Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-11
RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth.

the (on,nGnrrcayb Of Pennsylvania IN icaeri issfn
b mrt That the following amendments are proposed To
the constitution of the commonwealth accordance with
the provisions Of the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article to said constitution
TO be designated article eleven, as followS:-
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION l. The state may contract debts to supply
casual deficits failures in revenues or to meet eXpeI
ses otherwise provided for; but the aggregate amount
of such debts direct and contingent, whether contracted
nv virtue Of one acts of the general assembly or
at erent periods of time shall never exceed seven hun
drcd and ffty thousand dollars and the money arising
from the creation of such debts, shall lie applied to the
purpose for which il obtained or to repay the debts
20 contracted and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION .. In addition to the above limited power the
state NAV contract debts to Ierel invasion, suppress in
surrecton defend the state in war or to RI deem the pre-
sent outstanding Indebtedness of the state bot the mo-
ney arising from the contracting of such debts shall be
implied to the purpose for which raised or to re
pay such debts and to no other purpose whatcvcr.
SECTION 8. Except the debts above specified, IN sec
tions and two of this article debt whatever shall
be created by, on behalf of the state.
SrTIoN l. To provide for the payment of the present
debt and any additional debt contracted aforesaid, the
Ieci.lauT" hal at its first session after the adoption OF
this amendment, create sinking fmd, which shall he
suireu pay the accruing interest such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof by sum not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars which sink
ing fund shall consist of the ANIMAL income of the
public works, from time to time owned by the state or
the proceeds Of the sale of the same any part there
Of and Of the proceeds of sale of stocks owned
by the state together with other funds resources that
NAV be des mated by law. The said sinking fund may lie
Of the taxes or othor revenues OF the e not required
for the ordinary and current expenses OF government
unless in of war invasion or Instruction. no part OF
the said sinking fund shall be used applied otherwise
than in eXtngIi-hmcnt of the public dept, until the
amount Of such debt is reduced below the sum of five mil
lions OF dollars.
Section s. The crcdr Of the commonwealth shall not
in any event be pledged loaned to, any in.
dyilual company corporation association shall
che commonwealth hereafter become joint owner. or
stnckhoide. in company. association, corporation
SFcTIoH e. The commonwealth shall not assume the
dcbt of aUV CI or
township: of any corporation. or association: unless
such debt shall have been contracted 10 enable the state
repc invasion, suppress domestic insuccOn, defend
itself in time Of 10 assist the state III the discharge
of any portion Of its present Indebtedness.
SECTION I. The legislature shall not authorize any
county, city borough township or Incorporated district,
by virtue OF vote OF its citizens, otherwise, to become
astockhocr in any company association, or corporation;
90 obtain money for loan ts cIed to, any corpora
ton, association, institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article to said constitution,
TO be designated as article XII, as follows
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off
onccnh of its population, (cther to form county
otherwse without the express assent Of snch county
by a of the electors thereof shall any coun
~ be established containing less than four hundred square
miles.
THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article Of the constitution,
strike ont the words, s cttyQf philadelphia and Of
each county respectively from section five same article
strike the words Of Philadelphia and Of the sererdi
counties - from section seven, same article. strike out
the words. neither The city Of philadelphia nor any
and insert in lieu thereof the words and no :" and
strike out section four same article, and IN lieu thereof
insert the following:
SECTION l. In the year one thousand eight hundred
and sixtyour and every seventh year thereafter rep
rcsentatives to the number of hundred shall be ap
port0ncd and distributed equally throughout the state.
BY districts in proportion to the number of taxable in
habitant in the several parts thereof except that
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxables may he allowed separate representation but
no more than shall joined and no coun-
shall be divided. in the formation of district.
city containing sufficient number of taxahles to entitIc
il to least two representatives. shall have separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided into
venent districts Of contiguous territory of equal taxable
population near a. may be, each OF which districts shall
elect one representative.
At the end of section article, insert these
words the cu of Phaiepha shall be diriHed into SIN
gle senatorial districts Of contiguous territory nearly
Equal tnrdbie population possible but card shall
bf dirided in the formation thereof"
The legislature at its first session, after the adoption
Of this amendment shall divide the city of Philadelphia
into senatorial and representative districts in the
above provided such districts remain unchanged
ill the apportonment in the year one thousand eight hun
drcd and siXty-fOur
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section XXvI article I.
The legislature shall have the power tn alter revoke
annu any charter of Incorporation hereafter conferred
by, under, any special, general law, whenever in
their opinion it may be injurious to the citizens of the
commonwealth in such manner, however, that no in.
justice shall be done to the corporators
Is SENATE, April 81, 1856.
nent, yeas a. nays D. On the second amendment yeas
49, nays On the third amendment, yeas 2s nays l.
On the fourth amendment, yeas %, nays 4.
Extract from the Journal
THOMAS 4. MAGUIRE, CRerk
Il HoUsE OF REPRESENT ATIvEs,
1pri u, 1856.
Rrsored, That this resolution pass On the first amend
cnt yeas - nays u. On the second amendment yeas
63 nays 25. On the third amendment yeas 6i nays %
and on fourth amendment yeas 60, nays l6
Extract from the Journal WM. JACK, Clerk
SECRET ARY's OFFICE, A. G. CURTIN,
Filed -4pTII q, 1856. Sec'y. Of the Commonwealth
SECRETARY's OFEcE,
Harrisburg June u, 1856.