The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-02
"ArticLe -
&C The Elective Franchise.

ATtlCtC -
"The Elective Franchise.
"SEcT1oN l. Every male citizen OF the
United States twenty-one years old VINO
shall have been resident of this State SIX
months, and of the county, city, or town
in which he shall offer to vote one month,
next preceding any election, shall be emil,
tied to vote upon all questions submitted
to the people at such election froo.aea'
That no officer, soldier, seaman, or marine
of the United States army or navy shall De
considered a resident of this State by rea-
son of being stationed therein: Ana pro-
vided also, That the following persons shall
be excluded from voting:
"1. Idiots and lunatics.
go. Persons convicted of bribery in any
election, embezzlement Of public funds,
treason, or felony.
$50. Any person who shall challenge
another, or accept a challenge to fight
duel, OF act as second to any person about
to engage in duel.
"a. All persons who by the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States known as article fourteen,
or by the reconstruction acts, are prohl-
bited from holding Office or from register
ing to vote for delegates to the Convention
to frame Constitution: Provided, That
the General Assembly may, by q two
thirds vote of both Houses, remove the
disability imposed by this clause.
"SECTIoN 2. All elections shall be by
ballot; and all persons entitled to vote
shall be eligible to any Office within the
gift Of the people, except as restricted in
this Constitution.
"SECT1oN 3. All persons entitled to vote
and hold Office, and none other, shall be
eligible to sit as jurors.
"SEcTIoN 4. The General Assembly
shall, at its first session under this Consti-
tuition, enact general registration law.
"SEcT1oN s. No person sh all be de-
prived of voting at any election because of
non-payment Of any tax that may be
imposed by law.
"SEcr1oN 6. No voter, during the time
Of holding any election at which he is
entitled to vote, shall be compelled to
perform military service, except in time
of war or public danger, to work upon the
public roads, or to attend any court as
sutton, juror or witness; and no voter shall
be subject to arrest under any civil pro-
cess during his attendance at elections, or
In going to or returning from them.
"Oath Of Office.
GAIL persons before entering upon the
discharge of any function as officers of this
State must take and subscribe the follow
ing oath or affirmation:
eel --, do solmenly swear Tor
afirm) that I will support and maintain
the Constitution and laws of the United
States, and the Constitution and laws Of
the State of Virginia; that recognize and
accept the civil and political equality of
all men before the laws, and that will
faithfully perform the duty Of --, to
the best of my ability. So help me Cod"
The following is the minority report of
Mr.. MADDOX, which differs in some mate
rial points from the other
fright Of Suffrage.
"SEcTIoN l. Every male citizen of the
United States mot laboring under the dis
abilities hereinafter named), of the age of
twenty-one years and upwards, who shall
have actually resided in this State six
months, and in the district or county three
months, next preceding any election, shall
be qualified to vote for members of the
General Assembly and all officers elective
by the people.
"SECTtoN 2. No person shall be entitled
to vote who has been a senator or repre-
sentative in Congress, or elector of Presi-
dent or Yice-President, or who held any
Office, civil or military, under the United
States, and shall have engaged in inSurrec-
ton or rebellion against the same, or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof, IN
less such disability shall have been re-
moved by Congress; provided this clause
shall not be construed to include county
officers.
"SEcTIoN 8. No person shall be quail
any ordinance or act intending or attempt
ing to repeal or abrogate any ordinance or
act Of this or any other State ratifying the
Constitution of the United States.
"SECTIoN 4. No person shall be entitled
to vote who shall have held or discharged
the functions Of any of the following
Offices under the late so-called Confede-
rate States-viz., President, Vice-Presi-
dent, members of the Cabinet, members
of either House of Congress, diplomatic,
consular, OF domestic agents, at home or
abroad, all officers of said pretended
government above the rank of colonel in
the army or lieutenant in the navy, or who
shall have commanded any independent
military organization, and all who have
engaged in any way in treating otherwise
than lawfully as prisoners of war persons
found in the United States service as
officers, soldiers, seamen, or other capa-
cities.
"SECTIoN S. No person shall be entitled
to vote who has been or may be convicted
of treason or felony in any State or Terri
tory of the United States unless restored
to civil rights, and no idiot or insane per-
son shall be entitled to the privilege Of an
elector.
"SEcTIoN 6. For the purpose of voting,
no person shall be deemed to have gained
or lost residence by reason of his pre-
sence or absence while employed in the
service Of the United States nor while
engaged in the navigation of the waters of
the United States or of the high seas nor
while student Of any seminary of learn
ing nor while kept at any alms-house or
other asylum at public expense; nor while
confined in any public prison.
"SECTIoN 7. During the day on which
any general election shall be held in this
State no qualified elector shall be arrested
by virtue of any civil process.
"SEcTIoN 8. All elections by the people
shall be ballot, and all elections by the
Legislature, or by either branch thereof,
shall be uiua voce.
ttcrau,o,, n proy;s;,n oh, II ~ x,o5--E-