Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-28

RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth.
Rs,orsd bv The Senate and House Of Representatives,
of the Commonwealth of Penns yraniG in General Hssen
6y nr That the following amendments are proposed to
the constitution of the commonwealth in accordance with
the provisions of the tenth article thereof
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall he an additional article said constitution
to be designated article eleven as folows:-
ARTICLE XI
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECroS |. The state may contract debts, to supply
casual deficits or failures in revenues to meet eXpen
ss not otherwise provided for but the aggregate amount
such debts direct and contingent whether contracted
bv virtue acts of the general assembly or
at different periods of time shall exceed seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, and the money ar'hg
from the creation of such debts shall he applied 10 te
purpose Which it obtained to repay the debts
so contracted, and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited power the
state may debts to repe invasion, suppress IN
surrecton defend the state in to deem the pre-
sent outstanding Indebtedness of the state but the mo-
ney arising the contracting of such debts, shall be
applied to the purpose for which 1t was raised or to re-
pay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever:
SECTION 3. EXCEPT the debts above specified IN sec
tons and this article debt whatever shall
be created by, on behalf of the state.
SECTION l. To provide for the payment of the present
debt and any additional debt contracted aforesaid the
legislature shall at its first session. after the adoption ot
this amendment create sinking fund, which shall he
sufficient pay the accrung 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 net annual income o the
public works from time to time owned by the state,
The proceeds of the sale of the same any part there
of and of the income or proceeds sale of stocks owned
hy state together with other funds that
may he designated by law The said sinking fund may he
Increased from time to time by assigning to it any part
u the taxes Oth9r of the state not required
for the ordinary and current expenses ot government
unless in of war; invasion nsurrecOn part of
the said sinking fund shall be used applied otherwise
than in extngushment of the public dept, until the
amount of such debt reduced below the sum OF five mil
lions of dollars
SECTION 5. The credir of the commonwealth shall not
In any manner event be pledged loaned to- in
dividual, company, corporation, association shall
the commonwealth hereafter become joint owner or
sockhnlde, in any company. association corporation
SECTION 8. The commonwealth shall not assume the
debt or any part thereof any county city, borough
township: of any corporation, association unless
such debt shall have been contracted to enable the state
repe Invasion suppress domestic insurrection defend
itself in time of to assist the state in the discharge
OF any portion of its present Indebtedness.
SECTiOS 7. The legislature shall not authorize any
county city, borough township, or Incorporated district
by virtue of vote of its citizens otherwise to become
stockholer in any company association corporaton
to obtain for loan its credit to- any corpora
Gon, association, institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article said constitution,
20 be designated as article XII, as follows:-
ARTICLE
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No cOnnty shall be divided by line cutting off over
nneenth Of its population either to form new county
oherwise without the assent of such county
hy vote of the electors thereof shall any
V be established containing less than four hundred square
miles
THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section of the first article Of the constitution
strike out the words Of the city yot Philadelphia and ot
each county respectively " from section fve article
strike out the words Of Philadelphia and Of the sererdi
counties - from section seven article, strike out
the words. neither the city of Philadelphia any >
and insert in lien thereof the words, and no and
strike out section four same article and in lieu thereof
insert the following:
SECTION 4. In the year thousand eight hundred
and sxtyfour and in seventh thereafter rep
resenatives to the number Of hundred shall lie ap
portioned and distributed equally throughout the state
by districts in proportion the number of taxable in
county containing least three Thousand five hundred
taxabes, may he allowed separate representation but
than three counties shall he joined and no coun
tv shall be divided in the formation of district. Any
city containing sufficient number Of axables to entitle
to least representatives shall have separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided into con
vcncn districts Of contiguous territory Of equal taxable
population may be- each OF which districts shall
elect representative"
the end of section same article, insert these
words, the city of Philadelphia shall be diuided into
gle senatorial districts. of contiguous territory as nea,
equal tarabe population as possible but no 'ra'd shall
be dipided in the formation thereof"
The legislature 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 to remain unchanged
til the apporonmen in the year thousand eight hun
dred and sixtyfour.
FOURTH AMENDMENT
To be section XVI. article ].
The legislature shall have the to alter revoke Of
annu any charter of incorporation hereafter conferred
by under any special, or general law, whenever in
their opinion be injurious to the citizens OF the
commonwealth in such manner, however that no in
Justice shall be done to the corporatOrs.
IL SENATE, Apri 2l, 1856.
Rssolred That this resolution pass On the first amend
ment yeas -, nays s. On the second amendment yeas
10 nays G. ON the third amendment, yeas 2s, nays l.
On the fourth amendment, yeas %, nays4
THOMAS A. MAGUIRE, CLERK.
IL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
AprI 2l, 1856.
Rs.ore9 That this resolution On the first amend
ment yeas H. nays 2i. On the second amendment yeas
g. nays On the third amendment yeas O., nays %
and on fourth amendment yeas 3d. nays Is; ,,...
''h' Tsied ApTa a, 1856 Sse'y Of he Commonwealth
SEcRETARY's OFErcE,
Harrisburg, June "a, lS56. I
Pennsylvania IS:
do certify that the above and foregoing is true and
correct correct copy of the original Resolution relative
10 an amendment Of the Constitution" as the same re
mains on file in this office.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my
LIS hand and caused TO be affixed The seal ol the sec
..... retarys Office, the day and year above written
A. G.. CURTIN,
SscrctUry Of the Commonwealth
IS SENATE, dpra 81, 1856.
Resolution proposing amendments TO the Constitution
of the Commonwealth, being under consideration,
On the question,
Will the Senate agree to the first amendment?
Inc yeas and taken agreeably the provisions
oil the Constitution, and were as follows, viz:
llubach Levi, MClntork Price Sellers Shumln
souther, Strauh, Taggar Walton, Welsh, Wherry VII.
klns aud Piatt, Sgeqkcr-2I.