Washington telegraph., 1845-10-08
CONSTITUTION OF TEXAS.
coNrINukD IRON FOURTH rAok.

not fixed by this Constitution, shall never
exceed four years. r.l sfrl.-
Sec. IL. Absence on the business of
This State, or of the United States. shall
not forfeit a residence once obtained, so as
TO deprive any one of the right of suffrage.
or OF being elected or appointed to any Of
fee under the exceptions contained in this
Constitution.
Sec. IL. The Legislature shall have
power to provide for deductions from the
salaries of public officers, who may neg.
lect the performance Of any duty that may
be assigned them by law. ft...
Sec. l3. No member of Congress. nor
person holding or exercising any office Of
profit or trust under the United States, or
either of them. or under any foreign pow
er, shall be eligible as member of the
Legislature, or hold or exercise any office
OF profit or trust under this State.
Sec. Ia. The Legislature shall provide
for a change of venue in civil and criminal
cases; and for the erection of a Peniten-
tiary at as early day as practicable.
Sec. 10. Ii shall be the duty of the
Legislature to pass suck laws as may be
necessary and proper TO decide differences
by arbitration, when the parties shall select
that method OF trial.
Sec. l6. Within FIVE years after the
adoption of this Constitution, the laws civ
il and criminal, shall be revised digested,
arranged, and Published in such manner a S
the Legislature shall direct; and a like re-
vision, digest, and publication, shall be
made every ten years thereafter.
Sec. II. No Lottery shall be author
. b,,t a. md tha httyt
of Lottery Tickets within this State, is
prohibited.
Sec. Is. No divorce shall be granted
by the Legislature.
Sec. 10. All property both real and
personal, of the wife, owned or claimed by
her before marriage. and that acquired af
forwards. by gift, devise, or descent, shall
be her separate property; and laws shall
be passed more clearly defining the rights
of the wife, in relation as well 20 her sep
arate property.
Sec. 30 The rights of property and
of action which have been acquired under
the Constitution and laws of the Republic
of Texas. shall not be divested; nor shall
any rights or actions which have been di.
vested, barred. or declared null and void by
the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
be re-invested, revived or reinsiated By
this Constitution; but the same shall re-
main precisely in the situation which they
were before the adoption OF this Constitl-
tiun.
Sec. 81. All claims, locations, surveys, grants.
and titles to land, which declared null and
void by the constitution of the republic of Texas,
are, and the same shall remain forever null and
void.
Sec ID The legislature shall have power to
protect by law, from forced safe, certain portion
Of the property of all heads of families. The
homestead of family not to exceed two hundred
acres of land, mot included in town or city, or
any town city lot lots, in value not to exceed
two thousand dollars shall not be subject to forced
sale for any debts hereafter contracted; nor shall
the owner, If married man, be at liberty TO alien
ate the same, unless by the consent Of the wife,
in such manner the legislature may hereafter
point out
Sec. %. The legislature shall provide in what
cases officers shall continue perform the duties
OF their offices, until their shall be duly
qualified
Sec. 24. Every law enacted by the legislature
shall embrace but object, and that shall be
expressed in the title
Sec. 25. No law shall be revised or amended
by reference its title but in such case, the act
revised, section amended, shall be re-enacted,
and published at length.
Sec 20 NO person sndu nolu OF exercise at
the same time, more than civil office of
emolument, except that of justice Of the peace.
Sec. 27. Taxation shall be equal and uniform
throughout the state All property in this state
shall be taxed in proportion to its value, to be
certained directed by law, except such property
as twothirds of both houses of the legislature may
think proper to exempt from taxation. The leg
islature shall have power to lay income tax,
and to tax all persons pursuing any occupation,
trade or profession Provided, that the term
cupaon shall not be construed to apply to pursuits
either agricultural or mechanical.
Sec. %. The legislature shall have power to
provide by law for exempting from taxation two
hundred and fifty dollars worth of the household
furniture, or other property belonging to each
family in this state.
Sec. %. The assessor and collector of taxes,
shall be appointed in such manner, and under such
regulations, as the legislature may direct
See. 80. No corporate body shall hereafter be
created, renewed extended, with banking or
discounting privileges.
Sec. 81. No private corporation shall be Gre
ated, unless the bill creating sh all be passed by
two-thirds of both houses of the legislature; and
two-thirds of the legislature shall have power TO
revoke and repeal all private corporations, by
making compensation for the franchise. And the
state shall be part of the stock or prop
erty, belonging to any corporation.
Sec. 80. The legislature shall prohibit by law
individuals from issuing bills, checks, promissory
notes, or other paper 10 circulate money.
Sec. 80. The aggregate amount of debts here
after contracted by the legislature, shall never
exceed the sum of one hundred thousand dollars
except in of war. to repel invasions, sup
press instructions. And in no case shall any
amount be borrowed, except by vote of two-
thirds of both houses of the legislature.
Sec. "a. The Legislature shall at the first ses-
sion thereof and may at any subsequent session,
establish counties for the convenience of the