Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-02-06
CONSTITUTION on NEVADA.
poNsTITUTIoNtoF NEVADA.

SS14x uV1ONtOE NENAOAs
he following is a complste and correct
abstract Of the Constitution of the State Of
NeSadA, adopted on the seventh day Of Sep
tsmber. 1t is greatly condensed, occupying
but fraction Of the room required for the
publication Of the whole document, but will
Be found equally ussfnl and far more con.
yenient for reference
Preceding the Constitution proper IL a resoiu.
ton adopting the Constitution Of the United
states and an ordinance forever prohibiting ia.
very, securing perfect religious liberation, dis.
claiming forever all right and title to unappronri
afed public lands, which are left to the sole dis.
position Of the United States; exempting from
taxation ali lands and other property of the Uni.
ted States, and declaring that lands of non-resf-
dents shall not be taxed higher than lands OF citi
IeuS ofthe proposed State These enactments are
made in compliance with the terms Of the Ena-
bling Act and are declared irreyocable without
the consent Of the United States and OF the people
ofthe State Of Nevada
The preamble TO the Constitution Is the same
.. that Of the old Constitution II reads thus
fnl to Almighty God for our freedom. in order TO
secure its blessings, insure domestic TanqulIlIy
and form more perfect Government, do estso-
hsh this Constitution"
ARTICLE I-pEcLARArIoN OF RIGHTS
Section declares all men by nature nee and
equal, possessing certain inShenaoe Iisn's, e.c.,
the language Of the section being merely an am
phhcaiion Of the Declaration OF Independence.
Section asserts that the doctrine Of the inhe-
rent political power Of the people, and their right
to es;ablish or change their form of Government,
and continues: But the paramount allegiance
Of every citizen is due &c the Federal Govern
naent in TIE exercise of allits constitutional pow
arr a. the same have been or may be defined BY
the Supreme'C Court Of the United States and no
power exists in the-people Of this or any other
State Of the Federal Union 10 dissolve their con-
nsction herewith, or perform any act tending to
impair suovert or resist the supreme authority
Of the Government OF the United States. The
Constitution Of the United States eonfers full
power on the Federal Government 10 maintain
and perpetuate its existence, and whensoever any
TO seeede from the Federal Union, or forcibly re-
sis. 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,
anvil ease may ind verdict unless the Legisls
tars BY two.thirds vote Shall require such YER
diets 20 be unanimous.
Section requires perfect religious liberation
alluded ~ q witness on account Of religious opiD-
Section secures the writ Of habeas corpus,
except in cases Of rebellion or invasion.
6eetion prohibits excessive bail, cruel or I'M
usual punishments, etc
Section requires that all persons accused shall
b eAilable, except for capital ohenseS
Section prohibits trials for crime except on
.prsssutnent or indictment, and establishes the
usual safeguards ssto personal and property rShts
Section secures the freedom Of speech and Of
the prSs. and allows the truth to be given in ev.
tAsnee in actions for libel by way ofjustiAeation.
Seetionlo establishes the right Of the people to
hold public meetings, etc.
Section II subordina;es the military 10 the civil
power, prohibits q standing army in time OF peace,
and limits army appropriations in time OF war 10
Section u forbids the bille,ins OF soldiers.
Section IL Representation shall be spPoruoned
according TO population
amount Of property from execution for debt. and
torbids imprisonment for debt, except in case OF
fraud, libel or SANDER"
Section Is forbids the passage Of any bill Of At
Aindsr, eI post facto law, or law imPsirinS the
obligation Of eonracA
Section Is secures to foreigners, on becoming
bona Ade residents, the same property rights As
native-born citizens
Section II prohibits slavery.
Section 10 protects the people against unreas'
enable searches and seizures and restricts the Is
Iuing Of search warrants
Section l9 defines treason against the State (as
Ia the United States Constitution), and requires
for conviction the testimony OF two witnesses
TO thsssme overt act, or confession in open Court
Section % 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 ola
ConStitution read thus d" But the paramount al.
lsgisnce 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
any act tending to impair, subvert or resist inc
supreme authority Of the Government Of the
United States. The Constitution Of the United
S.atss eonfers full power on the Federal Govern
uent to maintain and perpetuate its existence,
and whensoever any portion OF the States, or PEG
Die thereof attempt to seeede from the Fedora
Union or foreibly resist the execution Of its laws
the Federal Government may, by warrant Of the
Constitution, employ armed force in compelling
obedience 10 Its authority.
Section II Of the old Constitution, prohibiting
the Legislature from granting special privileges
ste va stricken out as being sufficiently proyi
asd for In the article on Legislative Department
The words libel or Islander" were inserted
h Section II, relative to imprisonment for debt
on recount Of the adoption Of stringent prort
EOnsfor the prevention ndpunishment ofduellinl
The provision in Section l9, relative TO con
vietions of treason, was not contained IN tne Ole
Constitution
ARTICLE u-RIeHT OF SUFFRAGE.
Section eonfers the right Of suffrage on every
white male citizen Of the United states, twenty
ons wears of age and upwards, who shall have
actually and not cons;ructively resided in the
State six months and in the district Ur county
thirty days next preceding any election; pro
Vides that no person convicted ofreason 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-ealled 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 eleeor
Section provides that no person shall be
deemed to have gained or Loss residence Tor 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, a@y'
lun or prison az the public expense.
Section secures the right of suffrage 10 United
States soldiers and sailors No poll tax or regis
raiion u required Of such voters
Section prohibits arrests on civil process on
election days.
section S provides that all elections by the PEG
pie shall be by ballot, and BY the Legislature
sic0 poes.
section requires the enactment Of = registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature to prescribe
rules or osths as tests Of electoral qualification.
Section 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 uncivilized American Irdians ex
septed, one-halfto go for State and one-half fol
county purposes- The payment Of such tax may
IN the discretion Of the Legislature, DO made q
condition to the right Of voting.
Section relates 20 the qualifications ofyo.erI
on the adoption or rejection Of thiS Constitution
In Section tie words a. actually and not con-
Ssruetiyely" were not in the old Constitution
They were inserted to prevent the possibility OF
reckoning the residence or the voter from the
ti1ns be leaves some other state or county TO
come TO Nevada In the last paragraph Of the
section. after " idiot or insane" the words or
tIloyal person" occurred in the old CSnstitution
These were stricken out on the ground OF vague
nss and uncertainty, and because the preceding
part Of the proviso was alleged TO cover the
ground sufficiently.
The provision IN Section regarding additional