Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-02
CONVENTION ACT.
AN ACT CONCERNING A CONVENTION OF
THE PEOPLE

THE PEOPLE.
WHEREAS, The present perilous condition of the
country demands, in the judgment of this General /
Assembly, that the sovereign people of this State
should assemble in convention to effect an honora-
bic adjustment of existing difficulties whereby the
Federal Union is endangered or, otherwise, to de-
termine what action will best preserve the honor
and promote the interests of North-C Carolina and, |
whereas this General Assembly, on matters of such
grave import involving the relations of NorthCar-
DINA to her sisters in the confederacy is reluctant
to adopt any settled policy without the of the
people, in whom, under our government all sove-
reignty resides, being first ascertained:
SECTION l. BE it therefore enacted by the General
assembly Of the State Of North Carolina and IL is
hereby enacted By the authority Of the same, (ttoo
thirds OF both Houses cOncurring,) That upon the
passage of this act, the Governor of the State be
and he is hereby required to issue proclamation
commanding the sheriffs Of the respective counties
in the State to open polls at the several election pre-
cincts in said counties, on the 2Sh day of February
1861, when and where all persons qualified to vote
for members Of the General Assembly may vote for
or against State convention, those who wish con-
vention voting with written or printed ticket,
convention" and those who do not wish a conven-
ton voting in the same way mo conventions" also,
to open separate polls at the said time and places
for the election of delegates to the convention to be
assembled on such terms hereinafter provid-
ed said polls to be superintendent by inspectors ap-
justices of the peace of the respective counties, who
shall be according to the provisions Of section
g. chapter 90, of revised code.
Sec 2. Be IL further enacted That it shall. be
the duty of the sherifs to make out duplicate state
ments of their polls in their respective counties
the question of convention" and mo convention"
to before the clerk of the county court copy
of which shall be deposited in said clerks Office and
the other copy transmitted to the Governor of the
State at Raleigh, under the same rules and regula-
tons and under the same panalties as are prescrib
ed in the of the returns of the vote for electors
of President and Vice President, as prescribed
by law Immediately after the election.
SEC. 3. BE ii. further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of the Governor, soon as he shall have
received the returns Of the sheritS in the presence
of the secretary Of the State, public treasurer and
comptroller, to compare the number of votes for and
against convention; and If it shall appear that
majority of the votes polled are in favor of
vention, he shall forthwith issue proclamation in
such manner as he may think proper, summoning
the delegates elected to said convention aforesaid
to convene in Raleigh on such day as he may de-
Signate in his said proclamation: Pr0rided, The
day designated be not earlier than the eleventh Of
March; and if a majority of the votes polled are
against convention, the governor shall, in like
manner, issue proclamation Of that fact; and in
that case the assembling of the said delegates elect
ed as aforesaid, under the provisions of this act is
hereby declared to be illegal and of no effect
delegates aforesaid shall be held and conducted
in the same manner elections for members of the
General Assembly, and the vote shall be counted
and the scrolls compared and certificates issued in
the same manner as prescribed by law for members
of the House of Commons.
SEC 5. Be it further enacted, That if a vacancy
shall occur by the DEATH resignation removal from
the State or by the refusal to of any person
elected delegate aforesaid, the presiding officer Of
the convention shall issue his writ to the sheriff of
the county in which such vacancy may have occur
red after such notice the convention may order,
to open a poll to fill such vacancy under the same
rules and regulations hereinbeiore prescribed for
the election Of delegates.
Sec. g. Be IL further enacted, That the said con-
yention shall consist Of one hundred and twenty
delegates and each county shall be entitled to the
same number Of delegates as members Of the House
| of Commons under the last apportionment.
I SEC. Z. Be it further enacted, That the mileage
and per diem pay of the delegates said convention
shall be the that of members of the General
! Assembly, to be paid IN the same manner; and said
convention shall have power TO fix the pay of all its
officers and OF any representative to any convention
State, and shall provide for other expenses, to be
paid out Of the treasury, it may direct
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That the said con.
vention shall have power to elect its officers and
prescribe qualifications for its members, not incon
: sistent with the true intent of this act.
| Sec. .. BE it further enacted, That the SAID con-
vcntlOn snail nave power 10 consider all
! affecting North-Carolina, member Of the confed
E eracy, according to the true intent and meaning o.
this act the assent dissent of the people to the
proposition herein contained being respectively ex
! pressed by the vote convention" mo conven
ton" at the time and in the mode hereinbefore pro
; vided.
SEC. 10. Be IL further enacted, That ordinance
of said convention shall have any force validity
until it shall have been ratified by majority of tn,
: qualified voters for members of the General Assem-
bly,, to whom it shall be submitted according to thu
mode prescribed for elections of members to tn,
House of Commons, the assent dissent OF the PEG
pie hereto being expressed in preceding section
, of this act
Sec. IL. BE 10 further enacted, That no delegate
elected shall be permitted take his seat in sait
convention until he shall have taken and subscribed
the following oath, before any judge of the Supreme
| or Superior Courts, or any justice of the peac
| of Wake county, to.wit: I. a. b., do solemn
ly swear~(or affirm as the case may beg that
will not do any act contrary TO the act of the Gen
eral Assembly under which this convention is call
ed and that | will duly and faithfully discharg
my duties a member Of this convention accordn.
to the best of my knowledge and ability, help MT
God
SEC. II. Be 1t further enacted, That this act shall
be in force from and after its ratification.
po,ieod w. T. DogTCH, 5. II. c.
H. T. CLARK, S. S.