Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-05-05

| people OF Virginia, elected and In convention
assembled, in pursuance of said acts, invoking
the favor and guidance of Almighty God, dc
propose to the people the following constitu
tion and Form of Government for this Com
monwealth
BILL OF RIGHTS.
| |. That all men are by nature equally free
and independent, and have certain inherent
rights, of which, when they eatar iato q state
OF society, they canpot by any compact deprive
or dlvest their poster!ty, namely; the enjoy.
ment OF life and liberty, with the means of &C
qulrlng and possessing property, and pursuing
and obtaining happiness and safety.
| Ill. That this State shall ever remain mem
Der OF the United States of America, and that
| the people thereof are part of the American
| nation, and that all attempts, from whatever
| source, or upon whatever preteYt, to dissolve
said Union or to sever said nation are unau-
thorized, and ought to be resisted with the
whole power of the State
Ill. That the constitution of the United
States, and the laws of Congress- passed in pur-
suaEce thereof, constitute the supreme law of
the land, to which paramount allegiance and
obedience are due from every citizen anything
in the Constitution, ordinances, or laws of any
State to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The other sections, down to section XIV,
are verbatina copies Of sections Ii to XI, inclu-
sive of the old Virginia Bill of Rights, except
that this is provided that trials By jury shall bs
by al Impartial Jury Of his vicihage,'F of no
particular number, instead of IAN impartial iu-
ry of twelve men Of his vicinage,'' as the Old
| Bill of Rights required
XIV. That toe fraedom of the press is one
of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never
be restrained but by despotic governments, and
any citizen may speak, write and publish his
sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for
the abuse Of that liberty.
THE other sections, down to section XIX,
| are rsrkc.ia. copies Ct sections Alil to &Vl,
inclusive Of the Old Virginia Bilf Of Rights
The following are added
| Xix. That neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as lawful imprisonment may
constitute such, shall exist within this State.
Xxx. That al! citizens Of the State are here's
by declared to possess equal civil and political
rights and public privileges
XXI The rights enumerated In this Bill OF
Rights shall not be construed to limit other
rights Of the people net therein expressed.
XXI. The decfarationof the political rights
and privileges Of the inhabitants Of this State
is hereby declared to be a part of the copstitp-
ton of this Commonwealth, and shall pot be
violated az any pretence whatever:
ARTICLE II.
DIVISION OF POWERS.
The Legislative, Executive and Judiciary
| Departments shall be separate and distinct, so
that neither exercise the powers properly be-
longing to either of the other; nor shall any
person exercise the poEer Of. moro than one ol
them at the same TING, except as hereinafter
provided.
ARTICLE III.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
Sec l. Every male citizen of the United
States, twenty-one years old, who shall have
been resident Of this State twelve months,
and of the county, city or town in which he
shall offer to vote, three months next preceding
any election, shall be entitled to vote upon al
questions submitted to the people at such elec
ton Provided, That no officer, soldier, sea
man, or marine Of the United States army OF
navy shall be considered resident Of this State
by reason of being stationed therein: And, pro
vided also, That the following persons shall be
excluded from voting:
l. Idiots and lunatics.
2. Persons convicted of bribery in any cleo
ton, embezglement Of PUBLIC funds, treason, o.
felony.
3. No person who, while q citizen of this
State, has, since the adoption of this Constitu
ton, fought duel with deadly weapon, sen
or accepted challenge to fight q duel with {
deadly weapon, either within or beyond tht
boundaries of this State, or knowingly con
veyed challenge, or aided or assisted in an.
manner in fighting duel, shall be allowed Il
vote or hold any Office of honor, profit, or trust
under this Constitution.
4. Every person who has been senator O
representative in Congress, or elector of Presl
dent or Vice President, or who held any office
civil or military, under the United States, O
under any State, who having previously takel
an oath as member Of Congress or as an otfl
Ger of the United States, or as a member of an
State Legislature, OR as an executive or judi
cial officer of any State, shall have engaged il
,, insurrection or rebellion against the same, o
D given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof
: This clause shall include the following officers
/ Governor, lieutenant governor, secretary 9
2 state, auditor of public accounts, second aud
tor, register of the land Office, state treasurer
4 attorney general, sheriffs, sergeant of city Q
: town, commissioner of the revenue, county SUI
! yeyors, constables, overseers of the poor, com
f missioner of the board of public works. judge
of the supreme court judge OF the clrcu
courts, Judge of the courts Of hustings, justice
' of the county courts; mayor, recorder, alder
men, councilmen of city or town; coroneri
. escheators inspectors OF tobacco, -four, &c
clerks of the supreme, district, circuit an
county courts, and of the court OF hustlngs
and attorneys for the commonwealth: Fov
ded, That the Legislature may, by vote {
three-ffths of both houses, remove the dsabi
D tiles incurred by this clause from any perso
R included therein by separate vote in each cast
D Sec 2. All elections shall be by ballot, an
all persons entitled to vote shall be eligible I
any Office within the gift of the people, excer
. as restricted in this Constitution.
d Sec 3. All persons entitled to vote and hol
s Office, and none other, shall be eligible to sit
II jurors.
Il Sec f. The General Assembly shall, ct i
first session under this Constitution, enact
Ii general registration law; and every. person o
I, fering or applying to register shall take ar
II subscribe before the officer charged with NJ
ot king registration of voters the following oatf
TO ttT 10 eo1orop1x, cuoor for aff1r