Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-10-21
CONSTITUTION or NEVADA.

CONSTITUTION or NEVADA.
The following is complete and correct
abstract Of the Constitution ofthe State Of
Nevada, adopted on the seventh day of Sep
TENDER. 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.
yenient for reference:
Preceding the Constitution proper ~ Il resOln.
ton adopting the Constitution of the United
States and an ordinance forever prohibiting sla.
very, securing perfect religious federation. dis
claiming forever all right and title to unappropri.
ated public lands which are left TO the sole dis.
position 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 ciii
zens ofthe proposed state These enactments are
made in compliance with the terms Of the Ena
bling Act, and arc declared irrevocable without
the consent of tho United States aud of the people
of the State Of Nevada
The preamble to the Constitution il 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 TO
secure Its blessings, insure domestic tranquility
liah this Constitution
ARTICLE I-DECLARATIoS OF RIGHTS.
Section declares all men by nature freq aud
equal possessing certain inalienable rights. ETC.,
the language of the section being merely Hn AMI
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.
necion Herewith, or perform any act tending 10
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 perpetuaie its existence, and whatsoever any
portion of the States, or people thereof, attempt
10 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 10
its authority"
Section establishes tho 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.thirds vote shall require such yer.
diets 10 be unanimous
Section requires perfect religious federation
and freedom of conscience. No person To be tx.
cluded as IL 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 bailablc, except for capital offenses
Section ( prohibits trials for crime except on
presentment or indictment, and establishes the
riyhH
Section secures the freedom Of speech and Of
the press, and allows the truth TO be given In ev-
idencc in actions for libel by way OfjuStitication
Section 10 establishes the right Of the people to
hold public meetings, etc.
Section IL Subordinates the military 10 tue civil
power, prohibits u standing army in time Of peace
and limits army appropriations i'll time OF war to
two years.
Section IL forblds the bileting OF soldiers.
Section l3. Representation shall be upportiOned
according to population.
Section II requires the exemption of reasonable
amount Of property from execution for debt ana
tOrbids imprisonment for debt, except in case of
| fraud, libel or SANDER"
Section Is forbids the passage Of any bill Of at
thlnder eX post facto law, nr law imparing the
| obligation OF contracts.
Section 10 secures TO Foreigners, On becoming
bona tide residents, the property rights ar
nntve-bOrn citizens
Section II prohibits slavery.
Section Is protects the people against uITeR'
enable searches and seizures. ind restricts the il.
suing Of search warrants
Section 10 defines treason against the State iaS
| in the United States ConstituIion), and requires
| for conviction the testimony of two witnesses
to the same 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
nf - IL, old
| Constitution read thus " But the paramount al.
| lpgiance of every citizen is due I" 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 10 impair, subvert or resist the
| supreme authority Of the Government Of the
\ Cnted States. The Constitution of the United
States confers full power on the Federal Govern
| mcnt TO maintain and perpetuate its existence,
and whensoever Uny portion Of the States, Orpeo.
| pie thereof attempt TO secede from the Federal
CniOn 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 prori'
ded for in the article on Legislative Department.
| The words libel or Islander" were inserted
in Section IA, relative 10 imprisonment for debt
on account Of the adoption of stringent provi.
| sionsfor the prevention and punishment ofduclling
The provision in Section l9, relative 10 CON
victiOnS of treason, was not contained i'll the old
| Constitution.
! LEu-IuGHT or SUFFRAGE.
Section cOnfers the right of suffrage OH every
white male citizen Of the United States, twenty.
| one years OF age and upwards, who shall have
| actually and not constructivcly resided in the
| State six months, and In the district ar county
| thirty DAYS next preceding any election; pro.
vdes that no person convicted Uftreason 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 IN 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 person shall be
deemed TO have gained or lost residence for the
purpose of voting while In the service Of the
United States, while student in any seminary Of
learning, nor while kept In any almshouse. aSy'
lum or prison at the public expense
Section secures the right of suffrage Ia United
States soldiers and sailors. No poll tax ar regis
tration is required of such voters
Section prohibits arrests on ciSll process On
election days
section 3 provides that all elections by the peO-
pie shall be by ballot, aud by the Legislature
rird uocc. -
Section requires the enactment. OF registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature TO prescribe
rules or oaths as tests of electoral qualification
Section requires the levying of an annual poll
tax of from two TO four dollars, on all male resi-
dents between the ages OF twGnty.one and sixty
years of age. uncivilized American lrdans OK.
copied, one.halfto 60 for State and one.half FOR
county purposes. The payment of such tax may
In the discretion of the Legislature he. made q
condition 10 the right Of voting.
Section i relates to the qualifications OF voters
on the adoption or rejection of this Constitution
In Section tho words actually and not con.
ptructively" were not in the old Constitution
They were inserted to prevent the possibility OF
reckoning the residence or tho voter from the
| time he leaves some other state or county to
come to Nevada III the last paragraph OF the
| section, after idiot or insane" the words " or
dlsloyai person" occurred in the old Constitution.
These were stricken out on the ground Of vague
Nha IN