Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-11

n16ny shall nos Be- 9Ianted, hut a case provi-
bed for BY law, BY suit in -chan0eFy,
Sec. Is. Returns of all elections b. the peo-
Die shall be made to the secretary Of the state,
n such q manner as may be prescribed By law.
Sec. III. Nonew county shall be established
bv the Legislature, which shall reduce the coun-
~ or counties, OF either Of them, rom which
Il NAV be taken, to less contents than Eve
hundred and seventy-six square miles, nor
shall any new county be laid of Of less con-
tents.
Sc. "a. The legislature shah have power
20 admit 10 an the rights and privileges free
white citizens ofthis state, all such persons Of
the hoctaw and hickasaw tribes Of Indians,
as shall choose to remain in this state, upon
such terms as the legislature may from time to
time deem proper.
Sec. I. The Legislature shall have no power
to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves
without the consent of their owners, unless
where the slave shall have rendered to the
state some distinguished service, in which case
the owner shall Be paid a fun equivalent for the
slave so emancibated. They shall have no
power to prevent emigrants TO this state from
bringing witlnthem such persons as are DEEM
ed slaves by the laws Of any one ofthe United
States, SO long as any person of the same age
or description shall be continued IN slavery by
tho laws of this state: Pr0Uided, That such
person OF slave be the bona fde property of
such emigrants: And provided, also, That laws
may be passed to prohibit the introduction into
this state, of slaves who may have committed
high crimes in other states. They shall have
power to pass laws to permit the owners of
slaves to emancipate them, saving the rights
of creditors, and preventing them from becom-
ing public charge. They shall have full pow
er to oblige the owners of slaves to treat them
with humanity, to provide for them necessary
clothing and provisions, to abstain from all in
juries to them extending to life or limb, and in
case Oftheir neglect or refusal to comply with
the direction of such laws, to have such slave
or slaves sold for the benefit of the owner OF
owners.
Sec. 2. The Introduction Of slaves into this
state as merchandise or for sale; shall be pro-
hibited from and after the first day of Nav
eighteen hundred and thirty-three: Propided
That the actual settler or settlers shall not be
prohibited from purchasing slaves in any state
in the Union, and bringing them into this
state for their own individual use, until the year
eighteen hundred and forty-fve.
Sec. 3. In the prosecution ofslaves for crimes
Of which the punishment is not capital, no In
quest by grand jury shall be necessary: but
the proceedings in such cases shall be regula-
ted by law.
MODE OF REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.
Whenever two-thiIds of each branch OF the
legislature shall deem any change, alteration
or amendment necessary to this Constitution,
such proposed change, alteration or amend
ment, shall be read and passed by majority
of twO-thirds of each house respectively on
each day, for three several days; public notice
thereof shall then be given by the secretary of
state at least six months preceding the next
general election, at which the qualified electors
shall vote directly for or against such change,
alteration or amendment; and if it shall appear
that majority of the qualified electors voting
for members ofthe legislature, shall have voted
for the proposed change, alteration or amend
ment, then it shall be inserted by the next sue
ceeding legislature, as a part Of this constitu-
ton, and not otherwise.
SCHEDULE.
Sec. l. All rights vested, and all liabilities
| incurred shall remain the same as fthis con-
stitution had not been adopted.
SEC. 2. All suits at law or In equity, now
pending in the several courts of this state, may
be transferred to such court as may have prop
eT jurisdiction thereof
SEC. g. The governor, and all officers, civi
and military, now holding commissions unde
the authority of this state, shall continue tt
hold and exercise their respective Offices unit
they shall be superseded pursuant to the pro
visions of this Constitution, and until their sue
cessors be duly qualified.
SEC. 4. ALI laws now In force in this state
not repugnant to this constitution, shall contin
ne to operate until they shall expire by thei
own limitation, or be altered or repealed by the
legislature.
SEC. 5. Immediately upon the adoption o
this constitution, the president of tins cOnVen
ton shall issue writs of election directed to the
sheriffs of the several counties, requiring then
to cause an election to be held on the hrs
monday and day following In December next
for members of the Legislature, at the resPec.
tive places of holding elections IN said coun-
ties, which elections shall be conducted in the
manner prescribed by the existing election
laws of this state: and the members of the le-
gislature thus elected, shall continue in Office
! until the next general elGction, and shall con-
vene at the seat of government on the first
monday in January, eighteen hundred and
thir y-three: and shall at the first session order
an election to be held in every county of this
state, on the first monday in may and day fol
lowing, eighteen hundred and thirty-three, fol
all state and county officers under this consti
tuition, (members of the legislature excepted
and the officers then elected shall continue II
Office until the succeeding general election anC
after, inthe same manner as ifthe election hat
taken place at the time last aforesaid.
SEC. 6. Until the first enumeration shall b,
made, as directed by this constitution, the ap
pontment of senators and representative
among the several districts and counties in thi
J state, shall remain as at present fixed by law
P. RUTILIUS X. PRAY.
President ofthe convention, and represen
tative from the county of Hancock.
Attest: john H. MALLORY, Secretary.
Bakery.
III BOUND, thankful for past favors, take