The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-07-10

eight hundred and seventy one; aud at such
session. and then every ten years thereafter
shall be laid off by the General Assembly, il
proportion to the public taxes paid into the
Treasury of the State By the citizens thereof
and the average of the public taxes paid by each
county into the Treasury of the State, for he
three years preceding the laying off of the dis
tricts. shall be considered as its proportion ol
the public taxes, and constitute the basis of ap-
portionment: Provided, That no county shall
be divided ia the formation of a Senatorial dis
trict; and when there are one or more counties,
having an excess of taxation above the ratio to
form Senatorial district, adjoining county or
counties deficient in such ratio, the excess or
excesses aforesaid shall be added to the taxation
of the county or counties deficient; and it, with
such addition, the county or counties receiving
it shall have the requisite ratio, such county
district
Sec. 3 The House of Commons shall be COM
posed of one hundred and twenty representa-
tives, biennially chosen by ballot, to be elected
by the counties respectively, according to their
entire respective white population, and each
county shall have at least one member In the
House of Commons, although it may not contain
the requisite ratio of white population.
Sec. 4. This apportionmen: shall be made by
the General Assembly, at the respective times
and periods when the districts for the Senate
are hereinbefore directed to be laid off; and the
said apportonment shall be made according to
an enumeration to be ordered by the General
Assembly, according to the census which
may be taken by order of Congress, next pre-
ceding the period of making such apportion-
ment. .--.
Sec. 5. In making the appointment in the
House of Commons, the ratio of representation
shall be ascertaired by dividing the amount of
the white population in the State, after deduct
ing that comprehended within those counties
which do not severally contain the one hundred
aud twentieth part of the entire white popula-
tion aforesaid, by the number of representatives
less the number assigned to the said counties.
10 each county containing the said ratio, and
not twice the said ratio, there shall be assigned
one representative; to each county containing
twice. but not three times the said ratio, there
shall be assigned two representatives, and SO op
progressively; and then the remaining represen-
tatives shall be assigned severally to the coun-
ties having the largest fractions.
Sec. 6. No new county shall be formed and
established, unless there shall be, withil the
proposed boundaries thereof, the one hundred
and twentieth part of the entire white popula
ton of the State; nor if the population Of the
county, or any OF the Counties, from which it
may be proposed to form aud establish the same,
shall thereby be reduced below the one hun
dred and twentieth part of the eutire white pop
hla.ion of the State.
Sec 7. Each member of the Senate shall be
not less than thirty years of age; shall have re-
sided in the State five years; shall have usually
resided in the district for which be is chosen,
one year Immediately preceding his election,
and for the same time shall have possessed, and
shall continue to possess 10 the district which
he represents, not less than three hundred acres
of land in fee; or freehold of not less value
than one thousand dollars
Sec. 8. Each member Of the House Of Com
mons shall be not less than twenty-one years of
age; shall have resided in the State five years.
and shall have usually resided in the county in
which he is chosen for one year Immediately
preceding his election, and for the same time
shall have possessed and shall continue to pos
sess, in the cnunty which he represents, free
hold of one hundred acres of land, or the value
OF three hundred dollars.
Sec. 9. Every man of the age of twenty -one
years, who may have been an inhabitant OF tho
State for twelve months, and Of the district 10
v hch he proposes to vote, six months next be-
fore the day of any election, and shall have paid
public taxes, shall be entitled to vote for a mem-
ber of the Senate for the district in which he
NAV then reside
Sec. 10. Every man of the age of twenty -one
years, who may have been an inhabisant Of the
State for twelve months next before the day of
election, and Of the county in which he propo-
ses to vote for six months next before the day
of election, and shall have paid public taxes,
shall be entitled to vote for members of the
House of Commons for the county in which he
shall then reside.
Sec. IL. Each person elected to the Senate
or House of Commons, shall hold bis seat from
the time of his election until the next biennial
election.
See l2. The Senate and House of Commons
shall meet benniafly, and when assembled, shall
be dcnomnated the General Assembly.
Sec 13. The House of Commons shall choose
their own speaker and other officers
Sec. IA. The Lieutenant Governor shall pre-
side in the Senate, but shall not vote, unless
they be equally divided.
Sec 10 The Senate shall choose their other
officers, and also speaker pro tempore IN the
absence of the Lieutenant Governor, or when
he shall exercise the Office of Governor.
Sec Is. Each House shall be judge of the
qualifications and elections Of its own bers;
shall sit upoo its own adjourn ments from day
to day; prepare bills to be passed into laws;
direct writs for supplying intermediate vacan-
ces; and may also jointly adjourn to any future
day or place.
Sec II. The style of the acts shall be "The
General Assembly of North Carolina do enact,
as follows"
Sec 18. Each member of the General AS
sembly, before taking his seat, shall take au
oath affirmation that, to The best OF his knowi-
edge and belief, be is qnaliGed under the Cos
stitution of the State to take his seat.
Sec 90 The General Assembly, shall not