Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-04-27
rOFFICIAL COPYl
PROPOSED
NEW CONSTITUTION
State Of West Virginia.

IL. Additional territory may be admitted
into and become part of this State, with the
consent Of ths Legislature and majority OF
the qualified voters Of the State voting on the
question. And in such case, provision shall
be made by law, for the representation thereof
in the Senate and House of Delegates, in con-
formity with the principles set, forth in this
Constitution. And the numberof members Of
which each house of the Legislature is to con-
sist. shall thereafter be increased by the repre-
sentation assigned to such additional territory.
10 No person shal be Senator or Delegate,
who has not for one year next preceding his
election. been resident within the district or
county from which he is elected and if a
Senator or Delegate remove from the district
or county from which he was elected, his seat
Shall be vacated.
10 No person holding lucrative ofilce IN
der this State, the United States, or any foreign
government; no member Of Congress; no per-
son who is q salaried officer of any railroad
company. or who is sheriff, constable or clerk
of any court Of record, shall be eligible to a
seat in the Legislature.
a. No persen who has been, or hereafter
shall be convicted Of bribery, perjury, or other
infamous crime, shall be eligible to seat in the
Legislature. No person who may have col
lected, or been entrusted with public money,
whether State, county, township, district or
other municipal organization, shall be eligible
10 the Legislature. or to any Office Of honor,
trust or profit in this State until he shall have
duly accounted for, and paid over such money
according to law. e. 'rt"
Is. No Senator or Delegate, during tho term
for which ho shall have been elected, shall be
elected or appointed to any civil Office Of profit
under this State, which has been created, or
the emoluments of which have been increased
during such term. except Offices to be filled by
election by the people Nor shall any mem
ber of the Legislature be eintereSted, directly or
indirectly. in any contract with the State, or
any county thereof, authorized by any law
passed during the term for which he shall have
been elected
l6. Members Of the Legislature, before they
enter upon their duties, shall take and subscribe
the following oath, or affirmation "I do
solemnly swear (or ahirml that will support
| the Constitution of the United States, and the
| Constitution Of the State Of West Virginia, and
faithfully discharge the duties Of Senator ,or
| Delegated according to the best Of my ability;
aud they shall also take this further oath, to-
wit " will not accept or receive, directly OF
| indirectly. any money or other valuable thing
from any corporation company or person, foI
any vote or influence may give or withhold
as Senator Tor Delegated on any bill, resolution
or appropriation, or for any act may perform
as Senator Tor Delegate.") These oaths shall
be administered in the hall of the house tc
which the member is elected by a Judge Of the
! Supreme Court Of Appeals or Of Circuit
\ Court, or by any other person authorized by
! law TO administer an oath; and the Secretary
/ Of State shall record and file said oaths
subscribed by each member; audno other oath
or declaration shall be required as qualifca-
tion. Any member who shall refuse to take
the oath herein prescribed shall forfeit his seat
and any member who shall I've convicted Of
having violated the oath last above required
TO be taken, shall forfeit his seat and be dis
qualified thereafter from holding any Office OF
| profit or trust in this State.
Il. Members of the Legislature shall, in al
cases. except treason. felony, and breach Of the
peace. he privileged from arrest during the
session. and for ten days before and after the
same aud for words spoken in debate, or any
report. motion or proposition, made in either
houso. member shall not be questioned in
any other place
is. The Legislature shall assemble at the
seat Of government benually. and not often
or. unless convened by the Governor. The
first session Of the legislature after The adop-
| ton Of this Constitution, shall commence on
the third Tuesday Of November, in 1872. and
II IL. .,F4 4l,a 7 ~ Lat,
shall commence on the second Wednesday OF
January, in 1875, and every two years there
after on the same day.
10. The Governor may convene the Legisla-
ture by proclamation whenever in his opinion,
the public safety or welfare shall require it
It shall be his duty to convene it on applica-
tiop, in writing, Of tbree-ffths Of the members
elected to each house.
90 The seat of government shall be at
Charleston, until otherwise provided by law.
81 The Governor may convene the Legis-
lature at another place, when, in bis opinion,
il cannot safely assemble at the seat Of GOV
ernment; and the Legislature may, when in
session, adjourn to some other place, when, in
its opinion. the public safety or welfare, or the
safety OF the members, or their health shall re-
quire it.
%. No session of the Legislature, after the
first. shall continue longer than forty FIVE days,
without the concurrence Of two thirds Of the
members elected to each house.
90. Neither house shall, during the session,
adjourn for more than three days, without the
consent Of tie other. Nor shall either with
out such consent, adjourn to any other place
than that an which the Legislature is sitting.
"a. A majority Of the members elected to
each house Of the Legislature, shall constitute
quorum. But smallor number may ad-
iouru from day to day, and shall be author
lied to compel the attendance OF absent mem-
bers. as each House may provide. Each House
shall determine the rules Of its proceedings,
and be tho Judge Of the elections, returns and
qualifications of its own members. The Sen
ate shall choose. from its own body, a President,
and the House Of Delegates from its own body,
a Speaker. Each House shall appoint Its own
officers. and remove them at pleasure. The
oldest delegate present shall call the House
to order at the opening OF each new House Of
Delegates. and preside over it, until the Speak
er thereof shall have been chosen and have
! taken his seat. The oldest member Of tho
Senate present az the commencement Of each
regular session thereof, shall call the Senate to
order and preside over the same until a Presi-
dent of the Senate shall have been chosen and
have taken his seat.
Is. Each House may punish its own mem
bels for disorderly behavior, and with the con-
curreuce Of the members elected thereto, expei
a member. but not twice for the same offense.
~ ~ I. IL l1r r.~.r 20 nd