Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-10
DESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
HI MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

Ii MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
Resoired by the Senate and HoHse Of Represen-
fatiUeS Of the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania ~,
General assembly met, That the following amend
ments proposed to the Constitution Of the Com
monwealth, in accordance with the provisions of
the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stituon to be designated as article eleven, as fol-
lows - ARTICLE NI.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION /. The state may contract debts, to sup
ply casual deficits or failures in revenues, or 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, at different
periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied to
the purpose for which it was obtained. TO repay
the debts so contracted, and to no other purpose
whatever.
SECTION 3. In addition to the above limited
power the state may contract debts to repel inva-
sion, suppress insurrection. defend the state in
or to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
of the state; but the money arising from the con-
tracing of such debts shall be applied to the pur
pose for which it was raised, to repay such
debts. and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified in
sections and two of this article, debt what
shall be created by, on behalf of the state.
SECTION 4. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
Aforesaid, the Legislature snail. at
sion after the adoption of this amendment, create
a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient TO pay
the accruing interest on such debt, and annually
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, the proceeds of the sale of
the same. 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 ma "
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 insurrection. part of the said sink
ing fund shall be u cd or applied otherwise than
in extngushmsnt of the public debt. until the a.
mount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION 5. The credit of the commonwealth shall
not IN any manner or event, be pledged, or loaned
to- any individual, company, corporation, asso-
citation nor shall the commonwealth hereafter be-
come joint owner, or stakeholder, in any compa-
NY association or corporation.
SECTION g. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, any part thereof, of any county, city,
borough, or township; of any corporation or
association; unless such debt shall have been con-
traced to enable the state to repel invasion, sup
press domestic insurrection defend itself in time
of war; to assist the state in the discharge of
any portion of its present Indebtedness
SECTION Z. The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough, township, incorpora-
ted district by virtue of vote of its citizens, or
otherwise, TO become stockholder in any compa-
N.Y. association, or corporation; or to obtain oney
for. loan its credit any corporation, assoeia-
ton. institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution to be designated as article Mi as follows
ARTICLE
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting of
over one-tenth of its population, either to form
new county othcrwise) 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.
THIRD ANEADNExr.
From section two of the first article of the con-
stiution, strike out the words, of the city Of PHI
ladeiphIa, aud of each county respectiUety; from
section five, article, strike out the words. ''oi
Philadelphia and Otthe seUerdi counties - from
section seven, same article, strike out the words
''neither The city Of Phitafekphta nor any" and
insert in lieu thereof the words 'ana no - and
strike out section four. article, and in lieu
thoreof insert the following:
SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-four, and in every seventh year
thereafter representatives to the number of one
hundred, shall be apportoned and distributed
equally, throughout the state, by districts in pro-
portion to the number of taxable inhabitants in
the several parts thereof; except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxables, may be allowed separate representa-
ton; but no more than three counties shall be
joined, and county shall be divided, in the for
nation of district. Any city containing suh-
cient number of taxables TO entite it TO at least
two representatives. shall have a separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
equal taxable population near may be. each
of which districts shall elect one representative.
AT the end of section seven, same article, insert
these words 'ths city Of Phjladelphia shall be DE-
rided into single senatorial districts Of cOHtfgu-
territory nearly e7ndi ia taabie population
as possible; bit no trard shall be dictdea an the
formation Mereof''
The legislature, at its first session. after the a
doption of this amendment, shall divide the city
of Philadelphia into senatorial and representative
districts in the manner above provided such dis
triets to remain unchanged until the apportion-
ment in the year one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-four
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section NXVI, dTtfcEe I.
The legislature shall have the power to alter
revoke, annul, any charter of incorporation
hereafter conferred by. or under, any special or
general law, whenever in their opinion it may be
Injurious to the citizens of the commonwealth in
such manner, however. that no injustice shall be
done to the corporators.
In SENATE. April 81. 1856
Rssolred, That this resolution pass. On the first
am endment. yeas "a, nays 5. On the second q.
mendment, yeas 10, nays 6. On the third amend
ment. yeas 2S. nays l. On the fourth amendment
yeas 23 nays f.
Extract from the Journal.
THOMAS A. MAGUIRE, Clerk.
In HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
April 81, 1856
Resolved, That this resolution pass. On the
| first amendment, yeas ~, nays "a On the second
amendment. yeas 63, nays 25. On the third amend
ment, yeas 81, nays 25 and on fourth amendment
| yeas 50, nays 16.
Extract from the Journal.
| WILLIAM JACK, Clerk.
Flied April a. 1886 a SesS
tceaih.
SECRETARY's OFFICE,
Harrishurp .Jupe 1854