Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-02-11

3 have power to investigate their acts, hav
f access to all books and documents in thei
Offices and may examine them and thei
subordinates on oath. The evidence givel
by persons so examined shall not be uset
against them in any criminal proceeding
He shall also have power to suspend or re
move such officers, whether they be elected
!, or appointed, for misconduct in Office o.
neglect of duty, to be specified in the order
, of suspension Or removal ; but no suct
removal shall be made without reasonable
notice to the officer complained of, and ar
opportunity afforded him to be heard in hi
defence, All city, town and village officers,
whose election or appointment is not pro-
vided for by this Constitution shall be elected
by the electors of such cities, towns and
villages, Or Of some division thereof, or APP
pointed by such authorities thereof as the
General Assembly shall designate. Any
other officer whose election Or appointment is
not provided for by this Constitution, and
all officers whose Offices may be hereafter
created by law shall be elected by the people,
or appointed, as the General Assembly may
direct. Members of common councils shall
hold no Office in cities, and no city officer
shall hold a seat in the General Assembly.
The General Assembly at its first session
after the adoption Of the Constitution shall
pass such laws as may be necessary to give
effect to the provisions of this article. Gen
eral laws shall be passed for the organiza-
ton and government of cities, and no special
act shall be passed, except in cases where
in the Judgment of the General Assembly,
the object Of such act cannot be attained by
general laws. Nothing in this article shall
affect the power of the General Assembly
over quarantine, or in regard to the port of
Norfolk, or the interest of the State in the
lands under water and within the jurisdic-
ton or boundaries ofany city, or to regulate
the wbarves, piers, or slips in any city,
All laws or city ordinances in conflict with
the provisions of the preceding sections sahll
be void from and after the adoption of this
Constitution. al.
Sec. 81. All regular elections for city or
town officers under this ordinance shall be
held on the fourth (4th) Monday in May,
and the officers elect shall enter upon their
duties on the LIST day of July succeeding. ol
Uenerdt L fOClSlOlS.
Sec, %. All the judges shall be commits
stoned by the Governor, and shall receive
such salaries and allowances as may be de-
termined by law, the amount Of which shall
not be diminished during their term of Of
fee. Their terms Of Office shall m
on the LIST day of January next following
their appointment and they shall discharge
the duties Of their respective offices from
their first appointment and qualification un-
der this Constitution until their terms begin.
Sec. %. Judges may be removed from
Office by a concurrent vote of both Houses
Of the General Assembly, but o majority of
all the members elected to each House must
concur in such vote, and the cause of re-
moval shall be entered on the Journal of
each House. The judge against whom the
General Assembly may be about to proceed
shall have notice thereof, accompanied by
a copy of the causes alleged for his removal,
at least twenty days before the day on which
either House of the General Assembly shall
act thereon.
Sec. "a. Judges of the supreme court Of
appeals and judges Of the circuit courts shall
not hold any other Office or public trust du-
ring their continuance in Office.
Sec. IS. Judges. and all other officers
elected or appointed, shall continue to dis
charge the duties of their offices after their
terms Of service have expired until their
successors have qualified.
SEQ. 26. Writs shall run in the name of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, and be
attested by clerks of the several courts
Indictments shall conclude against the peace
and dignity of the Commonwealth.
ARTICLE VII.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
Sec. 1. There shall be elected by the
qualified vote of the county, one Sheriff; one
Attorney for the Commonwealth. who shall
also be the Commonwealth's Attorney for
the circuit court one county clerk, who
shall also be the clerk of the circuit court,
except that in counties containing fifteen
thousand inhabitants there may be a seper-
ate clerk for the circuit court !; one county
Treasurer; one Superintendent of the Poor
one Superintendent of Schools. Provided,
That counties containing less than eight
thousand inhabitants may be attached to ad.
joining counties for the formation of districts
for Superintendents Of Schools and county
| Judges Rroviaed also, That in counties
containing thirty thousand inhabitants there
may be appointed an additional Superinten-
dent of Schools therein. All regular elcc-
tons for county officers shall be held on the
first Tuesday after the FIRST Monday in Novem.
ben, and all officers elected or appointed under
this provision shall enter upon the duties of
their Offices on the LIST day of January next
succeeding their election, and shall hold
their Offices for the term of three years,
except that the County and Circuit Court
Clerks shall bold their offices for four years:
Provided further, That after the end Of the
first term, the county Judges shall be elected
or appointed for the term Of six years.
TOWNSHIPS :.
Sec. 2. Each county Of the State shall be
divided into so many compactly located
townships as may be deemed necessary, not
less than three: Prouided, That after three
have been formed, no additional township
shall be made containing less than thirty
square miles. Each township shall be known
as the township Of, ia the county Of
-, and may sue and be sued by such
title. In each township there shall be
elected annually one Supervisor; one Town
ship Clerk !; one Assessor; one collector;
one commissioner of Roads one Qverseer of
the Poor; one Justice of the Peace, who
shall hold his office three years; one consta-
BILE, who shall hold his office three years
Provided, 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