Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-25


kaony shall not be granted; but IN cases proyi- /
ded for BIZ law, b. suitin chancery.
Sec. I6 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.
Ser. II. Nonew county shall be established
BIZ the legislature, which shall reduce the coun-
ty or counties, or either Of them, from which
if-fnav be taken, to less contents than five
bundled and seventy-six square miles, nor
shall any new county be laid off Of less con-
tents.
Sec. 10. The legislature shall have power
to admit to all the rights and privileges offree
white citizens of this 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 desm proper.
Sec. 1. 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 to this state from
bringing with them such persons as are DEEM
ed slaves by the laws of any one ofthe United
|
or description shall be continued in slavery by
the laws of this state: Provided, That such
person or slave be the bona fde property of
such emigrants: And proUided, 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 shah have
power to pass laws to permit the owners of
| slaves to emancpate 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 or
owners.
Sec. 2. The introduction of slaves into this
statefas merchandise or for sale; shall be pro-
hibitdd from and after the first day of Nav,
eighteen hundred and thirty-three: Provided,
ThatSthe actual settler or settlers shall not be
prohibited from purchasing slaves in any state
in the Union, and bringing them into this
statejor Their own individual use, until the year
eighteen hundred and forty-ive.
Sec. 3. In the prosecution of slaves 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 reguIa-
ted by law.
MODE OF REVISING THE CONSTITUTION
Whenever two-thiIds of each braAch 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-thlrds 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 part of this constitu-
ton, and not otherwise.
SCHEDULE.
Sec l. All rights vested, and all liabilities
incurred shall remain the same as if this con-
stitution had not been adopted.
SEC. 2. All suits at law or in equity, now
pending in the several courts of this state, NAV
be transferred to such court as may have prop
er jurisdiction thereof
SEC. 8. The governor, and all officers, civil
and military, now holding commissions under
the authority of this state, shall continue to
hold and exercise their respective Offices until
they shall be superseded pursuant TO the pro-
visions of this Constitution, and until their sue
cessors be duly qualified.
SEC. 4. All laws now in force in this state,
not repugnant to this constitution, shall contin-
ue to operate until they shall expire by their
own limitation, or be altered or repealed by the
legislature.
SEC 5. Immediately upon the adoption of
this constitution, the president Of this conYen-
ton shall issue writs of election directed TO the
sheriffs of the several counties, requiring them
to cause an election to be held on the first
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-
/ gislatuFe thus elected, shall continue in Office
until the next general election, and shall con-
vene at the seat of government on the first
monday in January, eighteen hundred and
thirty 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, for
all state and county officers under this consti- |
tuition, (members of the legislature eycepted,) |
ard the officers then elected shall continue In |
Office uni IL ~: e succeeding general election and
after, inthe same manner as II tie election had
taken place at the time last aforesaid
SEC. 6. Until the first enumeration shall be
made, as directed by this constitution, the ap
pointment of senators and representatives
among the several districts and counties IN this
state, shall-remain as at present fixed by law
p. RUT1BIUS X. PRAY.
President ofthe convention, and represen-
tative from the county of Hancock.
Attest: JOHN II. MALLORY, Secretary.
Bakery.