The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-08
CONSTITUTION.
TITLE bill OF RIGHTS.

ARTICLE /. All men are created free and euua
and have certain lnallenabe rights; among these
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secur
these rights governments instituted among mer
deriving their just powers from the consent Of th
governed.
ART. z. All persons, without regard TO race, color
or previous condition. born naturalised in tn
United States, and subject the jurisdiction thereof
and residents of this State for year, are citizens
this State. The citizens of this State owe aeglanc
to the United States and this allegiance is paramount
to that which they owe the State. They shall eno,
the same civil political, and public rights and priv
eges and be subjected to the pains and penalties
ART. 9. There shall be neither slavery nor invol
untary seryude in this State, otherwise than for thu
punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted.
ART. a. The press shall be Free every citizen ma,
freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on al
subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this liberty
ART. D. The right of the people peaceably to as
semble and petition the government, or any depart
ment thereof, shall never be abridged.
ART .. Prosecutions shall be by indictment OF
information The accused shall be entitled to speedy
public trial by an impartial jury of the parish in which
the oense committed unless the be changed
de shall not be compelled give evidence against
himself; he shall have the right of being heard by
himself or COUNSEL he shall have the right of meeting
the witnesses face to face, and shall have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor lie shall
not be tried twice for the offense.
ART. I. All persons shall be balable by sufficient
securities unless for capital oenses where the proof
IL evident, or the presumption great, unless after
conviction, for any crime or ofense punishable with
death or Imprisonment at hard labor The privilege of
the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended.
ART. s. Excessive bail shall not be required; ex-
cessye fines shall not be imposed cruel unusual
punishments inflicted
ART. 9. The right of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, aud effects against
reasonable searches and seizures shall not be voated
no pt hall hut ohohla
supported by oath affirmation and particularly de-
scrblng the place to be searched the person or
things to be seized.
ART. 10. All courts shall be open; and every per-
son Tor injury done him in his land, goods person.
reputation shall have adequate remedy by due process
of law, and justice administered without denial or
unreasonable delay.
ART. IL. No law shall be passed fixing the price
Of manual labor.
ART. II. Every person has the natural right to
worship God according the dictates of his conscience
NO religious test shall be required a qualification
for Office.
ART. IS. All persons shall enjoy equal rights and
privileges upon any conveyance of public character;
and all places Of business, of public resort or for
which license is required by either State parish or
municipal authority, shall be deemed places of pub
lie character, and shall be opened to the accommoda-
ton and patronage of all persons without distinction
or discrimination on account of race or color.
ART. IA. The rights enumerated in this title shall
not be construed limit abrdge other rights of The
people not herein expressed
TITLE u-LEGIsLATIvE DEPARTMENT.
ART. Is. The legislative power Of the State shall
be vested IN two distinct branches the be styled
the house OF representatives the other the senate and
both the general assembly Of the State of Louisiana
ART. 6. The members of the house of represen-
ative8 shall continue in Office for two years from the
day of the closing of the general elections
ART IT, Representatives shall be chosen en- the |
hrSt Monday i'll November every two years, and the
election shall be completed in day. The general
assembly shall meet annually the first Monday in Jan
uary unless different day be appointed by law; and
their sessions shall be at the seat of government.
Art. Is. Every eector under this constitution
shall be eligible to seat in the house of representa-
tvcs and every elector who has reached the age of
twenty-five years, shall be eligible to the senate; Pro-
vidcd that no person shall be representative SEN
ator unless the time of his election he be qualified
eecor Of the representative senatorial district from
which he is elected
ART. 10. Elections for members of the general as
semby shall be held at the several election precincts
by law.
ART. 20. Representation in the house of represent
taves shall be equal and uniform and after the first
general assembly elected under this constitution shall
be ascertaned and regulated by the total population
each parish III the State being entitled to at least
census of the State by State au-
Mory shall be taken IN the year eighteen hundred
and sentv-fve, and every ten years thereafter. In
case of nformaity, OMISSION error, in the census
returns from any parish election district, the general
assembly may order taken in such parish
Or election district; but until the State census of
eighteen hundred and seventyfVe, the apportionment
OF the State shall be made Oh the basis of the census
Of the United States for the year eighteen hundred
and seventy.
ART 81, The general assembly, at the first session
after making each enumeration, shall apportion the
representation amongst the several parishes and rep
districts the basis of the total popula
lion, aforesaid. A representative number shall be
fixed and each parish and representative district shall
lave many representatives the number of its to-
tai population will ene it to have; and additional
representative for any fraction exceeding onehalf of
the representative number The number Of represen-
tatyes shall never exceed one hundred and twenty
nor be less than ninety.
ART % Until an apportonment shall be made in
accordance with provisions of article 90 the repre-
senaton in the senate and house Of representatives.
shall he as follows;
For the parish of Orleans: