The Arkansas banner., 1845-10-15
From he ". 0. 1ropic of Sept. 20 THE CONSTITUTION OF TEXAS.

We have received the Galveston papers containing the New Constitution of Texas, entlre-whlch consists of l2 Articles and l70 Sections, with an Ordinance. Article lst Is the Bill of Rights, and, in its 24 sections, embodes all the general and essential prin- ciples of Liberty and Free Government. IL IS American-Republcan. It declares all po- litcal power to be inherent in the people, and all freemen, when they form social compact, to have equal rights; lorblds reli- gious tests, leaving every mans worship to his own conscience; guarantees the perfect Liberty of the Press, the security of all their persons and property, speedy, public, and impartial Trials of Jury, and the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus; forbids excess i've bail, a second trial for the same offence, attainder and er post facto laws, those impair ing the obligation of contracts, the applica- tion of private property to public use with out adequate compensation, imprisonment for debt and deprivation of life, liberty, property or privileges, except by due course of law ]; exacts the subordination of the military to the civil authority; prohibits perpeluities and monopolles, primogeniture and entallments secures the right of the citizens at all times to assemble peaceably and petition for re- dress of grievances grants only to the Le- gislaturc or it's authority power of suspending the laws; and finally, to guard against trans gressons of the high powers thus delegated, declares that everything in the Bill of Rights is crcepted out of the general powers of Gov ernment, and that it shall ever remain inyio- late.
 Articles 2d divides the Government, into three distinct departments s-Legslative, Ex- ecutive, and Judicial. Article Sd has 35 sections on the Legislative department The most important one is that which conlers the right of suffrage upon every free male person, 2I years of age, who is citizen of the u. States, or who, at the adoption of the Con- stitution by the United States Congress, shall be citizen of Texas, and who shall have resided in the State one year next preceding an election, and the last six months m the place where he offers to ote. Untaxed h. dians and Africans, and their descendants, are not allowed to vote. All free persons over 21 years of age, with the above excep- tions, who shall have resided Tn Texas SIX months immediately preceding the acceptance of the Constitution by the United States Congress, are made voters. The Legislature consists of Senate and House, with biennial sessions. Representatives are chosen for two years, Senators for four. Both must be citizens of the United States, or of Texas at the adoption of the Constitulion-th first to have been an inhabitant two, the last three years next preceding his election. No per son who has been entrusted with public mo- ney can be eligible until he has obtained discharge of the obligation. Ministers of the Gospel, '.being dedicated to God, and the care of souls," are therefore declared ineigi- ble. The first enumeration of the people is to take place at the first meeting of the Le- gislature, and in 1S48 and 1850, and every eight years afterwards There never shall be less than l9 nor more than B Senators, nor less than 45 nor more than 90 Represen- tatives. The Legislature is to hold it's ses- sioas at Austin until 1850, after which 1t shall