The St. Landry whig., 1844-10-03

shall continue in service for the term of two years from
the day of the commencement of the general election.
sec. 3. Representatives shall be chosen on the trst
Monday in July every two years, and the general as
scn1bly shall convene on the first Monday in January III
every year, unless a different day be appointed by law,
and their sessions shall be held at the seat of govern
ment.
sec. A. No person shall be a representative who, at
the time of his election, is not a free white male CITIZEN
pf the United States, and hath not attained to the age OF
years, and resided in the state two years
next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in
the county for which he may be chosen or in the district
for which he is elected, in case the said counties may
be divided into separate districts Of election, and has not
held for one year in the said county or district landed
property to the value of five hundred dollars agreeably
to the tax list.
secs. Elections, for representatives for the several
counties entitled to representation, shall be held at the
places of holding their respective courts, or in the sever
al election precincts, into which the Legislature may
hink proper, from time to time, to divide any or all of
those counties.
sec. 6. Representation shall he equal and uniform in
this state, and shall be forever regulated and ascertain
ed by the number of qualified electors therein. In the
year one Thousand eight hundred and thirteen, and every
fourth year thereafter, instrumentation OF all the electors
shall be made in such manner as shall be directed by
law. The number of representatives shall, in the several
years of making these enuIGeratioes, be SO fixed as not
to be less than twenty-five nor more than fifty,
sec. Z. The house of representatives shall choose its
speaker and othnr5otiiGcrs,
sec. s. In all elections for representatives, every free
white male citizen o.. the United States who, at the time
being, hath attained to the age oftwenty-oue years, and
resided in the countyin which he offers to vote one year
next preceding the election, and who in the last six
months prior to the said election shall have paid a state
tax, stall enjoy the right of an elector; provided, how
ever, that every free white male citizen of the United
States, who sfIal have purchased land from the United
States, shall have the right Of voting whenever he shall
have the other qualifications OF age and residence above
prescribed. Electors shall in all cases, except treason,
felony hrno III or surety of Deace. he uTiYIlppcQ from ar
rest during their attendance at, going to, or returning
rom electio IS.
sec. 8. The members of the senate shall be chosen
for the term of four years. and when assembled shall
have the power to choose its officers annually.
sec. 10. The state shall be divided in fourteen sena-
torlal districts, which shall forever remain indivisible,
as follows: the parish of 81. Bernard and Plaquenine,
including the country above as far as the canal (Dcs
P%echeurs) on the east of the Mississippi, and on the
west as far as Bernoudy's canal, shall form one district.
The city OF New Orleans beginning at the Nuns Plan
tation above, and extending below as far as the above
mentioned canal (Des Pecheurs), including the inhabi-
tants of the Bayou st. John, shall form the second dis
trict the remainder of the county Of Orleans shall form
the third district. The counties Of German Coast, Aca-
dia, Lafourche, Ibervile, Point Coupce, Concordia, At
0pelousas, Rapides, Natchitoches and Qua
ehita, ehal each form one district, and each district
shall eject a senator.
sec. II. At the session of the general assembly after
this constitution takes effect, the senators shall be di-
vidcd by lot, as equally as may be, into two classes; the
seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at
the expiration of the second year, of the second class at
the expiratio1ho of the fourth year; so that one half shall
be chosen cydg two years, and a rotation thereby kept
up perpetually.
sec. IL Noperson shall be a senator who, at the time
of his eleGaion, is not a citizen of the United States, and
who hathSiot attained to the age of twenty-seven years,
resided'in this state four years next preceding his cleo
ton, and one year in the district, in winch he maybe
chosen; and unless he holds within the same a landed
property to the value Of ono thousand dollars agreeably
to the ta&jst.
sec. 10. The first election for senators shall he eener-
al throughout the state, and at the same time that the
general election for representatives is n held: aud there
after there shall be a biennial election of senators to fill
the places of those whose time of service may have ex-
pired.
sec. IA. Not less than a majority of the members OF
each house of the general assembly shall form a quorum
to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from
day to day and shall be authorized by law to compel the
attendance Of absent members, in such manner and I'M
der such penalties as may be prescribed thereby.
sec. Is. Each house of the general assembly shall
Judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its
members; but a contested election shall be determined
in such manner as shall be directed by law.
sec. Is. Eacllkpuse OF the general assembly may de-
termine the rules of its proceedings, punish a member
for d~isorderiy behavior, and, with the concurrence of two
thirds, expcl a member, but not a second time for. the
same offence.
sec. II. Each house of the general assembly shall
keep and publish weekly "a journal Of its proceedings, and
the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall,
at the desire OF any two of them, be entered on their
journal.
sec. Is. Neither house, during the session Of the een-
eral assembly shall, without the consent of the other, ad-
iourn for more than three days, nor to any other place
than that in which they may be sitting.
sec. 10. The members of the general assembly shall
seFerally receive from the public treasury a compensa-
ton for their services, which shall be four dollars per day
during their attendance on, going to, and returning from
the sessions OF their respective houses; provided that the
same may be increased or diminished by law; but no
alterations shall take effect during tho period of service
of the members of the house of representatives, by whom
such alteration shall have been made.
sec. 90. The members of the general assembly shall,
in all cases except treason, felony, breach or surety of
the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attend
aaee at the sessions of their respective houses, and in 30
ing to or returning from the same, and for any speech or
debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in
any other place. a
sec. 81. No senator or representative shall, during the
term for which he was elected, nor for one year there
after, be appointed or elected to any civil Office Of profit
under this state, which shall have been created. or the
the time such senator or representative was in office, ex-
capt to such offices or appointments as may be filled by
tho elections of the people.
see.22. Flo person, while he continues to exercise the
~fnctlons oil a Clergyman, priest or teacher of any re-
liglous persuasion, society or sect, shall be eligible to the
general assembly, or to any office of profit or trust, un-
der this state.
sec. %. No person who at any time may have been IA
collector of taxes for the state, or the assistant or deputy
of such collector, shall be eligible to the general assem-
bly,, until he shall have obtained "a quietus Tor the amount
Of such collection, and for all public monies for which he
may be responsible.
sec; "a. No bill shall have the force of IA law until, on
three several days, it be read over in each house of the
general assembly, and free discussion allowed thereon:
unless in case of urgency, f~our-fifths of the house where
the bill shall be depending may deem it e~xpedient to dis
pense with this rule.
sec,25. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in
the house Of representatives,, but the senate may propose
amendments as in other bills; provided that thew Shall
not introduce any new matter under the color Of an a.
mendment which does not relate to raising a revenue.
sec. 26. The general assembly shall regulate by law.
by whom and in what manner writs of election shall be
issued to fill the vacancies which may happen in either
branch thereof.
ARTICLE III.