Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-13
CONSTITUTION OF NEVADA.

tember. It 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-
yenient for reference ..-... s.. a..
Preceding the Constitution proper is resolu.
tion adopting the Constitution of the United
States and an ordinance forever prohibiting Kla
very, securing perfect religious liberation, dis
claiming forever all right and title 10 unappropri
ated public lands which are left to the sole dis.
position of the United States; eKcmpting 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 citi
zens ofthe proposed State. These enactments are
made In compliance with the terms Of the Ena'
bling Act, and are declared irrevocsble without
the consent Of the United States and ofthe people
Of the State Of Nevada
as that Of the old Constitution. II reads thus
I'VE, the people of the State Of Nevada, crate.
full to Almighty God for our freedom In order to
secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility
and form q more perfect Government, do eGtab
lsh this Constitution"
ARTICLE EI-DEcLARATIos OF RIGHTS.
Section declares all men by nature free and
equal, possessing certain inallenable rights, ETC.
the Language of the section being merely an am
plifcation 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, subyert 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.
sist the execution of its laws, the Federal Gov
ernment 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 a jury In any
civil case may find verdict unless the Legisla
ture by twO-thirds vote shall require such yer.
diets to be unanimous.
Section requires perfect religious federation
and freedom Of conscience. No person to be ex-
cluded as q witness on account Of religious Opin'
ions.
Section ) secures the writ Of habeas corpus,
except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
Section prohibits excessive bail, cruel or I'M
usual punishments, etc
Section requires that all persons accused shall
be bailable, except for capital ofenses.
Section 8 prohibits trials for crime except on
presentment or indictment, and establishes the
usual safeguards as 10 personal and property rights
section y secures tne freedom OF speech and OF
.e press aud aIVws ,. Ie 'Iu.n 70 oe giysn iu eS
AZ ~ ~ l0i 4oei " May
hold public meetings, etc.
oeetion ~ suOorainAtgs M Ine nlitaIy 10 tne eisli
power pronioIs hAhdihg army IN time OF Peace,
and limits army appropriations In time OF war 10
TWO years,
Sec.ion ~ iorolds tue oilleting OF soldiers:
oecon 10. hepnSsensa"on Shali oe aPPor''oheu
according 20 Popuiauon.
- .he M
SAptI. =. PopS ,iS iot GsD s',u
e ,n IN ioi "o"'' eAeeP' IA e"'' VI
rSuu, noei rs of fISiIi siauuet, H. - -. Iii, -. ..
seeuon io lo,U.us tne Passaee VI Say vi. VI ~.
hIi.t; "a Poo' - aoto iA"' W '"" '"P"''inS '"'
se,;N. ~ oon''.a. =; soro,, -, h.,o,,,,,,
80 az ,Sess a., " Na,t, om i.s. a
no,iva.born cittzans
SECTION II nrobibi,s sIayerv
Section IL pro,ects the neople apain,t uur-xs.
enable searches and seizures, and restricts the is.
suing of search warrants.
Section 10 defines treason azainst the Stata faS
In the United States Convtituton). and requires
for conviction the testimony of two witnesses
to the same 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 il in the paramount
allegiance clause of Section ., which in the old
Constitution read thus: But the paramount al.
legiance of every citizen Is due to the Federal
Government and no power exists in the people
of this or any other State in the Federal Union 10
dissolve their connection Herewith, or perform
any act tending TO impair subyert or 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 peo-
pie thereof, attempt to secede from the Federal
Union or iorcioly resist the execution OF It's laws
the Federal Government may, by warrant OF the
Constitution, employ armed force In compelling
obedience to its authority"
Section IL 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 slander" were inserted
In Section IA. relative 10 imprisonment for debt,
on account Of the adoption Of stringent provi.
sions for the prevention and punishment ofduelinR
The provision in Section 10, relative to con.
yictions of treason. was not contained in the old
Constitution.
ARTICLE If-RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE
Section conf-rs the right of anffraoe on every
white male citizen of the limited States. twenty.
one wears of age and upwards. who shall have
actually and not conStructiyely resided in the
State ak months, md in the district or county
thirty days next preceding auy election :" pro.
yides 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 horns arms against the limited
States or held civil or military office under the
so.calIed Confederate States. or either of them.
unless an amnesty b. granted to such by the
Federal Goyernment. and no idiot or insane per.
son shall be entitled TO the privilege of an eectOr
Section o nroyides that no person Ehali he
deemed 10 have gained or lost residence for the
purpose of voting while In the service of the
limited States, while n student in any seminary Of
Learning. nor while Kent IN snv slm.bonse s.y.
INN or prisop at the ppslIc exDeuSe.
section 3 secures the right Of suffrage 20 United
States soldiers and sailors. Nc poll tax or regis
tration N required of such yoters
Section 4 prohibits arrests on civil process on
election days
section 5 provides that all elections by the peo.
ple shall be by ballot. and by the Legislature
rird rocc. ~.
Section 6 requires the enactment Of registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature to prescribe
rules or Oaths as tests of electoral qualification.
section reoiires the leyyinR of an annual poll
tar of from two TO four dollars, on all male resi-.
dents between the ages of twenty .one and sixty