Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-20
CONSTITUTION OF NEVADA.

tember. tits greatly condensed, occupying
but fraction Of the room required for the
publication ofthe whole document, but will
be found equally useful and far more con-
yenient for reference: ..-...
Preceding the Constitution proper Is a resolu.
tion 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 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 citt.
Zens ofthe proposed State. These enactments are
made in compliance with the terms Of the EnR.
| bling Act, and are declared irrevocable without
the consent Of the United States and of the people
of the State Of Nevada
The preamble to- the Constitution Is the Ssme
as that of the old Constitution. 1t reads thus: /:
1--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 o more perfect Government, do estao-
| lish this Constitution -.-. Z, &C.,.
| ARTICLE LEI-DEcLARATIoN OF RIGHTS.
Section declares all men by nature fiee and
equal possessing certain inalienabie rights, etc,
the language Of the section being merely an am
i plihcation of the Declaration of Independence
.
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 hay9 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
Con.tltution Of the United States confers full
power on the Federal Government 10 maintain
and perpetuate its existence, and whensoever any
portion of the States, or people thereof attempt
10 seeede from the Federal Union, or forcibly re-
sst 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 jury IN any
civil case may find q verdict unless the Legisla
turC by q two-thrds vote shall require such yer.
| diets 10 be unanimous.
section requires perfect religious liberation
and freedom of conscience. No person TO be eX
cluded as a witness on account Of religious opin.
ions.
Section 5 secures the writ OF habeas corpus,
except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
Section 6 prohibits excessive ball. cruel or un'
usual punishmentS, etc ~
Section 7 requires that all persons accused shall
be bailable except for capital ofenses.
Section 8 prohibits trials for crime except on
preseptment 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
idencc in actions for libel, by way classification
Section 10 establishes the right of the people to
hold public meetings, etc.
Section IL subordnates 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 70 forbids the billetlng Of soldiers. ,s
Section l3. Representation shall be HpportioDed
according 10 population. -
Section II requires tho exemption Of a reasonable
amount of property from execution fer debt, and
forbids imprisonment for debt, except In case Of
fraud libel or slander." 10
Section Is forbds the passage Of any bill of at.
tainder, eS post facto law, or law impalring the
obligation Of contracts. .... -..
Section IL secures to foreigners, on becoming
bona ide residents, the same property rights AZ
nRtive-born citizens.
Section II prohibits slavery.
Section le protects the people against unreas-
enable searches and seizures and restricts the Is
suing of search warrants. -.. L...... ..
Section l9 defines treason against the State (8s
in the United States Consttution), and requires
for conviction 1.-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 is in the paramount
allegiance clause Of Section 2, which In the old
Constitution read thus !. But The paramount al.
leglance 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 to
dissolve their connection Herewith, or perform
lany 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 Govern.
lnent to maintain and perpetuate It's existence,
and yyhensoerer any portion Of the States or peo.
ple thereof, attempt 10 sccede from the Federal
Inion or forcbIy resist the execution ofits laws,
1.-THE Federal Government may, by warrant Of the
Constitution, employ armed force In compelling
obedience to its authority .a.....
Section II of the old Constitution, prohibiting
the Legislature from granting special privileges,
etc. was stricken out, being sufficiently proyi-
ded for in the article on Legislative Department.
Tho words '.libel or slsnder" were inserted
in Section Il, relative to imprisonment for debt,
ON account of the adoption of stringent 9pfovi-
sions for the prevention and punishment duelling
The nroyision in Section L. relative TO con.
yictions of treason was not contained in tho old
Constitution.
,pr1c,ru-pIaur or surIR.aE
S,,,,o,, sonc,rs ,he right ~ snffraoe on avery
lite -r.Ie cStiIrn ~ the limited states twenty
one years r,i of age and upwards "who shall have
| oc,uoIIy and moi construetiyeIy resided in the
S,a,s Nv moh,hs and in m. distrIct or county
thirty days next preceding any election -, pro.
vide; thai no Derson convicted oftresson or felony
IN onv S,ate or Territorv az tho United States
,a:ss ros,nred m civil rgbts md no nerson who.
af,or SrriyinS M ths ACE of eiehte.n vears shall
Sn,-a ,,oI,ntsrjIy horne ARM against thc limited
S.st. y. haIJ .,,,;I ~ ,ni,,rt atics rrdsr Inc
'aIlsd corS, s,s,as ~ si,hsr oS them
- a,,,nd ~ s,,oS' hr ,hs
I, Iiess On ~ 80 90 a., - ;nSans ,sr
a ~ n.i,Ta e, r. y, oS.c,o,
Sc,io, s o nr,,vi5s, ,bat no nsTson .hHIi h.
dosned 70 have gained or los, residence for thS
/ mrnose Of voting while in the service bf the
Hated S,atss rrbile ,tsdrnt IN any seminary ot
sarniur ,,or while ksnt In. eny alrsshon.e s,y.
inn, ar n-iSon at the Willis ernsnse
S Ssctan 2 secures the riSht Of suffrage 10 United
states soldiers and soilors Nc poli lar or regis.
traton IL REQUIRED Of such voters. :
section 4 prohibits arrests on civil process on
election davs. ~ ..
section proyides thai all electIous hyi the peo.
ple shall be by ballot, and by the Legislature
Gina pocc r -'a5r
Section requires tho enactment Of a registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature to- prescribe
rules or oaths as tests of electoral qualification.
| Section requires the leyying Of an annual poll
tax OF from two to four dollars, on all male resi-.
dents betw cen the ages Of twenty. one and sixty
years of age, ;uncivfiiEed American T. dlRns ex.
- h,If ~ - a.. SStata ii ma half for