Thomas Jefferson Papers

100. A Bill Directing the Method of Proceeding upon Impeachments, 18 June 1779

100. A Bill Directing the Method of Proceeding upon Impeachments

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the process against any person impeached by resolution of the House of Delegates shall be summons, attachments and distress, bearing teste, the first of them the day of emanation, and the others the return-day of the process preceeding, and shall be issued and signed by the clerk of the said court. A copy of the articles of impeachment shall be delivered to the party accused, whensoever he shall require it, and the court shall from time to time make such rules for compelling him to answer and bringing the matter to issue speedily as to them shall seem reasonable; and every fact so put in issue shall be tried by a jury.

Report description begins Report of the Committee of Revisors Appointed by the General Assembly of Virginia in MDCCLXXVI, Richmond, 1784 description ends , p. 69. MS (ViU); clerk’s copy.

Bill presented by Madison 31 Oct. 1785, postponed 14 Dec. to next session, brought up again at Oct. 1786 session, and on 1 Nov. read twice and committed to the committee of the whole (JHD description begins Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia (cited by session and date of publication) description ends , Oct. 1785, 1828 edn., p. 12–15, 92; same, Oct. 1786, p. 16–17). Apparently no further action was taken on it until the session of Oct. 1789, when Bill No. 100 was again brought forward and adopted without alteration (Hening, description begins William W. Hening, The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia description ends xiii, 56; see also the Act of 1792, Shepherd, description begins Samuel Shepherd, The Statutes at Large of Virginia, from October Session 1792, to December Session 1806, Inclusive … (New Series,) Being a Continuation of Hening description ends i, 16–17).

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