By the Governor of Virginia.--a Proclamation.
--Whereas, in the elections about to be held in this State, for Electors of
President and
Vice President, and for members of Congress of the Confederate States, and also for members of the State Convention, and of the House of Delegates and Senate, to supply vacancies now existing, it appears to the
Executive that some of the counties entitled to make said elections are now, or may be, in the possession of the enemy, or of hostile parties; and that, in consequence of such possession, it may be impracticable to hold said elections at the places authorized by law; and the General Assembly and the
Convention having made no provision for such emergency; Now, therefore, I,
John Letcher,
Governor of the
Commonwealth of
Virginia, do hereby prescribe the following regulations for holding said elections, subject to the ratification of the Legislature of the
Convention:
In either of said elections, if, from any cause proceeding from the action of the enemy, it be impracticable to hold the election at any place designated by law for holding the same, any person within the county may vote at any other place therein at which votes may be taken.
And in the case of any district election, if the election cannot be held in any one county of the district, any voter therein may vote in any other county of the district in which votes may be taken.
In counties or districts in which no election can be held, any voter of the county or district may present himself to the
Commissioners at the
Court House of any other county or corporation, or to the
Commissioners at any encampment at which he may be, and ask that a separate poll be opened for the election or elections authorized to be held for his county, and on such poll, if he show that he is entitled to vote, the
Commissioners shall cause his name to be recorded, as if it were in his county.
The officers whose duty it is to make returns of election, shall forthwith, at the conclusion of the election, return such separate polls to the
Secretary of the
Commonwealth.
In taking all such special polls the same proceedings shall be had, and under the regulations prescribed in regular elections.
In all cases where returning officers may not find it practicable, for the reasons aforesaid, to meet at the places designated by law, they may return the polls taken and in their custody to the
Secretary of the
Commonwealth.
Given under my hand as Governor, and under the Seal of the
Commonwealth, at
Richmond, this 11th day of October, A. D. 1861, and in the eighty-sixth year of the
Commonwealth.
John Letcher.
By the
Governor:
Geo. W. Munford.
oc 19--t6thN
Sec'y. of the
Commonwealth.
