Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-01
The Proposed Amendments TO the
state Constitution.

The Proposed Amendments to the
State Constitution.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The changes in the fundamental law Of the
State. passed by the last Legislature and
agreed 10 by that DOW 10 session, are given be
Low in form that can be readily under>too
by everybody. We publish the sections which
it is proposed to amend as they will read if
amended, and print ar.he changes in italics.
Strike out the first section Of the third arti
Gle, in reference to the elective franchise and
qualifications for Office, and insert the follow
lDg:
b. Every male citizen of the United States,
tw, nty-one years old, who shall have been a
resident of the State twelve months. and of
lbe county, city or town in which he shall offer
to vote three months next preceding any elec
ton. and shall have paid to the State before
the day of election, the cupitation taz required
IN Law for the preceding year. shalt be entitled
to vote for mem: ers of the General Assembly
and all officers elected by the people,: provlueu,
that TO officer, suldier, seamau or marine OF
the United States Army or Navy shall be
considered resident Of this State by reason of
beiog stationed therein; and provided, also,
that the following persons shall be excluded
from voting: First, idiots and lunatics; second,
persons convicted of bribery in any election,
eu,bezz 'ement of public funds. treason, felony
or petit larceny; third, no person who, while
citizen of this State, has, since the adoption
of This Constitution, fought duel with 3
deadly weapon, sent or accepted challenge to
fight duel with deadly weapon, either with
10 or beyond the boundaries OF this State, or
Knowingly conveyed challenge. or aided or
assisted in any manner in fighting a duel shall
be allowed to vote or hold any Office OF honor
profit or trust uuder this Constitution.
Strike out the fourth section Of the same ar
ticle, which is 10 the follcwiog words:
"A. The General Assembly shall, at it's first
session under this Constitution, enact a general
registration law; and every person offering or
applying to register shall take and subscribe
before the officer charged with making regis
tration Of voters, the following oath: Il,
-, do solemoly swear Tor affirm that |
am not disqualified from exercising the right
of suffrage by the constitution framed by the
convention which assembled 10 the city OF
Richmond on the third Of December, eighteen
hundred and sixty. seven, and l will support
and defeud the same to the best of my ability. .
Strike out the second, third, fourth, fifth,
sixth and eighth sections OF the fifth article,
concerning the legislative department, and 10.
scrt 10 lieu thereof the following:
a. The House OF Delegates shall be elected
counties on the Tuesday succeeding the first
Monday ip November, and shall. from and
after the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday
In November, eighteen hundred and seventy-
nine. consist of not more than one hundred and
unt Ices than M Det2y 9,,t,,nberS
z3 from and after the same date. the Sen
ate shall consist ofnot less than thirty three nor
more than forty members. They shuN be elected
for the term Of four years-.jor the election of
,chom the counties, cities and toa0ns shall be
airtfed into districts. Each county, oi'y and
town oi the respective districts shall, at the
time of the first election Of its delegate under
this amendment, vote for one or more Senator's.
Tue Senator'S first elected under this amend
naent iu districts bearing odd numbers, shall
yacate their Offices ut the end OF two years; aud
those elected 10 districts bearing even numhers,
at the end of four years; and vacancies occurr-
ug by expiration of term shall be filled by the
election of Senators for the full term.
"a. an apportionment Of Senators and
members of the House of Delegates shall be
made at the regular session of the General As
sensLy nert preceding the Tuesday after the first
.uyndag IN November, eighteen hundred and
serenity ntne. or sooner. & reaPportionneeast
shalt be nude az the yea, eighteen hundred and
hnety one, and every zenith year thereafter.
5. Auy person may be elected Senator who,
at the time Of election, is actually resident
within the district. and qualified to vote for
members of the General Assembly according
to this constitution; and any persoo may be
elec'ed uenber Of tho House Of Delegates
who, at the time of election, is actually resi-
dent within the county, CITY, town or election
district, qualified to vote for members OF the
General Assembly accordiug to this Constitu-
'lop. But no person holding a sclaraed office
"ader the State government, shall be capable
GENERAL assembly. The removal of any per-
seub!y from the city, county, town or district
Tor which he was elected, shall vacate his Office.
Z e The General Assembly shall meet once
t'ro years, and not ottener, unless convened
ty the Governor 10 the manner prescribed 10
this constitution. No session Of the General
Assembly, after the first under this amend
n'ent, shall continue longer than ninety days,
without the concurrence of three-hfths of the
numbers elected to each House; 10 which case
The session may be extended for further pc
rod DOT exceeding thirty days. Neither House,
during the session of the General Assembly,
shall, without the consent of the others, ad-
Jo1rn for more than three days, nor to any
Oth"r place than that 10 which the two Houses
sn"'! be sitting. A majority of the members
elected to each House shall constitute quo
run to do business; but smaller lumber m "
ADJOURN from day to day, aud shall have power
70 compel the attendance Of absent members,
10 such manner and under such penalty as
each House may prescribe.
9 s. The members of the General Assembly
shall receive for their services a salary to be
sSeertalned BY law, aud paid out OF the public
treasury, but no act increasing such salary
snaIi take effect until after the end of the term
ot which the members Of the House of Dele
gales voting thereon were elected; and 90 Sen
stor or Delegate during the term for which he
snal' have been elected, shall be appointed to
suy evil office of profit under the Con mon
wealth, which has been created. or the emou-
ments of which have been Increased during
such term exeept Offices filled hy oIoot;or b.,