Chap. 232.—A JOINT RESOLUTION agreeing to amendment to the constitu-
tion of Virginia in respect to the mode of trial in capital or criminal prose-
cutions.

Approved February 12, 1894.

Whereas a certain joint resolution proposing an amendment to
the tenth clause of article one of the constitution of Virginia, in
relation to the mode of trial in capital or criminal prosecutions,
and providing for the publication of said amendment and for the
communication of a copy thereof and of the said resolution to this
general assembly, was adopted by the last general assembly (a
majority of the members elected to each of the two houses having
agreed thereto); and whereas, in accordance with said resolution, a
certified copy of said amendment and of said resolution, together
with a certificate of publication by the publisher of the newspapers
in which said proposed amendment has been published that the
same has been published for three months previous to the time
of choosing the senators and members of the house of delegates of
this general assembly, has been transmitted as required by said reso-
lution: therefore,

Resolved by the house of delegates and senate of this general as-
sembly (a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses
agreeing thereto), That the following amendment to the constitution
of the state of Virginia be, and the same is hereby, agreed to, which
said amendment shall be submitted to the people, in a manner here-
after to be prescribed, for their approval and ratification, in con-
formity with the provisions of article twelve of said constitution,
Viz.

Strike from the constitution of Virginia the tenth clause of article
one of the constitution, which is in these words:

ARTICLE 1.

: 10. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man hath the
right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be con-
fronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence i in his
favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage,
without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty, nor
can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man
be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judg-
ment of his peers.

And in lieu thereof insert the following:

§ 10. That in all criminal or capital prosecutions a man hath a
right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be con-
fronted with his accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his
favor and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage,
without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; but
the general assembly may, by law, provide for the trial otherwise
than by a jury of a man accused of a criminal offence not punisha-
ble by death or confinement in the penitentiary ; nor can he be com-
pelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of
his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his
peers.