Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1861-01-18

er and j. Laliande.
Virginia Convention.
The following is the bill reported by
Gen. kemper, of the Virginia Legislature
to provide for electing members of Con-
vention, and to convene the same. This
action is against the recommendation of
Gov. Ietcher.
Mr.. Kemper reported a bill to provide
for electing members of a convention, and
to convene the same. The bill is as fol-
lows, subject to amendments
To provide for the Electing Members of
a Convention. and to Convene the
same.
1. Be it enacted by the General AS
sembly, that it shall be the duty Of the Of
ficers who were appointed to conduct cleo
tions for county officers in May last, at the
places established for holding elections for
members Of the General Assembly, to
open polls for electing Delegates 70 a Con-
vention to consider and propose slch meas
ures as may be expedlent tor this Com
monwealth to adopt IN the present crisis
OF State and national affairs. The said
election shall be held on the 7th day OF
February in the year of our Lord 1861.
2, The Convention shall consist of one
hundred and fifty-two members to be
chosen for and by the several counties and
cities OF the Commonwealth, as prescrib-
ed by the second section of the fourth ar
ticle of the Constitution of this State, for
the election of members of the House of
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alternately vote for delegates to the gen
eral Assembly under the said article of
the Constitution, and which at the next
election for delegates would be entitled to
elect a delegete or delegates, shall elect
vention, and in the same manner that
they would be entitled to if the election
were for members of the next session of
the general Assembly.
3. Any person may be elected mem
Der OF the Convention, who at the time of
election has attained the age of twenty
five years, and is actual citizen of this
Commonwealth
4. 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 du
ties, and be liable to the penalties pre-
scribed by the Code of Virginia for gen
eral elections, except as herein provided.
5. The polls shall remain open for one
day only !; and the commissioners super
intending the SAID election meet in their
respective counties, corporations and cleo
ton districts on the second day from the
commencement of the election shall then
compare the polls, and decide who is elect
ed, and shall make returns of the cleo
ton one of which they shall forthwith
transmit by mail to the Governor; anoth
er, with the poll books, shall be deliver
ed to the Clerk of the county or corpora
tion court, to be filed in his office; and
another to the member or members elect
ed to the said Convention.
6. Upon receiving the said returns, the
Governor shall. issue proclamation con-
vening the members so chosen on Monday
the 18Th OF February next, VINO shall meet
at the capitol in the city of Richmond ac-
cordingly, and proceed to adopt such
measures as they may deem expedient for
the welfare of the Commonwealth.
In the case of contested election. the
same shall be governed in all respects by
the existing laws in regard to contested
elections in the House of Delegates
In case Of vacancies occurring previous
TO tile meet1ng OF the convention, the Gov-
ernor shall issue writs to supply the same;
and after the said meeting, the writs shall
be issued by order of the Convention; and
the elections under snch writs shall be
conducted in all respects as the election
herein before provided for
The said convention shall be the Judge
of its own privileges and elections, and
the members thereof shall have, possess
and enjoy, in the most full and ample
manner, all the privileges which members
elected to and attending on the General
Assembly are entitled to, and moreover
shall be allowed the same pay for travel
ing TO, attending on and returning from
the said Convention as is now allowed to