Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-11-06

mony shall not Be granted, but in cases pr6vi-
ded for BY law, ~ suit IN ehanceTy.
Sec. rs. Returns Of al elections by the peo-
pie shall BE- made to the secretary Of the state, |
in such manner as may be prescribed BY law.
Sec. II. No new county shall be established |
BY the legislature, which shall reduce the coun-
" or counties, or either Of them, from which
Il may be taken, to less contents than five
hundred and seventy-six square miles, nor
shall any new county be laid off Of less con-
tents.
Sec. Is. The legislature shall have power
to admit 10 al the rights and privileges of free
white citizens Of thu 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.
SLAVES.
Sec. /. 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 full equivalent for the
slave so emancipated. They shall have no
power to prevent emigrants 70 this state from
bringing with them 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 ID slavery by
the laws of this state: PrOrided; That such
person or slave be the bona tfde property of
such emigrants: And prOrided, 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
IcIay RI Ia he - -
of creditors, and preventing them from becofn-
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-
hibitcd from and after the first day of Nav,
, eighteen hundred and thIrty-three: Provided,
That the actual settler or settlers shall not be
o 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-five.
-, Sec. 3. In the prosecution ofslaves for crimes
If OF which the punishment is not capital, no IN
d quest by grand jury shall be necessary: but
the proceedings in such cases shall be regula-
ted by law.
IS MODE OF REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.
Whenever two-thirds Of each branch OF the
y Legislature shall deem any change, alteration
'e or amendment necessary TO this Constitution,
n. such proposed change, alteration or amend
eha hn nh M
: iof tWO-thirds of each house respectively on
each day, for three several days; public notice
s thereof shall then be given by the secretary of
; state at least six months preceding the next
s general election, at which tire qualified electors
+ shall vote directly for or against such change,
If alteration or amendment; and if it shall appear
e that majority Of the qualified electors voting
e 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
II ton, and not otherwise.
SCHEDULE.
- Sec. l. An rights vested, and all liabilitie
~ incurred shall remain the same as if tins con
= stitution had not been adopted.
SEC 2. All suits at law or in equity, nov
!; pending in the several courts of this state, ma
=, be transferred to such court as may have prop
:: er jurisdiction thereof
= SEC. g. The governor, and all officers, civi
- and military, now holding commissions unde
/ the authority of this state, shall continue t.
=, hold and exercise their respective Offices unit
=, they shall be superseded pursuant to the pro
= visions of this Constitution, ard until their sue
y cessors be duly qualified.
g SEC. 4. AL laws now in force in this state
not repugnant to this constitution, shall contin
=. ue to operate until they shall expire by thei
own limitation, or be altered or repealed by thu
n legislature.
y SEC. s. Immediately upon the adoption O
this constitution, the president of this conven
ton shall issue writs of election directed to tn
n sherifs of the several counties, requiring then
to cause an election TO be held on the frs
y 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 th,
manner prescribed by the existing election
laws of this state: and the members of tie le
- gislature thus elected, shall continue in ofic,
= until the next general election, and shall con
i vene at the seat of government on the fins
N monday in January eighteen hundred ant
Z thir y-three; and shall at the first session orde
af an election to be held in every county of TIN
: state, on the first monday in may and day fol
z lowing, eighteen hundred and thirty-three, 70
: an state and county officers under this consti
2 tuition, (members Of the legislature e, cepted,
: and the officers then elected shall continue i
Office until the succeeding general election an
I'll after, in the same manner as the election ha
!, taken place at the time last aforesaid.
: SEC. 6. Until the first enumeration shall b
made, as directed by this constitution, the an
= pointment Of senators and representative
Il among the several districts and counties in TIN
state, shall remain as at present fixed by law
70 p. RUTII1US X. PRAY.
!. President ofthe convention, ard represen
nj tative from the county of Hancock,
l. Attest: JOHN II. MALLORY, Secretary.
i Notice to Agents of the Unite,