convicted of bribery in
an election, or Of any infamous offence.
z The General Assembly, at it's first session
after the adoption of this Constitution and after
wards IS occaslon may require, shall cause every
city or town, the white population of which ex-
ceeds five thousand, to be laid off into convenient
wards, and separate place of voting to be es-
tablshed in each, and thereafter no inhabitant of
such city or town shall be allowed to vote except
in the ward in which he resides.
3. No voter, during the time for holding any
election at which he is entitled to vote, shall
be compelled to perform N lItary service, ex-
cept in time of war or public danger; to work
upon the public roads, or to attend any court as
suitor, juror or witness; and no voter shall be
subject to arrest under any civil process during
his attendance at elections, or in going to or re-
turning from them.
A. In all elections votes shall be given openly
or vipa voce, and not by ballot, but dumb persons
entitled to suffrage may vote BY ballot.
ARTICLE ". aa
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
l. The Legislature shall be formed of two dis
tinct branches, which together shall be a COM
plete Legislature, and shall be called the General
Assembly Of Virginia. a
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
g. One Of these shall be called the House of
Delegatssssand shall consist OF oha 6undred ard
fifty two members, to be chosen annually for and
by the several counties, cities and towns of the
Commonwealth, the distribution and appoint
ment whereof shall remain as now provided by
law, untila reappertionment Of the same shall
be made by the General Assembly, as hereinafter
provided. The General Assembly shall have
power upon application of majority of the vo-
vers of the county of Campbell, to provide that
instead of two delegates to be elected by said
county, the town Of Lynchburg shall elect one
delegate, and the residue of the county Of Camp
bell shall elect one delegate. And the said
General Assembly shall have like power, on the
application of majority of the voters of the
county of Norfolk, to provide that instead of two
delegates to be elected by said county, the city
Of Portsmouth shall elect one delegate, and the
residue of the county of Norfolk shall elect one
delegate. .'csi' e - ~ Ai.H-
3. The other shall be called the Senate, and
consist of fifty members, for the election of whom
the counties, cities, and towns shall be divided
into fifty districts. Each county, city, and town
OF the respective district at the time of the first
election ofdelegates under this Constitution shall
vote for one Senator; and the Sheriffs or othe,
officers holding the election for each county CITY,
or town, within five days after the election, shall
meet at the Courthouse Of the county, city, OF
loWn first named in the district, and from the
polls so taken in their respective counties, cities
and towns, return as Senator the person who has
received the greatest number of votes in the
whole district. To keep up this Assembly by
/ rotation, the district shall be divided into four
classes, and numbered by lot. The first class
shall consist of twelve, the second of thirteen,
the third of twelve, and the fourth ofthirteen-
The seats of the Senators of the first class
snail be vacated at the expiration Of the first
Year after the commencement of their term of
Office; of the second class, at the expiration of
the second year of the third class at the expira-
third year; and of the fourth class, at the exp-
y
be chosen every year, and the vacancies thereby
occasioned shall be supplied from such class by
new election In the manner aforesaid. This ro-
taton shall be applied to each class according to-
its number, and continued in due order annually
For the election Of Senators, the District
shall remain as now arranged, until representa-
ton in the two Houses shah be reapportioned in
the manner provided in thisConstitution.
APPoRTIONMENT OF DIFFERENTIATION
sAs5.aIt shall be the duty of the General Assem-
biys in the year one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-fye and in every tenth year thereafter, in
case it csn agree upon principle of representa-
ton. to reapportion represeni alton In the Sen
ate and House Of Delegates in accordance there
With; and in the event the General Assembly.
at the first or any subsequent period of reappor-
tionment, shall tail to agree upon principle of
representation, and to reapportion representation
in accordance Herewith, each House shall sepa-
rately propose a scheme OF representation con-
tanning principle or rule for the House Of Del
egates, in connection with principle or rule Tor
the. Senate. And it shall be the duty of the
General Assembly, at the same session, to certi-
fy TO the Governor the principles or rules of rep.
resentatlon which the respective Houses may sep
arately propose, to be applied in making reap
portlonments in the Senate and in the House Of
and the Governor shall. as soon
thereafter as may be- by proclamation, make
known the propositions ofthe respective 81 onses "A
and re -.uire the voters of the Commonwealth to
assemble at such time as he shall appoint at their
lawful place II voting, and decide by their vote
between the propositions thus presented. In the
eyrnt The General Assembly shall fail in the wear
one thousand eight hundred and s;xty-fiye or in