Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-02
BY AUTHORITY.
He ESOLUTION PROPOSING AMEND
n 4 MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Y ESoLUTIoN PROPOSING AMEND
Il y MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
Resofred bv the Senate and Horse of Rspreseg-
tHttCeS Of the Commonwealth Of Pelllisyysaafy IN
General AsSeD'5ky met: That the following amend
ments are proposed to the constitution of the CON-
I monwealth, in accordance with the provisions of
| the tenth article thereof
| FIRST AMENDMENT
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stltuion to be designated article eleven fol-
! lows =
ARTICLE N.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION /. The State may contract debts to sup
pig casual deficits or failures in revenues 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, aud the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied
to the purpose for which ii obtained, or to re-
pay the debts so contracted, and to other pur-
pose whatever.
SECTION ,. In addition to the above limited pow
er, the State may contract debts to repcl Invasion
suppress instruction, defend the State in war or
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
the State but the money arising from the con-
tracting of such debts shall be applied to the pur-
pose for which it was raised to repay such
debts, and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
sections one and two of this article debt what
SECTION i. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
aforesaid, the Legislature SHALL at its first ses
sion, after the adoption of this aInendmcn create
z sinking fund, which shall be sufficient 10 pay the
accruing interest such de5t, and annually Y to
reduce the principal thereof by a 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
cd by the State. or the proceeds of the sale of the
same, or any part thereof, and Of the income or
H.. II g az.
gether 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. other revenues of the
State, not required for the ordinary and current
expenses of government. and unless in ease Of war
invasion or lnsurrcction, no part of the said sink
ing fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
in extinguishmcnt of the public debt, until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION ). The credit of the commonwealth
shall not IN any manner, event, pe pledged,
loaned to. 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.
association: unless such debt shall have been
tracted to enable the State to repel invasion sup
press domestic insurrection defend itself in time
OF war, TO 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. incOrpora-
ted district by virtue OF vote of its citizens,
otherwise to become stOckholder in any eompa-
ny, association, corporation; to obtain m oney
for loan its credit to, any corporation assOcia
tion, institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT
There shall be additional article to said con-
stitution to be designated as article XII. fol-
lows =
ARTICLE MI. $3.50
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off
over One-tenth of its populations either 10 form
new county or otherwise,) without the express as
sent of such county by vote of the electors there
of; nor 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-
sttution, strike out the words 'oftie city Of PHI
kIteklai3, a5i6 Of ekc county yeSpecttCeky; from
section five, article, strike out the words. of
PhtkUhelpht0 anil II tire seGeraL counties :; from
section seven, same article, strike out the words
''Ssttker THE city Of PtiksielphfH 6Uy." and
insert in lieu thereof the words, Haltd no - and
strike out section four. same article and in lieu
thorcof insert the following:
SECTION i. In the year one thousand eight hun
dred and sxty-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 seyeralparts thereof; except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxabes, may be allowed separate representa-
ton; but more than three counties shall be
joined, and county shall be divided, in the for
nation of district Any city containing sufii-
cient number of taxables to entite it TO at least
two representatives shall have n separate repre-
sentation assigned it. and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
equal taxable population as may be. each
of which districts shall elect representative
At the end Of section seven. same article, insert
these words. Ate city Of PhikadeLphi@ shat be H.
ct1G into single Se5tatoTI0k diStIcfS Of cONig1f
territory Asarty egpal ia ta7;gRG popHiatjOn
aS pessi5tci 6att no tcark shall be dIU1deg tt tie
f0rJga5fi05i GteccOc"
The legislature. at its first session. after the a
doption of this amendment shall divide the city
of Philadelphia 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 and
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional section TO the first
article of said constitution; which shall be num-
bercd and read rs follows
SECTioy 25. The Legislature shall have the pow
er to alter. revoke or annUl any charter OF moor
poration hereafter conferred by, or under, any
special, general law, whenever IN their opinion
it may be injurious TO the citizens OF the common
wealth in such manner, however, that no irjus-
tice shall be done to the corporators
IL SENATE, M4reE 81, 1857.
Resolrad, That this resolution pass. On the
first amendment, yeas 81 nays y on the second
amendment, yeas %, nays s. on the third amend
fnent, yeas 81 nays on the fourth amendment,
yeas %, nays A.
Extract from the Journal
GEO. w. HAAIERSLY, Clerk.
In THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Apyii 20, 1851.
ResotUeR, That this resolution pass On The
FIRST amendment, yeas rs, nays IL on the second
amendment. yeas 81, nays 81; ON the third amend
IHent. yeas ~, nays p; the fourth amendment
yeas 63 nays T.
Extract from the Journal
JACOB ZEIGLER, Clerk
Filed in the Secretary's Office May ?, 1857