Convention of 1861, General Records, Box 2
Archival Collections, The Library of Virginia By the Governor of Virginia.
A Proclamation Whereas the Convention of this Commonwealth on the 26th day of April 1861 adopted an Ordinance to amend the Constitution of this Commonwealth, so as to strike out the twenty second and twenty third sections of the fourth article of the present Constitution and to insert the following in lieu thereof, viz--  "Taxation shall be equal and uniform throughout the Commonwealth, and all property shall be taxed in proportion to its value, which shall be ascertained in such manner as may be prescribed by law; but any property may be exempted from taxation by the vote of a majority of the whole number of members elected to each house of the General Assembly"--
And whereas it is also provided by said ordinance that it shall take effect on the first day of July next, when ratified by a majority of the votes of the people of the Commonwealth, cast at a poll to be taken therein, on the fourth Thursday in May: And whereas, by the Schedule annexed to said ordinance, it is made the duty of the Governor without delay, to make proclamation of the result, stating therein the aggregate vote for and against the amendment: And it appearing that the entire vote of the State cannot be ascertained, and the result cannot be changed by the vote by such Counties as have not been heard from; Therefore, I, John Letcher, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, by virtue of the authority aforesaid, do hereby proclaim that the following is the aggregate vote cast on the said 4th Thursday in May upon the said question, as appears from the returns received-- | For the Amendment | 111854 | | Against it | 16745 | | Majority for the Amendment | 95109 | The names of the Counties whose vote has not been received is hereto annexed. In In consideration therefore of the premises I do hereby proclaim that the said amendment of the Constitution has been adopted by the people, and on the first day of July next is a part of the Constitution of this Commonwealth having full force and effect. And in compliance with said Ordinance, the same, and the Schedule accompanying it are hereto appended. Given under my hand as Governor and under the seal of the Commonwealth at Richmond this 14th day of June 1861, and in the 85th year of the Commonwealth. John Letcher By the Governor George W. Munford Secretary of the Commonwealth List of Counties from which no returns of the Vote on the Taxation Amendment have been received at The Executive Department-- Accomack, Alleghany, Brooke, Buchanan, Doddridge, Elizabeth City, Hancock, Hanover, Jackson, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Morgan, McDowell, Patrick, Pleasants, Preston, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tyler, Warwick, Wetzel, Wise, Wood and York. |
