Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-15
BY AUTHORITY.
ESOLuTIoN PROPOSING AMEND
H MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONW EALTH.

II MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
! ResoLrea. 5v tie Senate and House Of Repesen
trtires of tae Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
! General A ssess5ky met That the following amend
nents are proposed TO the constitution OF the COM
! nonweaith in accordance with the provisions OF
/ the tenth article thereof.
! FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article 10 said con-
stitutiou be designated article eleven as fol-
| lows
| ARTICLE N.
! OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION ]. The State may contract debts, to sup
ply casual deficits or failures In revenues, or to
meet expenses not otherwise provided for; but
the aggregate amount of such debts direct and con-
| tingent, whether contracted by virtue OF one or
more acts of the general assembly. at different
periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, and the oney arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied
to the purpose fer which it was obtained. or to
pay the debts so contracted, and to other pur
pose whatever. -r --
SECTION 2 Tn addition to the above limited pow
err the State may contract debts to repel invasion
suppress insurrection, defend the State in war,
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
the State; but the money arising from the con-
tracing OF such debts shall be applied TO the pur
pose for which it raised, to repay such
debts, and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
sections and two of this article, debt what
ever shall be created by behalf of the State.
SECTION 4. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
aforesaid, the legislature shall, at its first
sion, after the adoption of this amendment, create
sink ing fund which shall be sufficient to 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 sinking fund shall consist of the net annual
income of the public works, from time to time own
ed by the State the proceeds of the sale of the
same any part thereof, and of the income
proceeds of sale of stocks owned by the State, to-
gcther with other funds resources, that may be-
designated by law. The said sinking fund may be
increased from time to time, by assigning to it
any part of the taxes, or other revenues of the
State, not required for the ordinary and current
expenses of government. and unless in case of
invasion insurrection, part of the said sink
ing fund shall be used or appiied otherwise than
in extinguishment of the public debt until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION 3. The credit of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, event, pc pledged. or
loaned -, any individual. company, corporation,
or association nor shall the commonwealth here
after become joint owner, or stockholder, in any
company, association, or corporation
SECTION 6. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, any part thereof of any county, city,
borough, or township; or of any corporation, or
association unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the State to repel invasion, sup
press domestic insurreetion, defend itself in time
of war, or to assist the State in the discharge OF
| any portion of its present Indebtedness
SECTION T. The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city borough, township, or incorpora-
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens, or
otherwise, to become a stockholder in any compa-
n.y. association, Incorporation; or to obtain money
for, loan its credit to- any corporation, assoela-
| ton, institution, or party.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stiution, be designated as article XII, as fol-
/ lows
| ARTICLE XII.
! OF NEW COUNTIES
| No county shall be divided by line cutting of
over one-tenth of its population, either 10 form
new county or otherwise.) without the express as
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
of; shall any new county be established, con-
tanning less than four hundred square miles
| THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article of the con-
stitution, strike out the words ofthe city Of PM
Izskeiti1 l7Ed Of eGch county respscttUefy; from
section five, article, strike out the words. ot
| FhikadelghiG and ofthc Sereral counties - from
section seven, same article, strike out the words
| ''uefther tie city Of PhiiQaelphta nor any, and
insert in lieu thereof the words, .a7td no = and
strike out section four. same article, and in lieu
| thereof insert the following
SECTION /. In the year one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-four, and in every seventh year
| thereafter, representatives to the number of one
hundred. shall be apportioned and distributed
equally throughout the state, by districts in pro
| portion to the number of taxable inhabitants in
the several parts thereof; except that any county
Containing at least three thousand five hundred
taXables may be allowed separate representa-
ton; but more than three counties shall bt
joined, and county shall be divided, IN the for
nation OF district. ANY CITY containing IL sum
cient number of taxables to entitle it to at leas
two representatives, shall have a separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided int
convenient districts of contiguous territory OF
equal taxable population as near may be. eaei
of which districts shall elect representative.
At the end of section seven, same article. inscr
these words, 'tie city Of PhGkGkekphta shall be 4I
Uied into single se'satoriak districts Of cOhtts
tcr7t0ry nearly e2Asal IN tazg5Ee pop~LGtsoA
| as possible i; G5tt lc1Ta shalt be dtUtded tn ht
| J0rBt1ttOH btereOf'
The legislature, at its first session. after the
doption of this amendment shall divide the city
of Phiadelph into senatorial and representative
districts, in the manner above provided; such dis
triets to remain unchanged until the apportion
ment in the year one thousand eight hundred anc
sixty -four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional section to the frs
| article of said constitution. which shall sc mum
bered and read as follows
| SECTION %. The legislature shall have the pow
er TO alter. revoke. annul any charter OF ineor
| poration hereafter conferred by, or under, AM
special, or general law. whenever in their opinion
it may be Injurious to the citizens of the common
| wealth in such manner, however, that no lEJus
tce shall be done to the corporators-
| IN SENATE, March %, 1857.
Resolrea, That this resolution pass On thu
, | first amendment. yeas 2i nays Z !; on the SECOND
, amendment, yeas %, nays s; on the third amend
, | ment yeas "a, nays on the fourth amendment
, yeas 23 nays T.
GEO. W. HAMERSLY, Clerk.
!, IL THE HOUSE OF REPREs ENrATIyEs,
..-- Aprfk 80, 1851.
| Resolued, That this resolution pass. On tn
+ | first amendment, yeas rs, nays - the SECOND
| amendment, yeas 81, nays "a F; on the third amend