Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-03-08
The Proposed State Convention.

The Proposed State Convention.
In the State Senate, on Wednesday, Mr.
Boiling, from the select committee of thirteen
to whom was referred the Governors message
&C., reported the following bill for the call OF
State Convention:
Whereas, The Congress of the United States
on the ID day of March, 1867, passed an act
entitled An act to provide for the more
efficient government Of the rebel States, in
the following words:
We omit the bill, as it has already been
published in the Gazette
-4o,d Whereas, 1t is provided in said act that
the people of any one of the aforesaid States
may form Constitution and aUhereas, the
said act prescribes the onl mode whereby such
Constitution may be formed; therefore, in pur-
suance with the provisions of the act aforesaid,
l. BE 1t enacted &c, That the Governor
shall on or before the lO;h day Of April next,
appoint three persons in each county, 10 the
corporation of Williamsburg, and in each cor
poration in which wards are established, as
commissioners any TWO Or more OF whom may
act, to superintend the elections at the court
house of the county Or corporation. The com
nis,ioners appointed by the Governor in each
cnnnty or corporation shall appoint three com
nssioners for each place therein at 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 commissioners shall, on the first Thurs
day in May next, open polls at all the places
for voting in this Commonwealth, for the pur-
pose of electing delegates, in number and form
as hereinafter provided, to meetin Convention,
at the Capitol in the city Of Richmond on the
third Monday in May rext, to form q constitu-
tion Of Government in conformity with said
act of Congress.
The number Of delegates to said Convention
shall be the same Us the nun Der OF members
allowed by law for the House of Delegates, and
shall be apportioned among the counties, cities
and towns of the Commonwealth as said mem
b"rs Of the House OF Delegates are apportion-
ed The election districts shall be the same
that are now prescribed by law for the election
Of members to the House of Delegates.
g. All persons Shall be entitled to vote In
said election who are qualified to vote by the
act of Congress aforesaid.
d. The said election shall in all respects be
C nducted in the mode now prescribed by law,
and the officers conducting the same shall be
vested with the powers, perform the duties,
receive the compensation and be Liable to the
penalties prescribed by law for general elections,
except as herein provided.
5. The polls shall remain open one day only,
and the manner OF examining the polls and
comparing the returns aud certifying the cleo
tons shall be the same as now prescribed by
law in case OF election Of delegates to the Gcn-
eral Assembly, except that the certificate Of
election required by law to be forwarded TO
the clerk Of the House Of Delegates shall be
forwarded to the Governor
g. Tne said Convention shall be the Judge OF
it's owa privileges and elections, and the mem.
bers thereof shall have, possess and enjoy all
the privileges which members elected to, and
moreover Shall be allowed the same pay for
travelling to, attending on and returning from
the said Convention as is now allowed to mem
bers of the General Assembly for like services.
!. The said Convention is hereby empowered
to appoint such officers aud make them such
allowances for their services as it shall deem
proper which several allowances shall be
audited by the Auditor of Public Accounts
and paid by the Treasurer OF the Common
wealth, out OF any money 10 the treasury
not otherwise appropriated. -. ;,
s. The expense Incurred Ia providing poll
books, and in procuring writer's to keep the
same, shall be deftayed as heretofore in the
election of members of the General Assembly.
8. Immediately upon the passage OF this
act, the Governor shall issue proclamauon
giving notice thereof of the time OF holding
the election and Of the meatng OF the ConVen-
lion herein provided tor.
TO- Every commissioners, conductor and
writer appointed to conduct the election under
this act shall, before enterlog on the dischargee
of his duties, take an oath to the following :!
10 solemnly swear that in the election about to
be held I will faithfully and impartally dis
charget the duties aprc: tanning to my office, ac-
cordng to law, so help me God; ~ which oath
may be administered by any person authorized
by law to administer oaths, and, IN the absence
OF such person, may be administered by the
officers aforesaid to each other; and no person
shall act as such officer under this act unless ne
is qualified to vote for delegates to SAID Con
vention under said act Of Congress. The Con
stituton formed by said Convention shall oe
submitted for ratification and approval d
provided by the act OF Congress aforesaid.
II, The Secretary Of the Commonwealth
shall cause to be sent to the clerks Of each
county and corporations as many copies OF thlt
aot as there are precincts therein; and 1t shall
be the duty of the clerks to deliver the ,same
to the sheriff for distribution, who sball forth
With cause copy to be posted at the iron
door of his Courthouse, and some public plac:
In each election district.
l2 This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
Mr.. Ould earnestly opposed the passage o
the bill and warned Senators against the stel
they were about to take. If the abominaton:
OF the Sherman Shellabarger Dill are to be IN
tllcted upon Virginia, let the enormliy not 6'
lndorsed by her OVID Legislature. The loDb!
was crowded, and Mr. Ould was listened to Wit
the most marked attention by visitors ani
Senator's. u
Mr.. Gray followed on the other side, aIe
urged Senators, in coming to the support o
the bill, to display the same unity they, have
Tor hepasttwo years He took the bill, no
from choice, but as the best that could b
framed under existing circumstances.
Mr.. McRae followed upon the same slde;
Mr. MERCER made characteristlc speech
lie denounced the assn N ntinn that Virginia !