Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-14

RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives.
oft Commonwealth of Pennsylvania an General ASsem
blu met 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 additional article to said constitution
to be designated as article eleven, as folows:- =
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION I. The state may contract debts, to supply
casual deficits failures in to meet eXpen
otherwise provided for but the aggregate amount
of such debts direct and contingent whether contracted
virtue of acts of the general assembly,
a different periods of time shall never exceed seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars and the money arising
the creation of such debts shall be applied to the
purpose for which obtained or to repay the debts
contracted, and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 2 In addition to the above limited power the
state may debts to repe INVASION suppress III
surrecton defend the state in to deem the pre-
sent outstanding Indebtedness of the state but the mo-
ney arising from 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 g. Except the debts above specified in sec
tions and two of this article debt whatever shall
be created by, on behalf of the state.
SECTION 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
this amendment, create sinking fund, which shall be
sufficient to pay the accring interest on such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof ny sum 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,
the proceeds of the sale of the same any part there
of and OF the income proceeds of sale of stocks owned
by the state together with other funds resources that
may be designated by law. The said sinking fund may be
increased from time to tme by assigning to 1t any part
of the taxes Oh9r of the state, not required
for the ordinary and current expenses of and
unless in of invasion or instruction part OF
the said sinking fund shall be used applied otherwise
than in extinguishment of the public dept, until the
amount Of such debt is reduced below the of five mil
lions of dollars.
SECTION s. The credir of the commonwealth shall not
in any manner event. be pledged or loaned to- any in
dvdua company, corporation, association shall
the commonwealth hereafter become joint owner. or
stockhode in any company association, or corporation
SECTION &. The commonwealth shall not assume tine
debt any part thereof Of any county city borougho
township Of any corporation, association unless
such debt shall have been contracted to enable the state
to repel invasion suppress domestic nsurrecon. defend
itself in time of war; to assist the state in the discharge
OF any portion of its present Indebtedness.
SECTION (. The legislature shall not authorize any
county, city, borough township or incorporated district
by virtue of vote of its citizens, otherwise to become
stockhoder any company association corporations
obtain money for loan its credit to- any corpora
ton, association institution, Or party
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article said constitution
to be designated as article XII, as follows
ARTICLE XII.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting Off
oneenh of its population, (ether to form new county
by vote of the electors thereof shall any
ty he 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 caty Of Philadelphia, and Of
such county respectively . from section five article
strike out the words Of Philadelphia and Of the sccera
counties ;" from section seven, article strike out
the words, neither the city Of Phiadelhia nor any,
and insert in lieu thereof the words and :" and
strike out section four same article and in lieu thereof
insert the following:
and sixyour and in every seventh year thereafter rep
resentaves to the number Of hundred shall be ap
poroncd 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, be allowed separate representation but
than three counties shall be joined and
ty shall be divided. in the formation of district. Any
city containing sufficient number of taxables to entitle
it to at least representatives shall have separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided into
yenient districts of contiguous territory equal taxable
population may be, each of which districts shall
elect one representative
At the end of section seven same article insert these
words the city Of Philadelphia shall be diuided into
gle senatorial districts Of contiguous territory nearly
equal in taras population possible but tcard shaH
be dirided in the formation NeTeOf.'
The legislature It's first session. after the adoption
of this amendment shalt divide the city of Philadelphia
into senatorial and representative districts in the
above provded such districts to remain unchanged un
I'll the apportonmen in the year thousand eight hun
dred and siXtytonr.
To be seeti0n XXvI, drtice 7.
The legislature shall have the power alter revoke
ann any charter of Incorporation hereafter conferred
by or under any special, general law, whenever in
their opinion may be injurious the citizens the
commonwealth in such manner, however that i'll,
justice shall be done to the corporators.
IL SENATE, 1ApIii 81, 1856.
Resolved That this resolution pass On the first amend
ment yeas 2i nays s. On the second amendment, yeas
To- nays s.. On the third amendment, yeas 2S, nays l.
On the fourth amendment, yeas 23, nays t.
'''' '''' ' THOMAS A. MAGUIRE, CLERK.
IL House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Apra q, 1856.
Resolred That this resolution pass On the first amend
ment yeas a. nays 81 On the second ameedment yeas
Ga nays 25. On the third amendment yeas 64, nays 25
and on fourth amendment yeas 69, nays l6.
Extract from the Journal NM. JACK, Clerk.
SECRETARY's OFFICE, A. G. CURTIN,
Filed AprH "a, 1856. Sec'y. Of the Commonwealth.
SEcRETARY's OPEIcE,
HaIriSbuTS June q, 1856
Pennsylvania
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 file in this office.
go In testimony whereof have herennto set my
LIS hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the Sec
A. g. CURTIN,
.Secyetryy Of the Commonwealth
IL SENATE, April 2l, 1856
Resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution
OF the Commonwealth, being under consideration,
On the question,
viii the Senate agree to the first amendment?
The and taken agreeabiy the provisions
oi the Constitution, and were follows, viz:
- iEAs-NessrS Browne, Buckalew, Cresswell, Evans,
Fergason, tienniken, tioge, Ingram, Jamson, Knox,
lAlnlch Lewis, MClintcck. Price, Sellers, Shuman.
,1-t-er. -trlun. IiCtrlr1 Walton WlIsrry