The St. Landry whig., 1844-11-07

sec. II The existing laws in this territory, whet
his constitution goes into effect, shall continue to be-
n force until altered or abolished by the lcttslature /;
however, that the legislature shall never &dSJ;
my system or code Of laws by a general reference 10
he said system or code, but in all cases shall specify
he several provisions of the laws it may enact.
sec. u. the Judges OF, all courts within this state
shall, as often as it may besp~ossihle so to do in every
leiinitive Judgment, refer to the particular law in virtue
If which such Judgment may have been rendered, and
n cases adiuce the reasons on which their Judgment
IS founded. @ @
ARTICLE v.
Concerning Impeachment.
see. i. The power of impeachment shall be vested
in the house Of representatives alone.
sec. > All inpeachments shall be tried by the
When sitting for that purpose, the senators
shall be upon oath or affirmation, and no person shall
be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds Of
the members present, 81
sec. 3 The governor and all the civil officers shall
be liable TO impeachment for any misdemeanor III office;
but Judgment, in such cases, shall not extend further
than to removal from office and disqualification to hold
any Office of honor, trust or profit under this state but:
the parties convicted shall nevertheless be liable and
subject to Indictment, trial and punishment, according.
to law.
ARTICLE vi.
General provisions.
sec. i. Members of the general assembly, and alt
officers executive and judicial, before they enter upon
the execution Of their respective Offices, shall take the
following oath or affirmation 81 "A. b. do solcmnly
swear Tor affirm that ] will faithfully and @impartially
uiScuaTRc ana pcFipTlH all the QulleS monument on me
as according to the best of my
abilities and understanding, agreeably to the rules and
regulations of the constitution, and the laws Of the state,
so help me God !"
sec. c. Treason against the state shall consist only
in lcyying war against it or in adhering to its enemies,
giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be con-
victcd of treason, unless on the testimony of two wit
nesses to the same overt act, or his own confession in
open court.
sec 3. Every person shall be disqualified from scrv-
ing as governor, senator or representative, for the term
for which he shall have been elected, who shall have
been convicted of having given or offered any bride
procure his election.
sec. 4. Laws shall be made TO exclude from office
and from suffrage those who shall thereafter he convic-
ted Of bribery, perjury, forgery or other high crimes or
misdemeanors: the privilege of free suffrage shall be
supported BY laws regulating elections, and prohibiting,
under adequate penalties. all undue influence thereon
from power, bribery. tunult, or other improper practices
sec. S. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but
in pursuance oil appropriations made by law, nor shall
any appropriation of money for the support of an army
be made for a longer term than one year: and a regular
statement and account of the receipts and expenditures
of all public money, shall be published annually.
sec. 6. 1t shall be the duty Of the general assembly
TO pass such laws as may be necessary and proper &c
decide differences by abtrators, to be appointed by tn
parties who may choose that summary mode of adjust
mcut.
sec. &. All civil officers for lie state at large shnlI re-
side within The state, and all district or county officers
within thicr respective districts or counties, and shall
keep their respective offices at such places therein as
may be required by law.
sec. 8. The legislature shall determine the time OF
duration ofthc several public Offices when such timo
shall not have been fixed by this constitution, and all
civil officers except the governor, and judges Of the su-
.Perior and inferior courts shah be removable by an adj
dress oftwo thirds Of the members OF both houses, cx-
ccpt those. The removal OF whom has been otherwise
lorby this constitution.
sec 9. Absence on the business of this state or OF
the United States, shall not forfeit a residence once OBJ
tanned, so as to deprive any one Of the right of suffrage,
or of being elected or appointed to any office under this
state, under the exceptions contained i'll thisconstitution.
sec. 10. 1t shall be the duty of the general assembly
to regulate by law III what cases, and what deduction
from the salaries of public officers shall be made for ne
Iglect cf duty in their official capncity.
sec. II. Returns Of all elections for the members OF
the general assembly, shall be made 10 the secretary CT
state for the time being.
sec. 10. The legislature shall point out the manner
in which = man coming into the country shall declare
his residence.
sec. 10. In all elections by the people, and also by the
senate and house Representatives jointly or separately,
the vote shall be given by ballot.
sec. Il. No member OF congress nor person holding
or exercising any office of trust or profit under the Unit
ed States, or either of them, or under any foreign powers
snail be eligible as a member of the general assembly OF
tins state, or hold or exercise any office OF trust or profit
under the same.
sec. IS. Al laws that may be passed by thu legisIa-
lature, and the public records Of this state, and the lu-
idicial and legislative written PROCEEDINGS Of inc Same,
shall be promulgated, preserved and conducted in the
Language in which the constitution Of the United States
is written.
sec. I6. The general assembly shall direct by law
how persons who are How.or may hereafter become Sc
curities for public officers, may be relieved or discharged
on account ofsieh securtiship.
sec. IL No power of suspanding the laws of this
state shall be exercised, unless by the Legislature or its
authority.
sec. Is. In criminal prosecutions, the accused hus
the right of being heard by himself or counsel, of deman-
ding the nature and cause of The accusation against
him, of meeting the witnesses face to face, of having
compulsory process for obtaining wilnesscsin his favor,
and prosecutions BY Indictment or information, a speedy
public trial by an impartial jury of the yicinage, nor
shall he be compelled to give evidence against himself.
sec. l9 All prisoners shall be held bailabic by sufi-
cient securities, unless for capital offences, where the
proof is evident or presumption great, and the privilege
ofthe writ of ha6eaS corpus shall not be suspended, un
less when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public
safety may require it.
sec. 90: No er post facto law nor any law impairing
the obligation of contracts shall be passed.
sec. 81. Printing presses shall be free to every person
who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the leg
lislature, or any branch of the government, and no law
shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. Tho
free communications o fthoughts and opinions is one OF
1.-The invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may
freely speak, write and print on any subject, being res
nonsihle fer the abuse of that liberty.
sec. ". Emigration from the state shall not be pro-
hihited.
sec. %; The citizens of the town of New Orleans
shall have the right Of appointing the several public Off
GERS necessary for the administration and the police of
the sad city, pursuant TO the mode of election which
shall be prescribed by the legislature provided that the
mayor and recorder be ineligible to a seat in the general
assembly.
sec. 81. The seat of government shall continue at
New Orleans until removed by law.
sec: IS, An laws contrary to this constitution shall
be null and void. 8
ARTICLE WI.
Node Of REVISING the constitution
sec l. When experience shall point out the necessity
u amending this constitution, and a majority of all the
members elected to each house of the general assemble
f shall within the first twenty ds of their stated annual
session, concur 10 passing a law, specifying the altcra-
tons intended TO be made, for taking the sense of the
II good people fthis state. as to the necessitn and ernedi.