The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-25
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO.

Some Of the newspapers publish IN full the
Constitution lately adopted by the Convention Of
New Mexico, called for the purpose Of organ
king the form of State Government. In its
main features IL is like the Constitution Of the
existing States.
1t defines the limits of New Mexico according
! IA har ~->;A..A hes,sA1ariAa-
Article lst is q declaration of fundamental
rights, such as are enumerated in the amendments
to the Constitution of the United States.
Article I'd makes the usual distribution of
the powers of Government into three depart
ments.
Article Sd defines the Legislative Power, and
the mode of its creation. A Senate and House of
Representatives are constituted Representatives
not to be less than twenty one years of age and
Senators not less than twenty-five.
Article 4th provides for an Executive, consist
ing of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, to
be elected by the People, and to hold office for
four years.
Article 5th vests the Judicial power in one
Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as
the Legislature may from time to time institute
Judges Of the Sepreme Court to be appointed by
the Governor with the advice and consent of both
Houses of the Legislature in joint ballot.
Article 9th provides for the organization of the
militia Of the State between the ages of eighteen
and fifty years
Article 7th makes it imperative on the Legis-
lature to establish, at as early day practica-
BILE, Free Schools throughout the State and to
set apart one-twelfth of the annual revenue de-
rived from taxation, ss perpetual fund for their
support
Article sth defines the qualifications of voters
Male citizens over twenty-one africans and the
descendants of Africans and uncivilized Indians
excepted are considered voters.
Article 9th contains general provisions, the fol-
lowing Of which are Of the most Importance:
as The Legislature shall have power 10 lay
an income tax, to tax all persons pursuing any
trade occupation, or profession provided, that
the term occupation shall not be construed to APP
ply to pursuits either agricultural or mechanical
Corporations shall not be created in this State by
special laws, except for municipal purposes; but
the Legislature may provide, by general laws, for
the organization Of all other corporations as here
matter provided.
90 The Legislature shall not have power TO
create, authorize, or incorporate, by any general
or special law, any bank or banking privilege, or
power, or any institution or corporation having
any banking privilege or power whatever, except
40 provided in the section following.
40 The Legislature may submit to the voters of
any general election the question Of bank or no
bank, and II, at any such election, q number Of
votes equal to majority Of all the votes cast at
such election, that question, shall be in favor
Of banks then the Legislature shall have power
70 m arol houk low a.
tons and under such regulations as they may
deem expedient for the safety Of the bil-holders.
Ill. The credit Of the State shall never be
loaned for the benefit Of any individual, corpora
ton, or association
"l2. No divorce from the bonds of matrimony
shall ever be granted, except by special act Of
the Legislature"
A schedule is appended, providing against in.
conveniences that may attend the transition from
q Territorial to State Government.
The Constitution goes out with the following
address from the President and Secretaries of the
Convention
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO.
We, the delegates Of the people Of New
Mexico, in Convention assembled have now the
honor to submit, for the consideration Of the peo-
pie, that Constitution which appears to us best
for the moral, social, and political welfare and
well-beng Of the country
The friends Of New Mexico have long desired
and ardently sought stable, uniform, equal, and
just system Of laws, and administration Of justice
and the means we have taken to effect these OBJ
jects are, In our opinion, the most judicous that
the present condition and circumstances Of the
country admit Of adopting.
Slavery in New Mexico Is naturally impracti-
cable, and can never, In reality, exist here whsr-
ever 1t has existed II has proved curse and Q
blight TO the State upon which II has been inAict-
ed-a moral, social, and political evil. The only
manner In which this question now effects 10 Il
politically and on grounds Of this character,
with its general evil tendenoies We have unani-
mously agreed 10 reject tiff forever.