Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-17
DESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
HI MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF TIE ECOMMONM FAITH.


tatircs Of tire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania tl
General AsseBibiy met, That the following amend
ments proposed to the Constitution of the Com
monwealth, in accordance with the provisions of
the tenth article thereof
AMENDMENT
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stituton to be designated article eleven, fol-
lows - ARTICLE M
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION / The state may contract debts, to sup
ply casual deficits or failures in revenues, TO
meet expenses not otherwise provided for: but
the aggregate amount of such debts, direct and
contingent whether contracted by virtue of one or
more acts of the general assembly or at different
periods of time. shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation of snch debts shall he applied TO
the purpose for which it obtained, or TO repay
the debts so contracted, and to no other purpose
whatever
SECTION q In addition to the above limited
power the state may contract debts TO repol inva-
sion suppress insCrrection defend the state in war
or to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
of the state; but the money arising from the
tracing of such debts shall be applied the pur-
pose for which it was raised or to repay such
debts. and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 8. Except the debts above specified. in
sections and two of this article, debt what
ever shall be created by, on behalf of the state.
SECTION 1. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid, the legislature SHALL at its first
sion. after the adoption of this amendment, create
sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay
4
to reduce the principal thereof by sum not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ;
which sinking fund shall consist of the net annual
| income of the public works from time to time
owned by the state or the proceeds of the sale of
! the same. or any part thereof and of the income
or proceeds of sale of stocks owned by the state,
together with other funds, or resources. that may
/ be designated by law. The said sinking fund may
| be increased, from time to time by assigning to
il any part Of the taxes. other revenues of the
! state, not required for the ordinary and current
expenses of government and unless in case of war,
invasion or insurrcction, part of the said sink
ing fund shall be u ed or applied otherwise than
in extinguishmont of the public debt, until the
/ mount of such debt is reduced below the OF
five millions of dollars.
SECTION s. The credit of the commonwealth shall
not in any manner or event, be pledged, or loaned
to, any individual company. corporation, or asso-
citation; nor shall the comm onweath hereafter be-
come Il joint owner, or stockholder, in any compa-
ny, association. corporation.
SECTION 6. The commonwealth shall not assum
the debt or any part thereof, of any county, city
! borough. or township; or of any corporation, OF
association unless such debt shall have been con
traeted to enable the state to repel invasion, sap
press domestic insurrcction defend itself in time
of war, or to assist the state in the discharge o.
| any portion of its present indebtedness
| SECTION Z The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough, township, or incorpora
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens oil
otherwise, TO become n stakeholder in any compa
ny. association, or corporation TO obtain one,
for, or loan its credit to- any corporation, associa
tiOil: iliStlublOu; VI purity
| SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con
stitution to be designated article XII follows
ARTICLE XII.
OF NEW COUNTIES
! No county shall be divided by a line cutting OF
over onc-tenth of its population, either 10 form
new county otherwise) without the express as
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
of; nor shall any county be established, con
tanning less than four hundred square miles.
| TurpD ANrInrrSr
From section two of the first article of the con
stiution. strike out the words Of tie city OF Phi
iadeiphia, and Of eaeh county respecttrety; fror
section five, same article, strike out the words -
Philadelphia and Of tie SereraI counties ;; fror
section seven, same article, strike out the word.
.'Rcf:acr ne c;ty Of ttftzEokptta nor any an
insert in lieu thereof the words, 'aRd no - AM
strike out section four. article, and in lie
thoreof insert the following
| SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eight hun
drod and sixty-four, and in every seventh yea
thereafter, representatives to the number of on
hundred, shall be apportioned and distribute
equally, throughout the state by districts, in Pre-
portion to the number of taxable inhabitants i
the several parts thereof; except that any count
containing at least three thousand five hundre
taxabies, may be allowed separate represents
ton; but no more than three counties shall b
joined, and no county shall be divided in the foI
nation of district. Any city containing suff
| cient number of taXables to enttle it to at leas
two representatives. shall have separate repre-
| sentatiOn assigned it. and shall be divided int
convenient districts of contiguous territory, O
! equal taxable population near may be. eac
of which districts shall elect one representative
At the end of section seven, same article, insel
these words, ''hte city Of PttLadetpi0 sioU be al
Uttef itO single senatorial districts, Of c0Rttg6
territory nearly e4,eat ia taraJie popakatto
as possible bat no icard shall be dictdea an III
, formation thereof"
The legislature, at its first session, after the 4
doption of this amendment shall divide the cit
OF Philadelphia into senatorial and reprcsentativ
districts in the manner above provided such di:
I trio ntS IN han aereHn mr.
ment in the year one thousand eight hundred an
= siXty-four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be SECTION XVI, drtlcEe (.
The legislature shall have the power to alte
revoke, or annul, any charter of incorporate
} hereafter conferred by. under, any special, c
general law, whenever in their opinion it may b
injurious to the citizens of the commonwealth
such manner however. that no injustice shall
| done to the corporators.
IL SENATE. April 81, 1856
Rss0lcea, That this resolution pass. On the fir!
e amendment, yeas 81, nays ). On the second
mendment, yeas 10, nays g. On the third amend
e ment, yeas 2S nays l. On the fourth amendmen
Extract from the Journal
THOMAS 4. MAGUIRE, Clerk.
In HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
April 81, 1856. (
Resolue9. That this resolution pass. On th
first amendment, yeas ~, nays "a On the secon
sSas o'- iia pH tiilu
men yeas Ga, nays % and on fourth amendmen
!. yeas 60, nays l6
II Extract from the Journal.
4 WILLIAM JACK, Clerk.
). Filed April a. 1866. secretarycfiGe coain'.o,
: 1ceaih.
n SECRETARY's OFFICE,
a Harrisburg, June 27, 1856.
), Pennsylvania, IS.
} do certify that the above and foregoing is