The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-24
pailD argus.
Thursday. Evening, March "a. 1870.
THR CONSTITUTION.

we are a bic to lay before the readers OF the
ARGUS, q summary Of the work accomplish
ed by the Constitutional Convention up 70
the time Of adjournment. The document
itself is too volum minous for our columns,
but from the following a comparatively clear
idea can be obtained OF the work thus far
accomplished. As we stated in orr yester-
days issue. When the instrument is COM
pleted, and in form to be submitted to the
vote of the people. We shall endeavor to
make a more extended reference to 1t. What
has been done thus far ia about As fol-
lows:
PREAMBLE
Expressing gratitude to God; otherwise
worded like the preamble to the National
Constitution.
MINES AND MINING.
Providing for the protection of operative
miners.
The Illinois and Michigan canal never to
be sold, except by vote of the people, and
no state aid to be given in aid of railroads
and canals, but surplus earnings may be
used for their enlargement or extension.
MILITIA.
To be made up of males between the ages
of Is and As organization, discipline, TO-,
to conform to the United States standards.
Persons conscentiously. opposed TO bearing
arms to be to exempt from military duty, In
time of peace.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
Counties may, by majority, vote TO pro-
cure on act for township organization, and
may do away with it by majority of all the
roters In the county.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
This includes A sections, the most i'm
portant of which provide for vesting the
authority of the State, as now for an cleo.
ton on the Tuesday next after the first
Monday in November next, and once in two
years thereafter; that Senators shall be at
least Is years of age, and Representatives
81, and citizens of the United States the
Senate to consist of 81 members with q
term of four years the General Assembly
to apportion the representation once in two
years, beginning with 1871.
Substantially, the House of Represents.
tives will consist of 1853 memh hers, to be in
creased by six additional members for every
5000 increase of population at each decen
NAL census for 1880. Each county has one
Representative, and provision is made for
the representation of surplus OF population
over the number in county or district
necessary for Representative.
A majority of all the members elected to
each House shall constitute quorum No
member shall be expelled except BY vote
of two thirds of all the members elected to
that House. Any two members may have
their protest and reasons therefor entered on
the Journals.
No person elected to the General Assem-
bly, shall receive any civil appointment with
in the State from the Governor or General
Assembly during the term for which be was
elected.
No bill shall become law without the
concurrence of a majority of all members
elected to each House.
Bills making appropriations for pay of of
hcials shall not contain any provision on any
other subject
Every bill shall be read at large on three
different days in each House, and no act of
the General Assembly shall take effect till
the July following its passage, except in an
emergency, and by q two-thirds vote.
Pay of mem bers shall be five dollars per
day, ten cents per mile esch way for neces-
sary travel TO and from the seat of govern
ment. and fifty dollars for incidentals.
No person who has baen or may be col
lector or holder of public moneys shall be
eligible to office in the State, until his &C.
counts are adjusted.
No person holding lucrative Office under
and government shall have sea, in the Gen
eral Assembly except militia officers, Notar
les Public and Justice of the Peace.
The oath of Office is sweeping and minute
tha ,1fh r,h I'd -
matter usually included in such osths.
The 32d section is so i'm portant that we
give it in full.
SEC. 50. The General Assembly shall
not pass any local or special laws in any of
the following enumerated cases, that is to
say:
For granting divorce.
For changing the names of persons or
places.
For laying out, opening, altering, and
working on roads or highways.
For vscating roads, town plats streets.
alleys and public grounds.
For locating or changing county seats.
For regulating township and county af
For regulating the practice in courts of
justice.
For regulating the jurisdic. on and duties
of Justices Ct the Peace, Police Magistrates
and Constables.
For providing for changes of venue in
civil and criminal cases
For Incorporating cities. towns or villa
ges, or changing or amending the charter of
any town, cityo village.
For the election of members of the Board
of Supervisors in townships, incorporated
towns or cities.
For ummoning and empanneling grand
and petit uries.
For providing for the management of
common schools.
For interest on money.
For providing for the opening and con-
Quoting of any section, or designating a
place of voting.
For providing for the sale or mortgage of
real estate belonging to minors or others
under disability.
For the protection of game or fish.
For chartering or licensing ferries and
toll bridges
For RENTING fines, penalties and forfeit.
ures.
For creating, increasing or decreasing
fees, percentages or allowances of public
officers, during the term for which said Off
GERS are elected or appointed. or for extend
ing the terms Of said officers.
For changing the law of descent.
For granting to any individual, associa
ton, or corporation aud special or exclusive
privilege, immunity, or franchise, what
ever.
No corporation shall be created BY spe.
cial law, or its charter extended, changed or
amended, except for charitable, educational,
penal, or reformatory purposes, which are
to be and remain under the patronage snG
control of the State; but the General As
sembly shall provide, by general laws, for
the organization of corporations hereafter
created.
In oil other cases, whatever, in addition
to those above enumerated, where general
law can be made applicable, no special law
shall be enacted