Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-17
UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

OF some committees, and the transaction OF 9TH
er unimportant business, the order Of the day,
the End section Of the report of the committee
on county organization was taken up, and adopt
ed by the vote Of 81 to 26. 1t reads as follows:
Each county of the State shall be divided in
to so many compactly located townships as may
be deemed necessary-not less than three
Provided, that after three have been formed,
no additional township shall be made, contain
ing less than thirty square miles, In each
township shall be elected, annually, one super
visor, one township clerk one assessor, one col
lector, one commissioner Of roads, one overseer
of the poor, one justice of the peace who shall
hold his Office for three years, one constable,
who shall hold his Office for three years. Pro
vided, that at the first election, held under this
provision there shall be three justices of the
peace and three constables elected, whose terms
shall! be one, two, and three years, respectively.
These officers will be elected on the fourth
Monday in May, and assume their duties on the
1st of July succeeding.
The supervisors of each county shall consti-
tute the Board of Supervisors for that county,
and shall assemble at the courthouse thereof,
on the first Monday in December, in each year,
and proceed to audit the accounts of said coun-
ty, examine the books of the assessors, regulate
and eaualize the valuation of property, fix the
county levies for the ensuing year, apportion the
same among the various townships and perform
such other duties as shall be prescribed by law
FRANCHISE.
THURSDAY, March FIT was decided to
take up the franchise question, postponed from
Friday last. Hine moved that the pending mo.
ton to reconsider the vote by which the follow
ing additional sections we're adopted be laid on
the table:
every person who has not been senator or
representative in Congress, or elector of Presi-
dent or Vice President, or who held any Office,
civil or military, under the United States, or
under any State, who, having previously taken
an oath as a member of Congress, or as an Of
ficer Of the United States, Or as member Of
any State Legislature or as an executive or ju-
dicial officer of any State, to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, shall have en-
gagged in Instruction or rebellion against the
same, or given aid Or comfort to the enemies
thereof. This clause shall inclgde the following
officers: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, sec
rotary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts,
Second Auditor, Register OF the Land Otlce,
State Treasurer, Encouragement, SherlHs, Ser
geants of city or town, Commissioner of the
Revenue, County Surveyors, Constables, Over
seers of the Poor, Commissioners OF the Board
of Public Works, Judges Of the supreme Court,
Judges of the Circuit Courts, Judges of the
Court of Hastings, Justices of the County
OouiCo uldyoi3 AleCUIuOi, LAioiOi hi0h; LO"H
Councilmen of city or town, Coroners, Eschea-
tors; Inspectors OF Tobacco, Flour, &c: Clerks
Of the Supreme, District, Circuit, ana County
Courts, and Of the Court Of Hastings and At
torneys for the Commonwealth.
''5. Every person who acted as a commits
stoned officer above the rank of first lieutenant
in the army, or master in the navy, in any mil
itarg or naval organization, opposed to the Uni
ted States during tie late rebellion"
The motion to table was lost-ayes, 22 noes,
81.
The question of the reconsideration of the
two clauses was, on motion, divided.
Upon the motion to reconsider some discus
sion arose, the negroes opposing it.
Kelso made an UNANIMOUSLY stupid and bitter
speech against reconsideration, asking if the Con
ventiop meant to enfanchise these rebels, whom
Congress had DISTINGUISHED. If these carpet
sack men who came here pretending to be the
friend of the negro were willing to sell them
selves out and go back on the colored people,
Kelso would not go with them. This talk about
in order to make disfranchise-
ment, was all Buncombe.