The St. Landry whig., 1844-11-14

! together the general assembly of the state of Louisiana.
sec. 2. The members of the house OF representatives
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 first
Monday in July every two years. and the general as
sei1bly shall convene on the first Monday in January in
every year, unless a different day be appointed by law,
and their sessions shall be held at the seat of govern
mcnt.
sec. 4. No person shall be a representative who, at
the time of his election, is nFAa free white male citizen
Of the United States, and hath not attained to the aye oil
twenty-one years, and resided in the state two years
next preceding his election, and the last year thereofln
tle county for which he may be chosen or III tho 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.
sec. 5. Elections, for representatives for the several
counties entitled to representation, shall he 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 be equal and uniform in
this state, and shall be forever regulated and ascertain
ed by the number o. qualified electors therein. In the
year one Thousand eight hundred and thirteen, and every
fourth year thereafter, an enumeration 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 enumerations, 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 other officers.
secs. In all elections for representatives, every free
white male citizen of the United States who, at the time
being, hath attained to the age Of twcnty-one years, and
resided in the county in which lie 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, shall enjoy the right of an clector; provided, how
ever, that every free white male citizen of the United
States, who shall have purchased land from the United
States, shall have the right Of voting Whenever he shall
have the other qualifications of aye and residence above
prescribed. Electors shall in all cases, except treason,
felony. breaah or surety of peace, be privileged from ar
rcst during llcir attendance at, going to, or returning
from elcctiu 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 scna-
torIal districts, which shall forever remain indivisiblc,
as follows: the parish of st. Bernard and Plauuemine,
including the country above as far as the canal (Des
Pecheurs) 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 Pcclleurs), 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. AGA
dia, LufOurche, IberYille, Point Coupce, ConcOrdia, At
takapas, Opclousas, Rapides, Natchitochcs and Qua
chita, shall each form one district, and each district
shall elect a senator.
sec. III. At the session of the general assembly after
this constitution takes effect, the senators shall be di-
vided 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 FEAR, OF the second class at
the expiration of the fourth year; so that one half shall
be chosen every two yegrs, and "A rotation thereby kept
up pcrpctually.
sec. ~. No person shall be a senator who, at the time
of his election, is not IA citizen of the United States. and
who hath not attained TO the age of twcnty-scven years,
resided in this state four years next preceding his cleo
ton, and pnc year in the district, in which he NAV be
chosen; and unless icc,olds within thc same a landed
property to the value Of one thousand dollars agrccably
to the tax list.
sec. 13. The first election for senators shall be gcncr-
nj throughout the state, and at the same time that the
general election for representatives is held; and there
after there shall h. a biennial election of senators to fill
the places of those whose time Of service may have cx-
pred,
sec. II. Not less tllan 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 mcmbers, in such manner and I'M
der such penalties as may be prescribed thereby.
sec. Is. Each house of the general assembly shall
Judge oil 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. 10. Each house of the genera! assembly may de-
tcrmlne the rules of its proceedings, punish a member
for d~isorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two
thirds, expel 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 ofits proceedings and
the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall,
at inc desire oil any Two oil them, be entered on their
journal.
sec. Is. Neither house, during the session of the gen-
cral assembly shall, without the consent OF the other, adj
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
severally receive from the public treasury a compensa-
ton for their services, which shall be four dollars per day
during their attendance on, going 10, 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 dlrinp the nrrioI of scr,,;oo
of the members of the house of representatives, by whom
such alteration shall have been made.
sec. 20. 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
aAce at the sessions of their respective houses, and in 90
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.
sec. 81. No senator or representative shall, during the
term for which he was elected, nor for one wear there
after, be appointed or elected to any civil Office Of profit
under this state, which shall have been created, or the
elnolnlnents OF which shall have been increased durino
the time such senator or representative was in office. cx.
cept to such Offices or appointments as NAV be filed by
tho elections Of the people.
sec. %. No person, while he continues to exercise the
factions cf a clergyman, priest or teacher of any re-
iglous persuasion, society or sect. shall be clirible to the
general assembly, or to any Office OF profit or trust, I'M
der this state.
sec. %. No person who at any time may have been a
collector of taxes for the state, or the assistant or denutv
OF such collector, shall he eligible to the general assem-
bly,, until he shalt have obtained a quietus for tho amount
of such collection, and for all public monies for which he
may be responsible.
sec. "a. No hill shall have the force of a law until. on
three several days, 1T be read over in each house of the
general assembly, and free discussion allowed thereon.
unless in case of urgency, ~four-ffths of the house where
the bill shall be depending may deem it %expedicnt to dis
pcnso with this rule.
sec. %. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in
the house of representatives. but the senate NAV proposc
amendments as in other bills; provided that they shall
not introduce any new matter under the color Of an a.
mendmcnt which does not relate to raising a revenue,