Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-01-07

once happy country would be reduced, unless
some regular adeg late mode of civil policy should
DO speedily adopted and In compliance with the
recommendation of the general Congress, ordain
and declare form of government of Virginia.
2. And, Whereas, Convention held on the
first Monday in October, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and twenty mine, dil propose to
the people of the Commonwealth an amended
Constitution or form of government which vas
ratified by them.
first day of August, 1861, did propose to the
people of the Commonwealth ga amended Consti-
tuition, which was ratified by them:
4. And, whereas, the General Assembly of
Virginia, by an sct passed January 14th, 1861,
did provide for the election by the people, of
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:
). 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
ARTICLE I. rs -
BILL OF RIGHTS.
The declaration of rights, as amended and pre-
fixed to this Constitution, shall have the sAaas
relation thereto as it mad to the torHsr Csnsti
tuition.
ARTICLE Ii.
DIVISION OF PowEI g.
The legislative, executive and 1uulaAszy d.
partmentS shall be separate and distinct, 50 thAa
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 Of
the same time, exct pit that justices Of the peace
shall oe eligible to either House of Assembly.
ARTICLE Ill.
QUALIFICATION OF veTHns.
i. Every white male citizen Of the Ccuuaa.
wealth OF the age OF twentyons years, VIE ~
been resident Of the State for two yeaws s1A o.
the county, city or town where he sGan 70 vste
for twelve mosths next preceding ~ elssttss.
and no other person, shall be qualified - yetl
tor members Oh abe General Assembly ~ ID
officers elected By tbs people but ne pAssoa in
she military, naval or marine service Of ~ Goa
federats States shall be deemed Q resident o.
this State BY ressoa OF being stationed thssAia
and no person snail have the right 10 vets VII
is of unsound miad, or paupsr, or . nss-son
mlssloned officer. soldier, seaman or Aaxias il
the regular army or aavy OF the Cosfsdssst,
States or who has been convicted of hxihely il
an election, or of any infamous offence.
2. The General Assembly, 1t its fnt shasiol
after the adoption of this Constitution, ana sitter
wards as occasloA may require, shall saaas svsa.
city or town, the white population Of WAieA sR
wards. and separate plses of vetine - - -
tablished ia each, and thereafter no inlabitsqt Q
such city or town shsil be sllowsd to vo0 sScsp
in the ward in which he resides.
8. Ne vstsr, during Tia tine for holdisR szg
election ct which he 10 entitled 10 voss, sAsl
be compelled to perform military ssxvies, 81
cept ia tims Of war or public danger; to YER
upon the public roads, or to attend any ssIrs 4
sutton, juror or witness; and no voter shall b
subject to arrest under any civil process a9ria
his attendance at elections, OF in going 70 81 -
turning from thsR.
or vira eose, and not by ballot, butduRk sssasa
entitled to suffrage may vote by ballot.
ARTICLE ".
LRGIsLATIyz DKPARTKHzT.
L. The Legislature shall be form - Of txs din
tinct branches, which together shall bs cor
plete Legislature, and shall be cslIea the Gsns<s
Assembly Of Virginia.
HOUSE IF DELRsATRs
2. One Of these shall be called the youss G
Delegates, aud shall consist Of one huldrsk o.
fifty tive nem berx. to be- chosen annually AE "a
by the several counties, cities and towAA Of II
Commonwealth, The distribution and appoint
ment whereof shall remain as nov provided b
law, until reapportlonment Of the same ska
be made by the General Assembly, ~ hepsissf.s
provided. The General ASS mblg shall hsv
power upon application of majority of the We
vers Of she county of Cxmpsell, to provide ths
instead of two delegates to bs elected hR sai
county, the to~n of Lynchburs snail elect Oh
delegate, and the residue of the county Of CAMl
bell shall elect delegate. And the ssi
General Assembly shall have like pessr, on ii
application of . majority of the voters Of tn
county OF Norfclk, to provide that instead OF ~
delegates to bs elected by said county. the cit
of Portsmouth shall elect ono delegats, snS tn
residue of the county of Norfolk shall elect on
delegate. ....,
SENATE.
8. The other shall be called the Senate, an
consist of fifty members, for the slectcA Of whOI
the counties. cities, and towns shall DO divide
into fifty districts. Each county, city, and tow
of the respective district, at the time of the rs
election of delegates under this Constitution sha
vote for one Senator; and the Sherifs or oths
officers holding the election for each couRty, city
or town, within five days after the election. sha
meet at the Courthouse of the county, city, O
Town first named in tie district, and from tn
polls taken in their respective counties, cities
and towns, return as Senator the person who ha
received the greatest number of votes in tn
whole district. To keep up this Assembly b.
rotation, the district shall be divided into fou
classes, and numbered by lot. The first clas
shall consist of twelve, the second of thirtssn
the third Of twelve, and the fourth ofthirteen.-
The seats of the Senators of the frss clas
shall be vacated OF the expiration of the frs
year AFTER the commencement OF their term o
ONCE; of the second class, at the expiration @
the second year; OF the third class at the expra
third year; and OF the fourth class, at the expi
ration of the fourth year, so that one class ma,
be chosen every year, and the vacancies thereof
oecasioned shall be supplied frorI such class b,
new election in the manner aforesaid. This 70
tatiOn shall be applied to each class according tt
its number, and continued in due order annually
For the election of Senators, the Distric
shall remain as now arranged, until representa-
ton In the two Houses shall, be reapportioned il
the manner provided in thsConstitution.
APPoRTIoNMENT OF REPRESENTATIONS
bly,, in the year one Thousand eight hundred an
sixty-fve, and in every tenth year thereafter, i
case it Can agree upon principle Of representa-
ton, to reapportion representation 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 a principle G
representation, and to reapportion representatio
in accordance Herewith, each House shall sepa
rately propose scheme OF representation cor
tanning principle or rule for the House of De
egates in connection with principle or rule fo
the Senate. Aud it shall be the duty of til
General Assembly, at the same session, to cert
fly to the Governor the principles or rules OF req
resentallon which the respective Houses may SCI
arately propose, to be applied in making reaI
portIonments in the Senate and in the House
Delegates and the Governor shall, as 500
thereafter as may be, by proclamation, max
known the propositions ofthe respective Houses
and require the voters of the Commonwealth t