RESOLUTIONS. IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. DECEMBER 28th, 1803. to the constitution States ratified on Resolved by the general assembly of Virginia, That the amend- Amendment proment to the constitution of the United States proposed at the first posed by congress session of the eighth congress, by a resolution of the senate and of the United house of representatives of the United States in congress assembled, the part of this to the several state legislatures, be and the same is hereby upon state. the part of this legislature ratified and made a part of the constitution of the United States; which amendment is in the following words: "The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for president and vice-president, one of whom at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as president, and in distinct ballots, the person voted for as vice-president; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as president, and of all persons voted for as vice-president, and of the number of votes for each; which lists they shall sign and certify and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the president of the senate; the president of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for president shall be the president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as president, the house of representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the president, but in choosing the president, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the states; and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice; and if the house of representatives shall not choose a president whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the vice-president shall act as president, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the president. The person having the greatest number of votes as vice-president, shall be the vice-president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the senate shall choose the vice-president; a quorum for the purpose Commissioners shall consist of two thirds of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president, shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the United States." Agreed to by the senate, December 31st, 1803. JANUARY 18th, 1804. Resolved, That the opening of a navigable canal from Nanseappointed to con- mond river in this state, to Bennett's creek in North Carolina, and fer with the legislature of N. Caro- from Meherrin river to Roanoke river in North Carolina, so as to lina for opening a form by the most practicable plan a water communication between Nansemond and the said rivers Nansemond and Roanoke, is an object of great impor canal between Roanoke rivers. Commissioners appointed to con tance to the interior commerce of a large portion of this state and North Carolina, and that the commonwealth of Virginia will cheerfully enter into a joint system to effect the same; to arrange which, that the following gentlemen be appointed, namely, Thomas Swepson, Robert H. Fisher, Richard N: Venable, William Munford and Lemuel Riddick, any three of whom shall have authority to wait on the legislature of North Carolina, and enter into proper and mutual stipulations for accomplishing the said object, subject to the consideration of the respective legislatures. Agreed to by the senate, January 21st, 1804. JANUARY 26th, 1804. Resolved, That the opening of the navigation of the Holstein fer with the legis- river, to the boundary line between this state and the state of Tenlature of Tennes- nessee, and from thence to the river Tennessee, is an object of the the navigation of greatest importance to the interior commerce of a large portion of see for opening Holstein river. this state and the state of Tennessee, and that the commonwealth of Virginia will cheerfully enter into a joint system to effect the same; to arrange which, that the following gentlemen be appointed, namely, William King, James White, David Campbell, Frederick Hamilton, Francis Preston, William Tate and Henry St. I. Dixon, any three of whom shall have authority to wait on the legislature of Tennessee, and enter into proper stipulations for accomplishing the said object; subject to the consideration of the respective legislatures. Agreed to by the senate, January 30th, 1804. FEBRUARY 1st, 1804. Executive to lay before every legislature state Resolved, That the executive be directed, annually, at the commencement of every session of the general assembly, to lay before ment of the ex- both houses of the legislature, a statement of the expences in carrying on the several branches of manufacture in the penitentiary; the amount of articles manufactured; the amount sold; and the articles and value of them remaining on hand. pence of the ponitentiary. Agreed to by the senate, February 2d, 1804.. FEBRUARY 3d, 1804. tion of govern Resolved by the general assembly of Virginia, That the pre- The administrasent adminstration of the government of the United States, merit ment approbated the highest confidence of this assembly, and of every American for the mode of friendly to republican institutions, for the wise, pacific, yet deter- Louisiana. mined measures, by which the extensive and fertile territory of Louisiana has been attached to the Union. Agreed to by the senate unanimously, February 3d, 1804. acquiring ACTS PASSED AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, BEGUN AND held at thE CAPITOL, IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND, ON CHAP. 1.-An ACT providing for the support of government, by the imposi tion of taxes. (Passed January 31, 1805.) 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the public taxes Public taxes for for the year one thousand eight hundred and four, shall be as fol- the year 1804. lows, to wit: On lands, for every hundred dollars value, agreeably to the equalizing law, forty-eight cents; for every slave above the age of twelve years, except such as have been or shall be exempted by reason of age or infirmity, by the respective county or corporation courts, forty-four cents; for every stud horse and jack ass, twice the price at which such horse or ass covers a mare for the season; for all other horses, mules, mares and colts, twelve cents each; for every ordinary license, twelve dollars and fifty cents; for every four wheeled riding carriage, except phaætons and stage waggons, one dollar and twenty-five cents per wheel; for all phatons and stage waggons, eighty-four cents per wheel; and for every other riding carriage with two wheels, forty-three cents per wheel; for all lots and houses in town, one dollar and fifty-six cents on every hundred dollars of the rent thereof, to be ascertained by the rent paid by the tenant; and where such house or lot is in the occupation of the proprietor, the yearly rent or value thereof shall be ascertained by the commissioners of the revenue, or either of them, by a comparison of its value with other houses or lots actually rented; on every license to sell merchandize of foreign growth or manufacture, by wholesale and retail, forty dollars; on every license to retail such goods, fifteen dollars; on every license to a hawker or pedlar, twenty dollars. 2. Provided, That no taxes shall be collected on lands, lots, Proviso. houses, or other property, belonging to this commonwealth, or to any county, town, college, houses for divine worship, or seminary of learning. |