The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-09

a Call for Convention In Virginia 20 |
Reconstruct the State under the late
Act OF Cons ress. Al
RICHMOND, March 4.
Mr., Boiling, from the Select Com
mittee of Thirteen, 70 whom was refer
red the Governors message, reported
the following bill, which elicted a pro-
tracted discussion.
WHEREAS the Congress Of the United
States, on the I'd day of March, 1867,
passed an act entitled ian act to pro-
vide for the more efficient government
of the rebel States, in the following
words: tt suuis 10 ap3.i. it-i
Here Sherman's bill, already pub
1ished, is introduced.
AND WHEREAS, it is provided in said
act that the people of any one of, the
aforesaid States may form Constitu-
ton; and whereas, the said act pre-
scribes the only mode by which such
Constitution may be formed; therefore,
in pursuance with the provisions of the
act aforesaid ag 81 auo 81 Il
l. BeitenGcted By the General Assem-
bly,, That the Governor shall, on or be-
fore the 10th day of April next, appoint
three persons in each county, in. the
corporation o! Williamsburg, and in
each corporation in which wards. are.
established, as commissioners, any two
or more of whom may act, to superin-
| tend the elections at the courthouse OF
the county or corporation. The COM
lsmissioners appointed by the Governor
in each county or corporation shall APP
point three commissioners for each
place therein, ut which a separate poll
| is required by law to be taken, any two
or more of whom may act, to superin-
tend the elections at such places, and
one officer to conduct such election at
each place for holding the same. Said
] lhaH the first Thurs
| day in May next open polls at all the
places for voting in this Commonwealth
| for the purpose of electing delegates. in
number and form as hereinafter pro-
vided, to meet in convention at the
capitol, in the city of Richmond, on the
copstitution of governmental conform
ity with the act of Congress. st.31s; e
2. The number of delegates to said
| convention shall be the same as the
number of members allowed by law
for the House of Delegates, and shall
be apportioned among the counties,
cities, and towns of this Common
wealth as said members of the House of
4 Delegates are now apportioned. The
| election districts shall be the same that
are now prescribed by law for the cleo
ton of members to the House of Dele
| gates. Y i-'-- $50 Y
8. All persons shall be entitled to
vote in said election who are now quail
! flied to vote by the act Of Congress
aforesaid. s' % sd - - n
4. The said election shall in all re-
spects be conducted in the mode now
| prescribed by law, and the officers con-
ducting the same shall be vested with
the power to perform the duties, re-
1 ceive the compensation, and be liable
to the penalties prescribed by law for
general elections, except MS herein pro-
| vided. a 81 s,si'.' - ga ai
5. The remain open oneday
only, and the manner of examining the
polls, and comparing the returns, and
/ certifying the election, shall be the
same as now provided by law in case of
election of delegates to the General As
| semblY, except that the certificate of
election, required by law to be forward
ed to the Clerk of the House of Dele
gates, shall be forwarded to the Gov
ernor. az. -'i's- -"L'sl tf
o. The said convention shall be the
judge of its own privileges and elee-
lions, and the members thereof shall
have, possess, and enjoy all the privi-
leges which the mem bers elected to and
attending on the General Assembly are
| entitled to; and moreover, shall be al
lowed the same pay for travelling to, at.
tending on, and returning from the saiC
convention as is now allowed to the
members of tie General Assembly for
| like services.
| Z, The said convention is hereby EN-
powered TO appoint such officers, anc
make them such reasonable allowances
/ for their services as it snail deem prop.
err: " hich several allowances shaH be
audited the Audifor cf4Pu tIicssAcl
counts, and paid by the Treasurer OF
the Commonwealth out of money in
ated, ~ 80 "a -'l5f9zlot IS -
8. The expenses incurred IN proyi-
ding poll books, and n procuring wri-
ters to keep the same, shall be betrayed
as heretofore in the elections of mem!
bers of the General Assembly.
8. Immediately upon the passage oil
this act the Governor shall issue al
proclamation giving notice thereof al
the time of holding the election, and al
the meeting of the convention herein
provided for. -4-'iH5' atI f-1 % I'll
10. Every commissioner. conducfor
and writer appointed to conduct tho
election under this act, shall, before en-
tering upon the discharge OF his lutfess
take an oath to the following effect: Isi
do solemnfy swear that in the election
about to be held 1 will faithfully and
impartially discharge the duties auuer-
tanning to my office, according to law
SO help me God"-which oath NAV be
administered by any person authorized
by law to administer oattls, and in tf1e
absence of such person, NAV be nd.
ministered by the officers aforesaid to
each other, and no person shall act AZ
such officer under this act, unless he is
qualified to vote for delegates to said
convention under said act of Congress.
IL. The Constitution formed by said
convention shall be submitted for
ratification and approval as provided
by the act of Congress aforesaid. fiaH
II: The Secretary of the Common-i
wealth shall cause to be sent To thel
clerks of each county and corpor,t-
ton as many copies of this act as there
are precincts therein; and it shall be the
duty of the clerks to deliver the same
to the sheriff for distribution, who shall
forthwith cause copy to be posted AT |
the door of his courthouse; and at some
public place In each county. -17TG
IL. This act shall be in force from its
passage. ,-4HHH y - S-fs'-f
The bill being taken up, Mr.. Mercier
made characteristic speech, which |
was listened to with great interest.
thongh as he progressed some doubt
was expressed among the listeners
whether he was for or against the Dill.
AT the conclusion of his remarks he re-
commented its passage in strong terms.
Mr.. Ould made strong speech
against the bill. In concIusiofi. he
moved that the bill be laid upon the tai
pie and made the order of the day forl
Friday evening. - = il77
Mr.. Robinson moved 10 amend so as
to make it the order OF the day for to-
morrow at o'clock. 7a
bin. passage Vi me
Alter some further remarks from Mr..
Mercier, the vote was taken upon Mr..
Roblnson's amendment to make thal
Dill the order of the day for to-morrow
att o'clock, and it was carried in the
am tnrmatlve-yess, is; nays, s.