Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-02-13
CONSTITUTION OF NEVADA.
CONSTITUTION OF NEVADA.

aOSLf1cL OF Luc SOho1AtdSAoA 70 N+A~ ~N~NS -
Nevada, adopted on the seventh day Of Sep
TENDER. It is greatly condensed, occupying
but a fraction of the room required for thu
publication of the whole document, but vii
be found equally useful and far more con
yenient for reference:
Preceding the Constitution proper Il resoln
ton adopting the Constitution OF the Unitet
States and an ordinance forever prohibiting sla
very, securing perfect religious liberation, 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'rcsi-
dents shall not be taxed higher than lands OF cit'
Gems ofihe proposed state. These enacinents are
made in compliance with the terms OF the hnS
bling Act, and are declared irrevOcable "isn h,is
the consent of the United States and OF inc Pe's'
of the State OF Nevada ,...,,,
The preamble to the Constitution ~. ,bps.
as that OF the old Constitution ~ Srare.
We, the people of the STATE Of on In order 10
fnl to Almighty God for cur iree2ct;. '-,nonil;rv
secure its blessings insure domestic "Snd1
and form a more perfect Government oO eS'~''
Gsh this Constitution "a -. .. ~
Article t-pECLARArIoN OF NSatS
Section declares all men oy lasuIe heo anu
aor,sI noss,sinc certain Tnslisuabie rights, etc,
-, 20. Of the section being merely an am
,I;sca,$nn of the Declaration Of Independence.
P~..,;o,, , asserts that the doctrine OF the inhe
ran, po,ical power OF the people, and their night
- ssfablish or change their form of Government,
snI continues: Z" But the paramount Allegiance
OF every citizen is due u :he Federal Govern
nent in the exercise OF all its constitutional pow
srs. 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, subvert or resist the supreme authority
at the Government OF the United States. The
Con tiiu;ion 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
TO seeede from the Federal Union, or forcioiy re-
Sist the execution OF its laws, the Federal GoS'
eminent may, by warrant OF the Constitution,
employ armed force in compelling obedience TO
its authority,
Section establishes the right of trial by jury,
bpt provides that thres-fourIhs OF jury in any
civil case may ind verdict unless the LegiSla
tnrs BY tw0-thrdS vote shall require such YER
diets 10 be unanimous.
section 4 requires perfect religious liberation
and freedom OF conscience No person TO be ex-
cluded as a witness on account Of religious opiD.
Ions
section secures the writ OF habeas corpus,
excep, in eases of rebellion or invasion.
Secuon prohibits excessive bail, cruel or IN
usual punishments, etc ...
Section requires that all persons accused shall
be bailable, except for capital ofenses.
Section prohibits trials for crime except on
presautment or indictment, and establishes the
usual safeguards personal and property rights.
Section secures the freedom Of speech and OF
the press, and allows the truth 10 be given in er-
idence in actions for libel, by way classification.
Section 10 establishes the right of the people TO
hold public meetings, etc.
4 H.
power, prohibits a standing army in time OF peace,
and limits army appropriations in time Of war TO
two years.
Section la forbids the billeting of soldiers.
Section Is Representation shall be sPPortioned
according TO population.
Section Il requires the exemption OF reasonable
amount OF property from execution tor debt, and
torbids imprisonment for debt, except in case Of
fraud, libel or Islander"
Section Is forbids the passage OF any bill OF at
tAindeT, ex post facto law, or law impairing the
obligation of contracts
Section 10 secures to foreigners, on becoming
bona fde residents the same property nights Is
nafive-born citizens
Section II prohibits slavery.
Section Is protects the people against unreas-
enable searches and seizures and restricts the Is
suing Of search warrants.
Section 10 defines treason against the State Ias
in the United States Colstiiutionl, Snd requires
for conviction 1.-THE testimony OF two witnesses
10 the same overt at, 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 . which in the old
Constitution read thus: I" But the paramount al.
leciAnee Of every citizen is due 10 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
Nr ra.I-f
supreme authority Of the Government OF the
United States. The Constitution Of the United
States confers tun power on the Federal Govern
msnt 20 maintain and perpetuste its existence,
and when<oeveran portion Of the States, or PEG,
ple 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 20 Its authority.
Section II OF the old Constitution, prohibiting
the Legislature from granting special privileges
etc was stricken out, as being sufficiently ProVi'
deJ for in the article on Legislative Department.
The words libel or Islander" were inserted
in Section H. relative 10 Imprisonment Tor ceot'
on account Of the adoption of stringent proVi'
sions for the prevention and puaishmen: ofdueAing
The provision in Section 10, relative TO con,
victions of treason, was not contained in the old
Constitution.
ARTICLE u-RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
Section eoniers the right of suffrage on every
white male citizen Of the United states, twenty
one years OF age and upwards, " WHO snail nave
actually and not consirucuye!y 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 apy State or Territory of the Unired States,
unless restored to civil rights, and no person who
after arriving at the age OF eighteen years snail
have voluntarily borne arms against the U nited
States or held civil or military office under the
so-called Confederate States, or either of them,
unless an amnesty be granted TO such oy the
Federal Government and no idiot or insane per.
son. shall be entitled 10 the privilege OF an eeetor
Section provides that no person shall De
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 2mshouse, aSy-
lum or prison al the public expense.
Section secures the right Of suffrage 10 United
States soldiers and sailors. Nc poll tax or regis
,ra,ion Is required of such voters.
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 roes
Section requires the enactment Of a registry
law, and authorizes the Legislature 10 preserio'
rules or oaihs as tests Of electoral qualification.
Section 7 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 Sky
years Of age, unciyLized American dams e3
septed oue-hslfto go for State and one-hsf fo'
county purposes. The payment Of such tar may
in the discretion of the Legislature, be made 4
condition TO the right of voting.
Section 8 relates to the qualifications OF voters
on the adoption or rejection Of this Constitution
10 Section tie words actually and not con
strreiiveIy" were not in the old Constitution
They were inserted 10 prevent the possibility o.
reckoning the residence or the voter from th'
time he leaves some other state or county e
come 10 Nevada In the last paragraph Of th'
sec ion, latter Idiot or insane" the words " Of
disloya! person" occurred in the old Constitution
TaeSs were stricken ont on the ground OF vague
ness aud uncertainty, and because the preceding
part Of the proyiso was alleged 10 cover thu
ground Sufficiently
The provision in Section regarding additional
oaths or tests Of electoral qualifications was no
contained, al least specifically, in the old Con
Jntntion. There are some other changes in tn
Article put relating mainly to phrsseology ant
arrangement
ARTICLE H1-OlSrRIBuTIoS OF POWERS.
This Article IL identical with that of the oil
Observation-Disclosures the no,va,, ~ -. O.,