The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-05-02

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from the Galveston Citizen, April Il. q
The New Constitution Of Texas.
We have at length received a copy
of the Constitution and ordinances
adopted by the Convention. The bill
of rights is the same as in theaold
Constitution, with the following ex7
ceptions. The addition of the follow
ing words to section S. Provided,
that In criminal prosecutions, the pun
ishment whereof shall be fine not
exceeding one hundred dollars, and
imprisonment not exceeding thirty
DAYS. 81 either Or any less pun ahsnent.
the AeDE sed mary be Grlad Tor the same
by . jury or otherwise, - the Legisla-
ture may provide. II u @ectoE Y 01 the
new Constitution reads as follows:
"All prisoners shall be bailable by
sufficient sureties, unless for capital
offences, when the gsoof is evident;
but this provision s1aIl not be so con7
strued as to prohibit bail after indict-
ment found, upon an examination of
the evidence by "a Judge of the SUI
preme or District Court, upon the re-
turn of a writ-of- habeas corpus, re-
turnable In the county where the of
fence is committed, or to such other
counties as The same mag by the consent
of parties be made returnable." ;" e-
The words we have marked in ital-
les are not in the old Constitution; !;
and the words $ or the presumption
great" which follow when the proof
IS evident" in the old Constitution,
are omitted ins the new. These are
the only alterations proposed in the
bill of rights.
The following, being section two,
article third, of the Old Constitution,
is wholly omitted in the new: o'
4 AL free male persons over the age
of twenty-one years (fndians not
taxed, Africans and descendants of
Africans excepted y who shall have
resided six months in Texas, imme--
diately preceding theu acceptance of
this Constitution by the Congress of
the United States, shall be deemed
qualified electors. a1
The new, Constitution requires
residence Of FIVE years in the State for
Members of the Legislature: the old
required but two. The old requires
him to be a citizen of the United
| States, the new requires hi1R to be a
white citizen of the United States. III
An attempt is made to strengthen
| the provision against leleeting menu
bers of the Legislature by that body,
I to other Offices, by inserting the words
although he may resign his seat as
such member" cd
This new constitution fixes the
basis of representation on white popu-
lation.- The number of repyesenta-
tives is the same in each-not less
| than forty-five or more than xninety
for the whole State. The number of
Senators is also the same in each. :;
The new constitution makes it the
duty of the Legislature to elect Sena-
tors and provide for the election, of
Representatives in the Congress of the
United States. 80
In reference to the judicial depart
mellt the authority to establish ''cor7
poration courts conferred on the
Legislature by the old constitution is
not repealed; but an addition is made
| to the first section In the new, which
declares that, ait2egseT hIuow -o9e
The Legislature may establish
Criminal Courts in the principal cities
within the State, with such crimin,..
jurisdiction coextensive with the linn
its of the county wherein such city
may be situated, and under such regu-
lations as. may be prescribed by law;
and the Judge thereof may preside
over the Courts of one or more cities,
as the Legislature may direct.qq b93f
The Supreme Court is also made to
| consist of five instead of three
Justices; the term of Office is increas-
ed to ten years, and the salary raised
to $500. The salaries of the Circuit
Judges are raised to not less than
$1,000. n trsgse.6rr 4sni
The new Constitution provides for
the removal of Judges from Office on
grounds which would not be sufficient
for impeachment. gefI
The term of Governor is isinereased
from two to four years by the new
Constitution. His salary is fixed let
900. gi
| An addition is made to the new
Constitution, providing that the Gov
ernor may disapprove an appropria-
ton in bill without vet0ing the re-
mainder of the bill, and the part dis
approved will only be rejected as a
/ law H"it eea3aq
i The new Constitution increases the
terms of office of the Comptroller and
Treasurer from two to four years.
/ The old Constitution provides that
mo appropriation for private or indI-
yidual purposes, or for purposes OF
internal improvement, shall be made
of both Houses of the Legislature; "
The words 'two-thirds' are quietly
| dropped and disappear in the new.