Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-08

,attres of the Commonwealth of Psansylrania, an
Ge,4erai 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. n
There shall be additional article to said con-
lows - .s- ~ s. ~. 2
s= OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION l.. The State may contract debts, to sup
ply casual deficits 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. or 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 it obtained, to
pay the debts so contracted, and to no other pur-
pose whatever.
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited pow
er, the State may contract debts to repel invasion.
suppress insurrection defend the State in war, or
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
tho State but the money arising from the con-
tracting of such debts shall be applied to the pur
pose for which ii raised, to repay such
debts, and to other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
sections one and two of this article; no 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 ses
sion after the adoption of this amendment. create
a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay the
accrIng 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 or 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. or other revenues of the
State. rcnujred for the ordinary and
expenses of government and unless in case of war,
invasion or insurrection. part of the said sink
ing fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
in extineuishnlent of the public debt, until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION s. The credi. of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, or event. DC piedged' or
loaned to. any individual, company, corporation
association; shall the comm ia wealth mere
after become joint owner. or stakeholder; IN any
company, association, or corporation.
SECTION g. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt or 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 insurrection defend itself in time
of war; to assist the State in the discharge of
any portion of its present Indebtedness
SECTION Z. The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough township, or incorpora-
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens
otherwise, to become stockholder in any compa-
ny, association corporation; or to obtain money
ton, institution party
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution, to be designated article XII, fol-
| lows
OF NEW COUNTIES
| No county shall be divided by line cutting off
over onetenth of its population, either to form
new county otherwise.) without the express as
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
| of; nor shall any new county be established,
| tanning less than four hundred square miles
THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article of the
stitution strike out the words, 'of tire city Of Pht
ladeIphfa, e,,d of eoch county resyecticsty; from
section FIVE same article, strike out the words, ''Of
Phitadetpita and Of the seUeral coUhtfes;' - from
section seven. same article strike out the words
.meit,er tie city Of Phikadetphta nor any, and
insert in lieu thereof the words, '0zut 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
| taxabes, may be allowed separate representa-
ton; but more than three counties shall be
joined, and no county shall be divided In the Tor
| nation of district. Any city containing sufh-
cient number of taxabes to entitle it to at least
| two representatives. shall have separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided INTO
j convenient districts of contiguous territory. OF
| equal taxable population as near as may be. each
of which districts shall elect one representative
AT the end of section seven. same article, insert
these words, 'te city Of PhiLaaeiphia shall be dt-
uied INTO single senatorial districts, Of coMttg~
territory nearly equat az tarabte pOP"latton
as possible; 6ut ,rara shall be dfcided i~ the
| formation thersof"
The legislature at its first session, after the a
| doption of this amendment, shall divide the city
ef Philadelphia into senatorial and representative
4 the m above prOyldeu Such dis
triets to remain unchanged until the aPportion,
mcnt in the year one thousand eight hundred and
/ sixty -four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
| There shall be an additional section to the first
article of said constitution. which shall be num-
| bered and read as follows
SECTION 26. Tho legislature shall have the pow
or to alter. revoke annul any charter or lncor-
| poration hereafter conferred by, or under, any
special, general law, whenever in their opinion
it may be injurious to the citizens of the common
we ealth in such manner however, that no irjus-
| tice shall be done to the corporators
i In SENATE, March 81, 1857.
RESOLVED, That this resolution pass On the
1 first amendment, yeas "a, nays ,4on the second
amendment, yeas %, nays s; on the third amend
1 ment. yeas "a. nays 4; on the fourth amendment
! yeas %, nays
4 - Extract from the Journal
! GEO. w HAMERSLY, Clerk.
| In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
April %, 1851.
X Resolved, That this resolution pass. On the
! first amendment, yeas rs, nsysil2; on the second
amendment, yeas 81. nays "a on the third amend
ment, yeas 72, nays -; on the fourth amendment,
Extract from the Journal
JACOB ZEIGLER. CLERK.
Filed in the secretary's Office, May 2 1851
/ Secretary Of Ahs Commonwealth.
szcRErARr's orrrcE,