The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-04-25
to the People of West Virginia.
To be voted on Thursday, sad Of August, 1877
l..
Relations to the Gorcramcnt Of the Uni
ted States

aud all powers not delegated to it. uor in.
hbited to the States. are reserved to the
States or to the people thereof. Among
the powers SO reserved by the States, is the
exclusive regulation Of their own internal
government and police; aud it is the high
and solemn duty Of the departments
Of government, created by this constitution,
to guard aud protect the people Of the State
from all eucroachueut upon the rights 50
reserved.
3. The provisions Of the constitution Of
the United States, and of this State, are
operative alike in q period Of war as in
time Of peace, and any departure thercfrom
or violation thereof, under the plea Of ne
cessity, or any other plea, is subvcrsive of
good government, and tends to anarchy aud
despolism.
4. For the election Of representatives to
Congress, the State shall be devidcd into
districts, corresponding in number with lbe
representatives to which it may be entitled;
which districts shall be formed of contisu-
Gus counties and be compact. Each dis
trict shall contain. as nearly as may be, an
equal number Of population, to bs deter
miued according to the rule prescribed 10
the constitution Of the United States.
ARyCLE II.
THE STATE
l. The territory Of the following counties,
formerly parts Of the Commonwealth Of
Virginia, shall constitute and form the
Stale Of West Virginia, viz:
Tnecounties of Barbour, Bcrkely, Boone,
Brax.on, Brooke, Cabell. Cllh'un, Clay,
Doddrigs,' 'Fsycttc, Gilmer, Grant, Gresn-
trier, Hampshire, iiancok. Hardy, Ilar-
ri.on, Jackson, Jefferson. Kanawlla Lew
ia. Lincoln. Logan. Marion, Marshall,
Mason, Mcdowell, Mercer, Mineral. Mo-
nonsalia, Monroe Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio,
Pendlvtou, Plcasau,s, Pocnhontas, Preston,
Putnam, RALEIGH Randolph, Ritchie,
Roaue, Sdhhbhs, Taylor. Tucker, Tyler.
Upshur, Wayne, Wooster, Wctzcl, Writ,
Wood aud Wyoming. The State Of West
Virginia includes the bed, bank and shores
Of the Ohio river, and so much Of the Big
Sandy river rs was formerly included in
the Commonwealth Of Virginia; aud all
terri.&isfrights and property in. and jur-
isdction over, the same heretofore rcserv
ed by, aud vested in, the Commonwealth
of Virginia. are vested in, and shall heresf
ter be exercised b! the State of West Fir-
ginia. And such parts of the said beds,
banks and shores, as lie opposite, and ad-
joining tie several counties Of this State,
shall form parts Of said several counties
respectively.
g The powers Of government reside in
all the citizens Of the State, aud can be
rightfully exercised only in accordance
With their will and appointment.
3. Al persons residing IN th!s STATE,
born, or naturalized, in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, shall
be citizens of this State
L. Every citizen shall be entitled to
equal representation in the government
aud, in all apportonments Of representa-,
tion, equality of numbers Of those entitled
thereto, shall, as far as practicable, be pre-.
served.
5. No distinction shall be made between
resident aliens aud citizens, as to the &C.
QUESTION, tenure, disposition, or descent Of
property.
6. Treason against the State, shall con-
sist only in the ievying war against it; or
iu adheriug to its enemies, giving them aid
and comfort No person shall be convict.
ed Of treason, unless on the testimony Of
two witnesses to the same overt act, or on
confession in open court. Treason shall
be punished according to the character of
the acts committed, by the inGic'ion ofone
or more Of the penalties, Of death, imprls-
onmen. OR due, as may bo prescribed BY
law.
7. The present seal ofthe State, with its
motto, "Montani Semper Liberi," shall be
the great seal Of the State of West Vir-
ginia, and shall be kept by Secretary of
State, to be used by him, officially, as d.
rected by law.
8. Writs, G ants and commissions, issued
under the authority Of this State, shall run
10 the name Of and official bonds shall be
made payable to, the State of West Vir.
ginia Indictments shall conclude,
"Agaiuts the peace aud dignity Of tho
State"
ARTICLE III.
Bill Of Rights.
/. All men are, by nature, equally free
and independent, and have certain inherent
rights, Of which, when thoy enter into a
state Of society they cannot, by any CON-
pact, deprive or diyest their posterity,
namely: the enjoyment Of life and liberty,
with the means ofacquiriug and possessing
property, and of pursuing and obtaining