The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-08-13
BY AUTHORITY.
RESOLUTI0N
PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE COM
M(1NWEdLTH

CONSTITUTION OF THE COM
| MONWEALTH
Resolved by the Senate and House of Rep
resenialives of the Commonwealth OF Penn.
sylvania in General Assembly met, That the
following amendments are proposed to the
constitution of the commonwealth, in accor-
dance with the provisions Of the lenih article
thereof. -
| FfRsT AMEsDMENT.
There shall be an additional article 10 said
constitution 10 be designated as article elev-
en-, as folIows:-
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
Sec /. The state may contract debls, to
supply casual deficits or failurers in reve.
nuss, or TO meet expenses not Otherwise pro-
vided for; but the aggregate amount of such
debls direct and contingent, whether con-
traced 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 aris-
| ing from the creation of such debts, fhalf be
applied 10 The purpose for which il was ob-
| tanned, or to repay The debts 30 contracted,
and 10 no olher purpose whatever.
| SEC. 2. Ia addition TO thesbove limited row.
| er the state may contract debts TO repel in.
vason, suppress insurrection, defend the
| state in war, or to redeem the present ont.
standing Indebtedness OF the state but the
| money arising from the contracting of such
debts, shall be applied 10 the purpose for
which II was raised, or TO repay such debts,
| and 10 no other purpose whatever.
! Sec. 3. Except the debts above specified.
! in sections one and Two of this article no
debt whatever shall be created by, or on be.
half Of the slate.
Sec 4. To provide for The payment Of the
| present debt, and any additional debt con.
tracted as aforesaid, The legislature shall, at
it's first session, after The adoption of this
amend neni, create sinking fund, which
shall be sufficient 10 Fay the accruing in
lerest on such debt and annually 10 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 pro.
| ceeds OF the sale Of the same, or any par
thereof, and of the income or proceeds of
sale of stocks owned by the state, together
| with other funds, or resources, that may be
design8ted by law. The said sinking fund
may be increased, from time 10 time, by as
signing 10 it any part Of tho taxes, or other
revenues OF the stale, not required for the
ordinary and current expenses of Govern.
msnt, and unless in case of war, invasion
or insurrection, no part of The said sinking
fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
ia extnguisbment of the public debt, until
! the amount OF such debt is reduced below
the sum OF five millions of dollars.
Sec. 5. The credit of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, or event, be pledg.
ed, or loaned 10, any individual, company,
corporation, or association; nor shall the
commonwealth hereafter become Joint
owner, or stockholder, in any company, as.
sociaiion, or corporation.
SEC 6. The commonwealth shall not as
sumo The debt, or any part thereof, of any
county, city, borough, or township; or of
any corporation, or ASSOCIATION unless such
debt shall have been contracted to enable
| the slate 10 repel invasion, suppress domes.
lie insuHeclion, defend itself in time of war
or 10 assist the slate in the discharge of any
portion of lis present Indebtedness.
SEC 7. The Legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough, township, OF in.
corporated district, by vinue of vote of its
citizens, or oiherw,ee, tc-Sbeeome a stock
| holder in any company, association, or cor
| poralion; or 10 obtain money for, or loan it's
credit TO any corporation, association, insli-
tuition, or party.
| SECOND AMENDMENT
There shall be an additional article 10 said
constitution, TO be designated as article XII,
| as follows:
| ARTICLE XII.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cut.
ling off over one tenth of lie population,
(either 10 form new county or olherewise)
without the express assent OF such county,
by vote oil The electors thereof; nor shall
any new county be- established, containing
less than four hundred square miles
THIRD AMENDMENT
From section Two Of the first article of The
constitution. strike out the words, ''of The eity
Of Philadelphia, and of eaeh county respectiueiy;n
from seclIon five, same article, strike out
the words, ''of Philadelphia and Of the sever.
al countless" from section seven, same article,
strike out The words, 'tneither the city of Phil
adetphia nor any," and insert in lieu thereof
the words, "and no." and strike out section
four, same article, and in lieu thereof inser,
the following:
"SEc. a. In the year one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four, and in every seventh
year thereafter, representatives 10 the mum.
ber OF Que hundred, shall be apportioned and
distributed equally, throughout The state, by
/ "'oh'etet :" ptopottou !" NiO uuutb6t VI
able inhabitants in the several parts thereof
except that any county containing al least
three thousand five hundred taxables, may
be allowed separate representation but no
more than three counties shall be Joined,
and no county shall be divided in The Tor.
ma,ion of district. Any city contsinjng
a sufficient number of taxables to entiile il
10 al least two representatives, shall have q
separate representation assigned it, aud shall
be divided into convenient districts of con.
tiguous territory, OF equal taxable popula.
lion as near as may be, each of which dis.
trcls shall elect one representative"
At The end of section seven, same article,
insert these words, 'the city OF Philadelphia
shall be divided into single senatorial dis.
tricts, oil contiguous territory as nearly equal
IN taxable population as possible; but no
ward shall be divided in the formation there.
Off
The legislature, at it's first session, after
the adoption OF this amendment, shall di.
vide the city Of Philadelphia into senatorial
and representative districts, in the manner
above provided; such districts 10 remain un.
changed until the apporionment in the yeal
one thousand eigh, hundred and sixty -four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section XVI, article 1.
The legislature shall have the power 10 al.
ter, revoke, or annul, any character of incor.