The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-08
The New Constitution of Arkansas.

Article 1.-The bill of rights-asserts the right
full claims Of freedmen, acknowledges the para
mount authority of the United States as superior
in its sphere to the State and denies the right of
secession. l,
Article ii defines the boundaries Of the State
Article III locates the seat Of government.
Article ~ divides the powers of government
into three Legislative, executive and
judicial.
Article v prescribes the powers, etc., of the
legislative branch. II prohibits indentures and
apprenticeships which carry with them involun-
tary servtude and all manner Of legislation which
might by implication or otherwise be used to re-
store the old system Of oppression under the slave
Constitution. IL provides that In contested cleo
tions only the successful contestant shall receive
mileage and per diem.
Article vi defines the duties and powers of the
executive department
Article VII is devoted to the Judiciary.
Article VII defines who are, are not, and may
become voters. Every male person twenty-one
years Of age, who citizen Of tn, United States
or who had declared his intention to become
citizen and has resided six months next preceding
election in the State is actual resident of the
country In which he offers to vote and takes the
voters oath: that he will support the Constitution
and laws Of the United States and the State Of
Arkansas; that he is not dsfranchised by any
clause Of the Constitution; that he will not coun.
tenance secession, and that he accepts the civil
and political equality Of all men. 1t DISTINGUISHES
those who during the rebellion took the oath of
allegiance and violated II: those who are dsfran-
chised in the State or States from whence they
came those who during the rebellion violated
the rules of civilized warfare; those disqualified
by the fourteenth constitutional Amendments and
the reconstruction act Of March 8, 1867 idiots
and criminals. II provides that those who openly
advocate the reconstruction policy and vote for it
may be relieved from some of the foregoing disa-
bilites.
Article TX provides board and liberal educa-
ton policy--devotng portion Of the State Teven-
ues 10 the support Of common schools; establish
ing a State university, with an agricultural de-
partmeDt; makes il obligatory on parents to send
each child to school at least three years. between
the ages OF five and eighteen, or to give them in
stIuction at home or elsewhere equivalent thereto.
Article X relates 10 finances, taxes. and expen
ditures. Guards against the poll tax, made SO
oppressive under the Johnson government.
Article IL provides for q militia, composed Of
all the able bodied electors.
Article XII provides homestead exemption.
Article XIII provides for amending the Consti.
tuition. Amendments may be introduced by the
legislature and, If agreed to by majority Of both
houses II must then be submitted to the legislature
chosen at next general election; If they agree to
the amendment, il may be submitted TO the people.
Article XIV relatesi to distributing the State for
national and State representatives. f
Articles XIV and XXI are devoted to miscellane-
GUS local matters, declaring times Of election,
salaries, seal, oath Of office, etc.