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

charges, or commutes any claim or demand of the
State the vote shall be determined by yeas and nays,
ana the names OF the persons voting for and against
sne same shall be entered on the journals of the re-
spectlve Houses and majority OF all the members
force of law " - esa'l y
s7. The Inability to the State Of any Incorporated
company or institution, TO redeem the principal and
pay the interest of any loan er csoore made or winch
may hereafter be made by the State to such company
or Institution, shall be released and the General
Assembly shall not pledge the faith of The State. or
Dnd IN any form, for the debts obligations of any
company or corporation. - s-'+-N 20
2s There shall be apart annually, from the &C
crulng revenue sum equal to per cent. OF the
State debt existing the first day of January in the
year one thousand eight hundred and tifty-two The
fund thus apart shall be called the Sinking Fund,
and shall be applied to the payment of the interest Of
the State the principal OF such part may be
redeemable. If no part be redeemable, then the
idue of the Sinking Fund after the payment OF such
interest," shall be INVESTED in The bonds or certificates
OF debt OF this Commonweath Or of the Confederate
States, or of some of the States of this Conedeacy
and applied TO the pay nsnt of the State debt ~ is
shall become redeemable. Whenever, after the said
first day OF January, debt shall have been or shall
be contracted BY the Commonwealth, there shaH be
set apart in ike manner, annually for thirty four
years. sum exceeding by par cent. the sggregsts
amount of the annual interest agreed be paid there
At the time of its traction which sum shall bs
part of the Sinking Fund.- and shall be applied in the
manner before directed. The General Assembly shall
not otherwise appropriate any part OF the Sinking
Fund or ITS accrulng interest," except in time of war,
29. The General Assembly may, at any time direct
sale of stocks held by the Commonwealth in inter-
nal Improvement and other companies; but the pro-
ceeds OF such sale, If made before the payment of the
public debt, shall constitute part of the Sinking
Fund, and be applied In like manner.
80 The General Assembly shall not contra act loans
or cause to be issued certificates Of debt or bonds of
the State for period greater than thir
ty-four years.
CENTRAL PROVISIONS. ~
81. The General Assembly shall not grant = charter
Of incorporation to any church religious
ton, but may the title church property to an
extent to be limited by law. 49,. 81 -
g.. No lottery shall hereafter be authorized by law
and the buying selling, or transferring OF tickets or
this State shall be prohibited. .ss.-.'D
3d. No new county shall be formed with an arsa OF
less than six hundred square miles, nor shall the
county counties from which it is to be formed be
reduced below that area nor shall any county having
hite population less than FIVE thousand be deprv.
ed Of more than one-hfth of such population; nor
.nan county having larger white population bere-
"a. The General Assembly shall confer on the courts
the power to grant divorces, change the names OF
persons, and direct the sale of estates belonging to-
infants and other persons under legal dsabIles but
shall not BY special legislation grant relief in such
cases. or in any other cases of which the courts or
other tribunals may have jurisdiction. 5ssssOS
35. The General Assembly shall provide for the pe-
rlodical registration in the several counte cities and
towns of the volsrs heren and for the regis
tra.ion of the births, marriages and deaths in the
white population, and Of the births and deaths of the
colored population of the same distinguishing be-
tween tue number of the tree colored persons and
slaves.
e6 The manner of conducting and making returns
Of elections of determining contested elections and
of filing vacancies in Office not specially pro-
yided for by this Constitution shall be prescribed By
Law. And the General Assem- bly, may declare the cases
in which any Office shall be deemed vacant whore no
provision Is made for that purpose in this Constltu-
ton. $500
81 It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to
provide by law adequate protection against all nrac-
lions of the rights guaranteed to the citizens of this
Commonwealth by the SEVENTH eighth and tenth Sec
tions OF the Bill of Rights of Virginia, and by the
fifteenth. sixteenth and seventeenth cau-
of the ninth section of first article of the Con-
stitutlon of the Confederate States.
8f sa ARTICLE v. a,as saF
IxHCUTIvs DEPARTMENT. 5-as1u
-9 lss ,-sft e G0gernor tt
I. The chief executive power of this Commonwealth
shall be vested in the Governor He shall hold the
Office for term Of four years, to commence on the
first day OF January next succeeding his election
be Ineligible to the same office for the term
cesding that for which be was elected, and to any
other office during his term of service.
2. The Governor shall be elected by the voters at
the times and places Of choosing members of the Cen
ersl Assembly, Returns of the election shall be trans
laitted. under SEAL by the proper officers the Sec
retary of the Commonwealth, who shall deliver them
to the Speaker of the House of Delegates the first
The Speaker of the House of Delegates shall within
week thereafter, in the presence of majority of
the Senate and House of Delegates open the said
turns, and the votes shall then be counted The per-
son having the highest number of votes shall be de-
clsred elected, if such number be majority Of the
whole number of votes cast and If person have
such majority, then from the persons having high
est number Of votes, exceeding three the General
Assembly shall, by joint vote of the two Houses
elect the Governor Contested elections for Governor
shall be decided by like VOTE and the mode of pro-
CeedtpU n Such caHe shall he Drosc lhedh hv
g. No person shall be eligible to the office of Gov
ernor unless he has attained the age of thirty years.
10 native citizen of one OF the Confederate States
and has been citizen of Virginia for FIVE years next
preceding the election.
f. The Governor shall reside at the seat of Govern
msnt; shall receive i've thousand dollars for each
year of his service and, while in office, shall receive
no other emoumert from this any other Govern
ment. SO
S. He shall take care that the the laws be faith
fully executed; communicate to the General As
sembly at every session the condition of the Common
wealth recommend to their consideration such meas
ures a. he may deem expedient; and convene the
General Assembly on application of majority of the
members of both Houses tLereof or when, in his
opinion, the interest of the Commonwealth NAV re-
qnre it. He shall be Commander-in- Chief of the
land and naval forces of the State have power to em
body the militia repe INVASION to suppress nsur-
rectlOn snd enforce the execution of the laws con-
Duct either in person in such other manner as shall
be prescribed by law all intercourse with other and
foreign States; and during the of the General
Assembly hl pro enspors, all vacance sin those Offices
for which the Constitution and laws make no proyl-
sion; but his appointments to such shall be
by cOmmissOns expire the end Of thirty days after
the commencement of the session of the General
Assembly. He shall have power to remit fines and
penalties In such and under such rules and reg
uations as may be prescribed by law and except
when the prosecution has been carried ON by the
House OF Delegates, or the law shall otherwise par
tculary direct grant rcprleges and pardons after
conviction, and to commute capital punishment; but
he shall conmun cate to the General Assembly at
esch session. the particulars of every case Of pe or
penalty rsmlttsd OF reprieye pardon granted and
of punishment cOnautsd with his reasons for remit.
ting. granting, or committing the same.
g. He may require information in writing from fhe
officers in the Executive Department upon any SUBJ
ject relating to the duties of their respective Offices;
and may also require the opinion in writing, of the
Attorney General upon question of law connected
With his official duties. ~ Gs- r" -Ah8
2. Commissions and grants shall run in the name of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, and be attested by
the Governor, With the seal of the Commonwealth an
nexed. ~ ~ tA
sr,a5l ., LIEUTESANT GOVERNOR. '-' ~
Lieutenant Governor shall be elected at the same
tme and for the same term as the Governor and his
qualification and the of his election in all re-
spects shall be the same.
8. In OF the removal of the Governor from of.
fee, of his death, failure to qualify, resignation
removal from the State, inability to discharge the
powers and duties of the Office the said Office with is
shall devOve upon the Lieutenant Gov
ernor; and the General Assembly shall provide by
law for the discharge Of the Executive functions in
other necessary cases. ~ rs ltasstI
To- The Lieutenant Governor shall be President OF
the Senate but shall have vote; and while acting
- such receive compensation equal to thatal