Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-21
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth

RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth
Resolved bu the Senate and House If Representatives.
Of the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania in Gene raj Assem
By met That the following amendments proposed
ihc constitution of the commonwealth in accordance with
the provisions of the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article said constitution
10 be designated as article eleven a folows:- -
ARTICLE
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION J. The state may contract debts, to supply
casual deficits failures in revenues, to meet expen
not otherwise provided for bt the aggregate amount
of such debts direct and contingent whether contracted
at different periods of time shall exceed hun
ed and fifty thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation Of such debts shall be applied to the
purpose for which it obtained repay the debts
80 contracted, and to no other PURPOSE whatever.
SECTION In addition to the above limited power the
Ftse may contract debts to repe invasion, suppress in
surrection defend the state in deem the pre-
sent outstanding ndebtedness of the state but the
applied to the purpose for which it raised, to
pay such debts. and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 8: Except the debts above specified in sec;
0ns and two of this article debt whatever shall
be created by behalf of the state.
SECTION t. 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 of
this amendment, create sinking fund.- which shall be
sufficient 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 net annual income of the
public works from time to time owned by the state
che proceeds of the sale of the part there
or and OF the income proceeds of sale of stocks owned
by the state together with other funds that
may be designated by law The said sinking fund may he
Increased from time to time. by assigning to ii any part
n the taxes othar Of the state not required
for the ordinary and current expenses of governmentnd
unless in of invasion in>urreCtiOn, part of
the said sinking fund shall he nsed applied otherwise
than in extinguishment 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 or loaned to- any in
dvidual company corporation, association nor shall
the commonwealth hereafter become joint owner or
etnckholde in any company, association corporation
SECTION .. The commonwealth shall not assume the
debt part thereof OF any county city, bnroughor
township; of any corporation, association unless
such debt shall have been contracted to enable the state
IN repe INVASION suppress domestic n7urrecton defend
itself in time of assist the state in the discharge
of any portion Of its present Indebtedness.
SECTION I. The legislature shall not authorize any
county city, borough township Incorporated district
by virtue its citizens otherwise become
ntockhoder in any company association corporation;
to obtain money for loan its credit to- any corpora
tion, association, institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article said constitution
10 be designated as article XII, rs follows =
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by a line cutting off over
onctenh of its population (either to form county
othewse without the express assent of such county
hv vote Of the electors thereof shall any
tr 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, Of the c,tyof Philadelphia, and Of
each county respectively from section five, article
strike out the words Of Philadelphia and of the sererai
counties - from section seven article strike out
the words, neither the city of Philadelphia any,"
and insert in lieu thereof the words, and = and
strike out section four article and in lieu thereof
insert the following
SECTION 4. In the year thousand eight hundred
and sxtyour and in every seventh year thereafter rep
hundred,
portoned and distributed equally throughout the state
by districts in proportion to the number Of taxable in
bants In the several parts thereof except that any
cUunty containing at least three thousand five hundred
tnxables. may be allowed separate representation but
than three counties shall be Joined and
shall be divided in the formation OF district. Any
city containing sufficient number Of axahles entitle
u to at least two representatives sH have separate
representation assigned it, and shall he divided into
venent districts of contiguous Territory oS equal taxable
population near may be each OF which districts shall
At the end of section sevcn same article insert these
words "the city of Philadelphia shall be drided into
e senatorial districts of contg territory as npnrlu
equal in tarabe population possible but card 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
above provided such districts remain unchanged TN
I'll the apportonmcnt in the year thousand eight hun
drcd and sixty four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be ssctiOa NSVI, drficls T..
The legislature shaft have the power TO alter revoke
annu charter OF incorporation hereafter conferred
by under, any special general law whenever in
their opinion il may be injurious To tlIe citizens of the
commonwealth in such manner, however, that in.
justice shall be done to the corporators.
TS SENATE, -fpra 81, 1856.
esored, That this resolution pass On the first ausend
ment yeas 81 nays On the second amendment, yeas
10, nays c. on the third amendment yeas 2s nays l.
On the fourth amendment. yeas %, nays t.
THOMAS A. MAGUTRE, Clerk
II Hogsg OF REPRESENTATIVES
1fprI II, 1856.
Rssosd. That this resolution pass. On the first amend
mcnt 70 - On the second aHSeedment, yeas
e. p. On the third amendment, yeas 6s, nays 25
aud on fourth amendment, yeas 60, nays re-
Extract from the Journal. WM JACK, Clerk
el'f fTed Apra a. ls5s ssey Of the conmonpsq,t %n
SECRETARY's OFEICE,
Harrisburg, June y, 1856. {
PrnnspraffG ss:
do certify that the above and foregoing is true ana
correct correct copy Of the original Resolution relative
10 an amendment of the Constitution IS the same re-
mains file in this office.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my
l. s. hand and caused to be affixed the seal Of fhe Sec
...... retlry's Office, the day and year above written
4, g. CURTIN,
Secretrry Of the Commonwealth
N SENATE, IprI y, 1856
Revolution proposing amendments In tho Constitution
OF the Commonwealth, being under consideration,
On the question
- WI the Senate agree tn the first amendment?
Hee and nays were taken agreeaby tn the provisions
W vc |"nsutuoon. and were as follows viz:
lFAS--Mcssrs. Browne, RuckalcN Cr,sswcU Fv,ns
Ho,,o