Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-22
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,


by 0TCcr OF Tue convention the nlIo"inS
ordinances Of thai body are published for GEN.
,.,I ;,ru;,
eral Information.
GEURG W. MUNtORD,
SECRETARY of tho Commonuna],h
1c|letaiJ VI IN Ooin"'ouneaitn.
No. SAN ORDINANCE for the Prevention aud Punirh-
meet Of Offences against the Commonwealth. Passed
May l, 1861.
l. BE il ordained By the Convention OF Virginia, Tia.
In StJiliun to III. powers now vested In the county courts.
they shall have power to establish a regular police force,
who, being hFst qualified BY taking the oath Of fidelity 10
ibis commonwealth, and TO discharge the duues devolvtd
upon them, uuder tMs ordiusnce, shall be authorized " sp.
prehend AMI carry %lor,hSith, before q Justice of the peace
for the county, any person whom they shall have Jus,
cause 10 suspect has violated any Law OF the State In re-.
gard to tampering With slaves, Incitlng them 10 rebel or
make Instruction, or 10 escape from their owners, or has
attempted 10 commit aUy such offence, or any person
whom they shall have Ius. cause 10 suspect is coucsrned
in any manner In counselling, aiding or atettIng the Coz.
.rument Of the United States or any officer or agent there.
wealth, or any Of It's citizens, acting under the proper nu-
thoriiir, thereof or against the Confederate Slates of
America, or any Of them, or OF nuy slavehold!ng State la
au;Iy with Them; or any persoo who shall, by letter or
| o,he, wise, communicate 10 the said Government Of the
United Slut y, or any officer or agent thereof, directly or
| indirectly, any infor matiun touching the action Of tlls
| Commonwealth or lis authorities, other than ~ the same
may OF os Gus +.on hy .neTr ,. or any " = mem y ana 10 ~, ,o . D,rns
~, to be deal. with according TO law, and the provisions OF
this ordinance.
2. Any person who shall comInl, any offence for which O
person may be unprecedented under the ii - section Of This
ordinance, shall De deemed guilty Of felony, and rhall he
punished in such manner as The laws no y In force pre-
scribe: Provided, That any imprisonment prescribed by
existing laws III such cases sasl. be In the Prn!tsnua.y
house.
In those eases mentioned In the fast section, for which
| no punishment IL fixed by existing lava, the persons con.
yict.d thereof, shslI be punished BY Nne, not less than one
hundrcd, nor more than ten thousand dollars, aad hy In
prIsonnsnt 10 the Pen!tentiary house for not less than ave
nor more than twenty yenrs.
3. The powers vested by this Ordinance 10 the county
courts, and all the provisions Of the first and second sec.
tIous Thereof, shall be vested In Ike Eanuer, and be
applicable 10, the corporation courts, and 10 the notice
force legally appointed by such corporations, uader their
respective charters.
4. No Eerson, so Rpprehended, shall be admitted to bail,
except by j judge OF a circuit cour; In this Commonwealth,
or o ithr Sd pi eInr Cour.;rf Appeals but the party, ifso To-
leased on bail, shall not be permitted 10 leave the Com.
muowealih before trial, and the order OF rclense shall re-
quire the officer to take care that The party does notle2Ve
Ina Cotnmooweahh.
). This Ordinance shall be In force from its.passngc, ard
or subject 10 amendment ind repeal Or the General AZ
.embly oil firsinin.
-