Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-10-19
CONSTITUTION OF NEVADA

out lEdCLlOn Ol tue rOOH Required IOE the
publication of the whole document, but will
be found equally useful and far more con-
venient for reference: ...r .
Preceding the Constitution proper is a resolu
tion adopting the Constitution OF the United
States and an ordinance forever prohibiting sa-
very, securing perfect religious federation, dis
claiming forever all right and title to unappropr
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 clti
zens ofthe proposed state. These enactments ara
made in compliance with the terms of the Ena-
bling Act, and are declared irrevocabe without
the consent of the United States and the people
of the State of Nevada.
The preamble TO the Constitution Ia 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
and form more perfect Government, do esta6.
lish this Constitution" ...... ... -..r.. ..
ARTICLE EI-DECLARATIoE OF RIGHTS.
Section declares all men by nature free and
equal possessing certain inalenable rights, ETC.,
the language OF the section being merely an am
pIification Of the Declaration Of Independence.
Seclon asserts that the uoctrine 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.
nient in the exercise of all ts constitutional pow
ers us the same have been or may be defined by
tho 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
Al. UF..g. E1l
power on the Federal Government to maintain
aud 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.
ernmpnt 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 Legisls
ture by two-thirds vote shall require such Vor.
diets TO be unanimous.
section requires perfect religious federation
and freedom OF conscience. No person to be ex-
cluded as 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. ODD.
Section prohibits trials for crime except on
prcsentmcnt or indictment, and establishes the
usual safeguards as 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 IL subordinates the military to the civil
power, prohibits a standing army in time Of peace,
and limits army appropriations in time Of war TO
| two years
Section Ia forbidS the bleting of soldiers
Section l3. Representation shall be upportioned
according to population.
Section II requires the exemption Of u reasonable
amount of property from execution fer debt, and
forbids Imprisonment for debt, except in case Of
| fraud, libel or slander."
Section 10 forbids the passage of any bill Of at-
r,nder, eX post facto law, or law impairing the
| obligation OF contracts.
Section 10 secures to foreigners, on becoming
bona fde residents, the same property rights AS
nativc-born citizens.
Section II prohibits slavery.
Section lS protects the people aguinSt unreas'
enable searches and seizures and restricts the Is
| suing Of search warrants.
Section lg defines treason against the State (as
in the United States Constitution), and requires
for conviction :" the testimony of two witpesSes
to the sumo overt act, or confession in open Court
Section 70 reserves 10 tho people any ind all
rights not enumerated =,
The most considerable change from the OLD
C9nSn1nIion m inns arneIe IN me parapouhs 1
.iause w 'oeson :, '.isI IL .ne ""
| legiance of every citizen is due 10 the Federal
Government; and no power exists. In the people
S;.i,O " ,Sa so,Gnu - ,haras'h - .sn.', "
anr act ,apd;pc 20 ;mnoir snhvsrt or rpsjs, ,ha
sn11-smo outbo-it,, ~ ,ho coy.rrm Nan, ~ ;ho
irni,cd S,atas rho Coneti,n,inn ~ ,be Hated
statcs confers h,Il mower on the FedsrnI Goyarn
ment 10 maintain and perpetnate its esI,tenee
and vvhensoeyer anv norton of the S,a,as or mao.
| Die 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 provl'
ded for in the article on Legislative Department;
The words :. libel or siander" were inserted
in Section H. relative TO imprisonment for debt,
on account of the adoption OF stringent PROV.
slonstortne prevention anu punishment ntoioueihnB
The provision in Section Is, relative to con,
ylctlons OF treason, was mol CONTAINED III tne oiu
| Constitution.
ARTICLE II-RIGHT 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 constructiYely resided in the
State six months, and in the district or county
Thirty days next preceding any election" pro-
yides that no person convicted oftreason or felony
In any State or Territory of the United States,
unless restored to elvl rights and no person who,
after arriving at the age of eighteen yesrS 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 person shall be
deemed 70 have gained or lost residence for the
purpose of voting while in the service Of the
United States, willis a student In any seminary Of
learning, nor while kept In any almShouse, ssy.
lum or prison at the public expense.
Section secures the right Of suffrage 10 United
States soldiers and sailors. No poll tax or regis.
tratjou ,s REQUIRED of such yoters ---.
Section prohibits arrests on civil process on
election days.
section provides that all elections BY the peO-
pie shall be by ballot and by the Legislature
1ira uoes.
Section requires the enactment Of registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature 10 prescloe
rules or oaths as tests OF electoral qualincation