Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-16
BY AUTHORITY -
PROPOSING AMEND
HI MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COM

DESOLUTION PROPOSING AMEND.
IL MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE ECOMMONWEALTH
Resofted bv the Senate r,a Hoess of Reiresel,-
tztfres Of ate Commonr-eatM Of PsnMsgftaatt'. ~
GeaerI assembly met: That the following amend
ments proposed to the constitution of the com
monwealth, in accordance with the provisions of
the tenth article thereof
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution to be as article eleven as fol-
lows - s -. f-.--5
ARTICLE VI. =.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS
SECTION The State may contract debts, to sup
ply 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
acts of the general assembly. or at different
periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation of such debts, shall be applied
TO the purpose for which il was obtained or to re-
pay the debts SO contracted and to no other pur-
pose whatcyer-ss eFszs
er 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
tracing of such debts shall be applied to the pur
pose for which it was raised, or to repay such
debts, and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION g. Except the debts above specified, in
sections and two of this article, mo- debt what
shall be created by, on 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
sinking fund which shall be sufficient to pay the
accruing interest on such debt. and annually TO
reduce the principal thereof by 4 sum not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars;
which sinking fund shall consist of thc-net annual
income of the public works from time to time own
ed by the State, or the proceeds of the sale of the
same, any part thereof, and of the income or
proceeds of sale of stocks owned by the State. to-
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 case of war,
invasion or insurrection, no part of the said sink
ing fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
in extnguishment of the public debt, until the
amount OF such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION 5. The credit of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, event, be pledged,
loaned to- any individual, company, corporation,
association; nor shall the comm onwealth here
after become joint owner, or stockhoider, in any
company, association, or corporation
SECTION o. 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 repcl invasion sup
press domestic insurrecton, defend itself in time
of war or.to assist the State in the discharge of
any portion of its present indebted ness
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 stakeholder IN any compa-
ny. association. corporation or to obtain money
for, loan its credit to- any corporation assoela-
ton, Institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT. @
There shall be additional article to said con-
stituton, to be designated as article MI, as fol-
lows - ---s.-.r- .r--.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off
over one-tenth of its populaton either to form a
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-
stitution strike out the words, of tie city of PHI
keelpttt, s7td Of eseh cofe'itg respccticely; from
section fve article strike out the words, ''of
PhiiaieipltfG ard of the sererai counties - from
section seven, same article, strike out the words,
'''ief;7ier Tie cify Of Philadelphia nor any,. and
insert in lieu thereof the words, 'a1,d no - and
strike out section four. same article, and in lieu
thoreof insert the following:
SECTION 4. 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 a separate representa-
ton : but no more than three counties shall be
joined, and county shall be divided, in the for
nation Of district Any city containing suffi-
eient number of taxablcs to entite it to at least
two representatives shall have separate repre-
sentation asst igned 1t, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
equal taxable population near as may be. each
of which districts shall elect one representative
AT the end of section seven, article, insert
these words hte etty of Pftkaaelphig shat be at-
rrae into single senatorial DISTRICTS of colttHt
trrr.tory neoyIy eguct tacaJke poplTtiolS
as posstbte; bHt no acaTa shall be dfctae@ az tie
formation Mereof.'
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 Intil the apportion-
ment in the year one thousand eight hundred and
FOURTH AMENDMENT
There shall be an additional section to the first
article of said constitution: which shall be
bcred and read as follows
SECTION 26- The Legislature shall have the pow
er to alter revoke. annul any charter Of incor-
poration hereafter conferred by, or under, any
special, or general law, whenever in their opinion
il 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, March 81, 1857.
ResofUeds That this resolution pass On the
first amendment, yeas "a, naysl on the second
amendment, yeas %, nays s; on the third amend
ment, yeas "a. nays A. ON the fourth amendment,
yeas %, nays T.. ~
- = Extract from the Journal
GEO. w. HAAiERSLY, Clerk.
Is THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVES,,
April 29, 1851.
Resoited, That this resolution pass. On the
first amendment. yeas IS, nays II on the second
amendment, yeas 81, nays 81 on the thir am end
ment yeas ~. nays %; the fourth amendment
yeas S3, nays z.
Extract from the Journal
JACOB ZEIGLER, CLERK 4