The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-03-11

The New Csnssitusion.
The labors OF the Constitutional Conven-
sion are closed, and the result is before US.
We shall attemp. as briefly as possible to in
dictate to onr readers the important features
in which the new Constitution differs from
the old.
There are no changes of any consequence
in the FIRST and second articles of the Consti-
tuition concerning the Bill of Rights, and the
the right Of suffrage. In the article relating
to the Legislative department, biennial SEES
sions are retained, and the meeting OF the
L Legislature is fixed on the second Monday in
January, and the per diem Of the first ses-
sion is limited to $500, with power in the
G eneral Assembly to regulate the matter
thereafter as may seem proper. Elections
for members Of the General Assembly and
all State and County Officers, are fixed on
the second Tuesday OF October, except on
the year of the Presidential election, when
the State elections are to take place on the
same day with the Presidential. The Senate
is limited to City members and the House Of
Representatives TO one hundred. The Leg
islature is not allowed to create q floating
district, nor pass local or special laws in the
following cases:
For the assessment and collection of tax
e. for State, County, or road purposes.
For laying out, opening and working roads
or highways.
For changing the name Of persons.
For the incorporation Of cities and towns.
For vacating roads, town pla,s, streets,
alleys, or public squares.
For locating or changing county seats.
STATE OFFICERS, JUDGES, &c.
The Office Of Lieutenant Governor is crea-
ted, and the term of all State ofkcere limited
to two years.
There are to be three Supreme Judges
elected by the people Of the State for the
term Of six years. The State is to be divi-
ded into eleven districts, and a judge to be
elected by the people for each district The
salary Of supreme judges to be $4,000, and
that of district judges 81 600 till 1860. The
Office of District Attorney is created to be
filed al the same election by the people
and the Legislature is required to create the
oilce Of Attorney General.
STATE DEBTS.
The State is not allowed to assume any
debts or liabilities Of any individual or COR
poratlon, nor loan her credit to them in any
manner. May contract debt to the amount
Of $3.50, 600. And oil losses to the school
or university fund occasioned by the defal-
cation Of public officers shall be made good
TO those funds by the State. The Legisla-
ture is authorised to pass law for the con-
struc,ion of any single work, AMI incur q
debt therefor, which law shall be valid il
approved BY the people at a general election,
CORPORATIONS AND BANKS.
The provisions as to corporations general
ly, are as in the old constitution, except tina,
the Legislature is authorized to pass gen.
eral Banking Law and also State Bank
with branches, but no such law to be valid
until approved by the people Mt general OIL
special election. Certain provisions in re-
gard to specie basis, security by State OF
United States stocks, mutual responsible,
Of banks, and individual liability Of stock
holders in proportion to the amount held b,
them are incorporated in the Constitution.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.
The educational interests Of the State mr.
committed to the management OF a board
composed Of the Lieut. Governor, as Presi
dent, and one member to be elected BY tn
people Of each judicial district Of the State
10 hold the Office for four years. The boar
have authority to legislate for Commo
Schools, and the educational institutions
subject to the supervision Of the General A,
sembly. At any time after the year lsG
the board Of education may be abolished.
The school lands and school funds shall
under the control and management OF II
General Assembly. All fines paid for e,
emption from military duty, and for breae
OF the peace, snail be distributed among
the school districts Of the county where pai
The financial agents Of the school fund
county revenue.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The question 'sshall thsre he a Corve
ton TO revise the Constitution shall be sui
mitied TO vote Of the people in the We
le1o, and every ten years thereafter.
aiscELLAsEors PROVISIONS
No new county shall be created containi,
less than 49, square miles eIcep, Worth, Al
the counties west Of that on the Mnneso
line, and no old county shall be reduced b
low that area.
No county or city shall incur debt I
any purpose exceeding five per cent. on I
value Of the taxable property
The seat Of government is permanent
established At Des Moines, and the Sta
University at Iowa City.
SCHEDULE.
This Constitution IL TO be submitted to