Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-24

oaots ebsll heroine part of this ConStltu-
ION When any amendment or amend
nents to the Constitution shall be pro-
,osed in pursuance of the foregoing pro-
,isions. the same shall, at each OF SAID |
sessions. be read three times on three
several DAYS in each House. The Leglsla-
lure shall not propose amendments 10 the
oftener than once IN SIX years.
The Legislature shall have the right, at any
time. by law. TO submit to the people the
of calling a Convention to alter,
reform or abolish this Constitution, and
when. upon such submission, majority of
all the votes cast shall be in favor of said
then delegates shall be chosen,
and the Convention shall assemble in such
mode and manner as shall be prescribed.
Sec. L. The Legislature shall have no
power to grant divorces, but may author
lie the courts of justice to grant them for
such causes as may be specified by law;
but such laws shall be general and uniform |
in their operation throughout the State.
Sec. 5. The Legislature shall have no
power to authorize lotteries for any pur
pose, and shall pass laws to prohibit the
sale of lottery tickets in this State.
Sec G. The Legislature shall have no
power to change the names Of persons, or
to pass acts adopting or legitimating per-
sons, but shall, by general laws, confer this
power on the courts.
Sec Z. The Legislature shall fix the rate
of interest, and the rate SO established shall
be equal and uniform throughout the State,
but the Legislature may provide by law for
a conventional rate of interest, not to ex-
coed ten per cent per annum.
Sec. g. The Legislature shall have nopower
to suspend any general law for the benefit
of any particular individual, nor to pass
anv law forthe benefit of individuals, incon-
sistent with the general laws of the land;
nor to pass any law granting to any indi-
vidual or individuals, rights, privileges,
| immunities, or exemptions, other than
such as may be, by the same law, extended
to any member of the community who may
be able to bring himself within the pro-
| visions of such law No corporation shall
be created or its powers increased or di-
minished by special laws; but the General
Assembly shall provide by general laws for
the organization of all corporations here
after created, which laws may, at any time,
be altered or repealed; bat no such altera-
ton or repeal shall interfere with, or
divest. rights which have become vested.
Sec. .. The Legislature shall have the
| right to vest such powers in the courts OF
justices, with regard to private and local
| affairs as may be deemed expedient.
Sec. 10. A well regulated system Of in
| ternal Improvement is calculated to develop
the resources of the State, and promote the
happiness and prosperity of her citizens;
therefore it ought to be encouraged by the
General Assembly.
A in, +l,a r1OCSaCCiOn
of each head of a family. and the improve
ments thereon to the value In all, one
thousand dollars, shall be exempt from
sale under legal process during the life of
such head of a family to inure to the
benefit of the widow and shall be exempt
during the minority of their children occu-
pving the same. Nor shall said property
be aiienated without the joint consent OF
husband and wife, when that relation exists.
This exemption shall not operate against
public taxes, nor debts contracted for the
purchase money of such homestead or I'M
provements thereon.
Sec. y. knowledge, learning and viz
tue. being essential to the preservation Of
republican institutions, and the diffusion Of
the opportunities and advantages Of educa-
ton throughout the different portions Of the
State being highly conducive to the promo
ton Of this end, it shall be the duty Of the
| General Assembly in all future periods Of
this government, to cherish literature and
| science. And the fund called common
scAooy fiH5, and all the lands and pro.
ceods thereof dividends, stocks, and Other
property of every description whatever,
heretofore by law appropriated by the
/ General Assembly of this State for the use
of common schools, and all such as shall
hereafter be appropriated, shall remain &
perpetual .tuEd, the principal of which
| shall never be diminished by Legislative
| appropriation; and the interest thereof
shall be inviolably appropriated to the
support and encouragement of common
schools throughout the State. and
for the equal benefit of all the people
thereof: and no law shall be made author.
izing said fund or any part thereof to be
diverted to any other use than the support
and encouragement of common schools
The State taxes derived hereafter from
polls shall be appropriated to educational
purposes. in such manner as the General
Assembly shall from time to time
direct bv law. No school es-
tablished or aided under this section
shall allow white and negro children to be
received as scholars together in the same
school. The above provisions shall not
prevent the Legislature from carrying into
effect any laws that have been passed il
favor of the Colleges, Universities or Acade
mics, or from authorizing heirs or distribu
tees to receive and enjoy escheated prop
erty under such laws as may be passed
from time to time.
Sec Is. The General Assembly shall
have power to enact laws for the protec.
ton and preservation of game and fish
within the State, and such laws may be
enacted for, and applied and enforced in
particular counties or geographical districts
designated by the General Assembly.
Sec. II. The intermarriage of white
persons with negroes, mulattOes or persons
Of mixed blood, descended from a negro &c
the third generation, inclusive, or their
living together as man and wife in this
State. IS prohibited. The Legislature shall
enforce this section by appropriate legisla-
ton.
Sec. Is. No person shall in time Of
peace be required to perform any service
to the public on any day set apart by his
religion as a day of rest.
Sec. u. The declaration of rights hereto
fore prefXed is declared to be part of the
Constitution Of the State, and shall never
be violated on any pretense whatever.
And to guard against tranSgressiOn of the
high powers we have delegated, we declare
that every thing in the Bill of Rights con-
tanned is excepted out of the general pow
ers of government, and shall forever remain
inviolate.
Sec. Il. No county Office created by
the Legislature shall be filed otherwise
than by the people or the County Court.
THE SCHEDULE.
Section l. That no inconvenience may
arise from a change of the Constitution, il
is declared that the Governor of the State,
the members of the General Assembly,
and all officers elected at or after the
general election of March, 1870 shall hold
their offices for the terms prescribed II
this Constitution.
Officers appointed by the courts shall be
filled by appointment, to be made and to
take effect during the first term of the court
held by Judges elected under this Consti-
tuition.
All other officers shall yacate their places
thirty days after the day fixed for the cleo
ton of Their successors under this CJusti-
tuition
The Secretary of State, Comptroller and
Treasurer shall hold their offices until the
first session Of the present General Assem-
bly, occurring after the ratification Of this
! Constitution and until their Successors arc
elected and qualified.
The officers then elected shall hold their
| ,,n;..s lp,,til tho 9Th 1ay of Jauuary- 1872