Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-11-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ,u,, b, NE9ApA.

tember. 1t is greatly condensed, occupying
but fraction of the room required for the
publication Of the whole document, but will
be found equally useful and far more con-
venient for reference:
Preceding the Constitution proper Is resolu
ton adopting the Constitution Of the United
States and an ordinance forever prohibiting sla
very, securing perfect religious liberation dis
claiming forever all right and title TO unapPropri
ated public lands, which are left to the sole dis
positjon of the United States exempting from
taxation all lands and other property Of the Uni
ted States, and declaring that lands Of non'resi'
dents shall not be taxed higher than lands OF cit'
Gems ofthe proposed Stute. These enactments are
made in compliance with the terms of the Ena
bling Act, and are declared irrevocable without
the consent of the United States and ofthe people
of the State Of Nevada
The preamble to the Constitution Is the same
as that of the old Constitution. 1t reads thus:
" We the people of the State Of Nevada, CRATE
full to Almighty God for our freedom, in order 10
secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility
and form more perfect Government, do estab-
lish this Constitution"
ARTICLE I-DECLARATIoS OF RIGHTS.
Section declares all men by nature free and
euual, possessing certain inalienable rights, ETC.,
the language of the section being merely an am-
plification Of the Declaration Of Independence
Section asserts that the doctrine of the inhe'
rent political power Of the people, and their right
to establish or change their form of Government
and continues: But the paramount allegiance
of every citizen is due to the Federal Govern
ment, In the exercise of all its constitutional pow
ers, as the same have been or may be defined by
the Supreme Court of the United States and no
power exists in the people of this or any other
state of the Federal Union to dissolve their con-
nection Herewith or perform any act tending to
impair, subvert or resist the supreme authority
of the Government of the United States. The
Constitution of the United States confers full
power on the Federal Government TO maintain
and perpetuate Its existence, and whensoever any
portion of the States, or people thereof, attempt
to secede from the Federal Union, or fOrcibly re-
sst the execution of its laws, the Federal Gov.
eminent may, by warrant of the Constitution,
employ armed force In compelling obedience to
its authority"
Section establishes the right of trial by jury,
but provides that three-fourths Of jury in any
civil case may find verdict unless the Legisla
ture by two.thrds vote shall require such YER
diets to be unanimous.
Section requires perfect religious federation
and freedom OF conscience. No person to be OK.
cluded rs a witness on account Of religious opin-
IONS
Section 5 secures the writ of habeas corpus
except In cases Of rebellion or invasion.
Section 6prohibits excessive bail, cruel or UNI
usual punishments, etc
Section requires that all persons accused shall
be bailable, except for capital offenses.
Section prohibits trials for crime except on
presentment or indictment, and establishes the
usual safeguards rs to personal and property rights
Section secures the freedom of speech and of
the PRESS and allows the truth TO be given In ev-
idence, in actions for libel by way classification.
Section 10 establishes the right of the people to
hold public meetings, etc.
Section II subordinates the military TO the civil
power, prohibits standing army in time Of peace,
and limits army appropriations in time of war to
two years.
Section 10 forbidS the bleting Of soldiers.
Section H. Representation shall be upportioned
according 10 population.
Section II requires the exemption of q reasonable
amount of property from execution fer debt, and
torbids imprisonment for debt except In case OF
fraud, libel or SANDER"
Section Is forbids the passage OF any bill of at
thnder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the
obligation of contracts.
Section IL secures to foreigners, on becoming
bona fide residents, the same property rights n
native-born citizens.
Section II prohibits slavery.
Section le protects the people against unreas'
enable searches and seizures, und restricts the Ia.
suing of search warrants.
Section 10 defines treason against the State (as
in the United States ConstitutiOn), and requires
for conviction the testimony of two witnesses
to the overt act, or confession in open Court.
Section 20 reserves to the people any and all
rights not enumerated.
The most considerable change from the old
Constitution In this Article is in the paramount
allegiance" clause Of Section q which in the old
Constitution read thus: But the paramount al
nf ritiYan iS dtia IN Tho Federal
Government and no power exists in the people
OF this OF any other State In the Federal Union 10
dissolve their connection Herewith. or perform
any act tending 10 impair, subvert ur resist the
supreme authority of the Government of the
United States The Constitution of the United
states confers full power on the Federal Govern
ment to maintain and perpetuate its existence,
and whensoever any portion of the States, or PEG.
pie Thereof. attempt TO secede from the Federal
Union or forcibly resist the execution of its laws
the Federal Government may, by warrant OF the
Constitution, employ armed force in compelling
obedience TO its authority"
Section II of the old Constitution prohibiting
the Legislature from granting special privileges,
ETC., was stricken out as being sufficiently provi'
ded for in the article on Legislative Department.
The words libel or Islander ;" were inserted
in Section IA, relative to imprisonment for debt,
on account of the adoption of stringent provi.
sionsfor the prevention and punishment ofduelling
The provision in Section 10, relative 10 con.
victions Of treason, was not contained in the old
Constitution.
ARTICLE II-RGGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
Section confers the right Of suffrage on every
white male citizen of the United States twenty
one years Of age and upwards, who shall have
actually and not constructivey resided in the
State six months, and in the district or county
thirty days next preceding any election :" pro-
vides that no person convicted OftreaSon or felony
in any State or Territory of the United States
unless restored to civil rights, and no person who
after arriving at the age of eighteen years shall
have voluntarily borne arms against the United
States or held civil or military office under the
so.called Confederate States, or either of them
unless an amnesty be granted TO such by the
Federal Government, and no idiot or insane per.
son. shall be entitled TO the privilege OF an elector
Section provides that no peISon shall be
deemed TO have gained or lost residence for the
purpose of voting while in the service OF the
United States, while a student in any seminary Of
learning, nor while kept in any almshouser asy'
lum or prison at the public expense.
Section 3 secures the right of suffrage 10 United
States soldiers and sailors Nc poll tax or regis
tratiOn IL required Of such voters.
Section prohibits arrests on civil process or
election days.
Section provides that all elections by the PEG
pie shall be by ballot, and by the Legislature
pird uocs
Section requires the enactment of registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature TO prescribe
rules or oaths as tests of electoral qualification.
Section Z requires the levying of an annual pol
tax Of from two to four dollars, on all male resi-
dents between the ages of twenty.one and sixty
years of age, uneivilized American Indians ex
cepted, one-halfto 60 for State and one.half fol
county purposes. The payment of such tax may
in the discretion of the Legislature, be made Q
condition TO the right of voting.
Section = relates to the qualifications of voters
on the adoption or rejection Of this Constitution
In Section tie words actually and not con
structively" were not in the old Constitution
They were inserted TO prevent the possibility o.
reckoning the residence or the voter from the
time he leaves some other State or county to
come to Nevada. In the last paragraph OF the
section, after idiot or insane" the words OF
dsloyal person" occurred In the old Constitution
These were stricken out on the ground of vague
ness and uncertainty, and because the preceding
part of the proviso was alleged to cover the
ground sufficiently. --.. ... .....---
The provision in Section regarding additional
oaths or tests Of electoral qualifications was moi
contained, at least specifically, in the old Con
stitution. There are some other changes in the
Article, but relating mainly to phrsseology and
arrangement,
ARTICLE REDISTRIBUTION OF POWERS.
This Article Is identical with that of the old
notwithstanding the powers Of the Gov.
eminent into Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Departments, each separate and distinct from the
otharn