Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-07
RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution Of
the Commonwealth

the Commonwealth.
ReSoed 6u the Senate and House Of Representatives.
Of the COMMUNICABLE of Pennsylvania Gene rat fsen
bly, met That the following amendments are proposed to
the constitution Of the commonwealth in accordance with
the provisions of the tanth article thereof
PIRsT AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article to said constitution
to be designated a. article eleven, rs follows -
ARTICLE xI
SECTION l. The Ftate may contract debts to supply
casual deficits failures in or to meet expen
scs otherwise provided for but the aggregate amount
Of such debts direct and contingent, whether contracted
bv virtue of acts of the general assembly
at different periods o time shall exceed seven hun
dred and fifty Thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation Of such debts. Fbal be applied the
purpose for which obtained to repay the debts
contracted, and II no other purpose whatever
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited power the
state contract debts to repei invasion, suppress
eyrrec0n defend the state in war deem the pre-
cent outstanding Indebtedness of the state but the
ney arising from the contracting of such debts shall be
opnIied to the purpose for which it was raised or TO re-
paw such debts, and other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
tons and two of this article no debt whatever shall
be created by, or behalf of the state
Section /. To provide for the payment of the present
dcLt and any additional debt contracted aforesaid the
legislature shl at ts first session after the adoption of
this amendment. create sinking fund.- which shall be
sucioGt to pay the accrung interest such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof by not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars; which sink
ing fund shall consist Of the annual income of the
public works. from time to time owned by the state,
the proceeds Of the sale of the sae any part there
by the STATE together with other funds, that
may be designated by law The said sinking fund be
increased from time to time, by assigning 10 IL any part
Of the taxes or oth2 revenues OF the state not required
for the ordinary and expenses of government and
unless in of war invasion nsnrreCion part of
the said sinking fund shall he used applied otherwise
than in extinguishment Of the public dept, until the
amount Of such debt reduced below the of five mil
lions of dollars.
SFCrIoN g. The crcir of the commonwealth shall not
in any event, be pledged loaned to- any in
diydnal companv cnrporatiou or association nor Shall
hoo q pr
etockhnde IN company association, corporation
Section 6. The Commonwealth shall not assume the
debt, any part thereof of any county city booughor
township or 9 any corporaton OF association unless
such debt shall have been contracted to enable the
repel invasion suppress domestic nsurrecton defend
elf in time OF or 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 or incorporated district
by virtue Of vote of its citizens otherwise to become
stockholder in any company association corporaton
obtain money for loan its credit to- any corpora
tion, association, institution, or party.
SECOND AAsND%ENT
There shall be additional article said constitution
10 be designated as article XlI as fcloHs:-
OF NEW CoTNTIEs.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off
one.tenth of its population, (eher to form county
or otherwse) without the express assent of such county
by vote Of the electors thereof shall any
y be established containing less than four hundred square
miles
THIRD ANrHpMExT.
From section two Of the first article Of the constitution
strike out the words, Of tie ctty0f Philadelphia and Of
rqc county, respecrely = from section Eve same article
strike ont the words, Of Philadelphia and Of the seresal
counties :; from section article. strike out
the words, neither the city of Philadelphia any'
and insert in lieu thereof the words, - and
strike out section four same article aud n lieu thereof
sEcTIoS 1. In the year thousand eight hundred
aud riXor and in every seventh year thereafter, rep
resentaves to the number Of one hundred shall be ap
porGnad and distributed equally throughout the state
BY districts, in proportion to the number of taxable in
habtants in the several parts thereof except that any
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxabes, may be allowed separate representation bat
no more than three counties shall be Joined cuun
ty shall be divided. in the formation of district. Any
city containing sufficient number of taxables to entitle
Il To at least two representaves shall have separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided into
venient districts of contiguous territory of eual taxable
population may be, each of which districts shall
elect one representative.
At the end of section seven same article insert these
words Me city Of Philadelphia shall be dirded into sin
gle senatorial districts OF contiguous territory nearly
equal in tarabie population possible b Dard shall
be 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 manner
above provided such districts remain unchanged
til the app0tionmcnt in the year thousand eight hun
FOURTH ArESpMENr.
To BE- section XVI, .frtiCie I.
The legislature shall have the power to alter revoke or
aunul 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 in
justice shall be done to the corporators.
Is SENATE. Aprii Il, 1856.
Resored, That this resolution pass On the first amend
mcnt yeas o. nays 5. On the second amendment yeas
H. nays g. On the third amendment, yeas 2S nays L..
On the fourth amendment, yeas %, nays l.
Extract from the Journal.
THOMAS A. MAGUIRE Clerk.
IS House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
.fpra 81, lS5G.
Resoued. That this resolution pass. On the first amend
raent yeas ~ nays o. On the second aIeedmeut yeas
g. nays On the third amendment yeas CT, nays -
and on fourth amendment, yeas 90, nays l6,
Extract from the Journal. WM. JACK, Clerk,