The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-30

By tho Governor OF The State of TIE

oN~-NN
Ts all to whom these presents shall come:
WHEREAS, The Legislature Of the State OF Texas by
joint resolution passed June T. 1913, has proposed
certain amendments to the Constitution of said State
which joint resolution reads as follows, viz:
Joint resolution proposing amendments to section
twenty OF article one Bill Of Rights 70 section two
twentyeght section forty and TO section forty-eght
tuition Of the State Of Texas.
SECTION l. Be Il resolved 6y Tie LEGISLATURE Of ne
State Of IrdS That section twenty Of article one Bill
Of Rights Of the Constitution Of the State Of Texas
be amended to hereafter read as follows tOit:
SEC. 20. No power OF suspendng laws in the State
shall be exercised except by the Legislature.
SEC. 2 That section two section three and section
four Of article five Of said Constitution be amended
as to hereafter read as follows, tOwit Section The
Supreme Court shall consist OF one Chief usfice and
four Associate Justices any three Of whom shall con
stitute a quorum. They shall be appointed by the
Governor by and with the advice and consent OF the
Senate for term OF nine years All vacancies shall
be filed for the unexpired term. II vacancy shall oc-
cur, term shall expire when the Senate is not in
ment, which shall be sent to the Senate within ten
days nfter that body shall assemble, and if con-
hrmed the office shall Immediately become vacant.
SEC. g. The Supreme Court shall have appellate
jurisdiction only, which in civil causes and criminal
causes, shall be coexteAsive with the limits OF the
State. Apseals from mterlocntory judgments may be
allowed with such exceptions and under such regula-
tons as the Legislature may prescribe The Supreme
Court and the judges thereof shall have power to issue
the writ of hdbeas corpus and under such regulations as
may be prescribed by law may issue the writ Of
damuS and such other Wr1ts as may be necessary to
enforce its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court shall
also have power to ascertain such matters of fact as
may be necessary TO the proper exercise Of its urs
dicnon.
SEC 4. The Supreme Court shall hold its session
at the capital and two other places in the State.
SEC g. That section twenty-eight section forty and
section fortyeight OF article twelve OF general pro-
visions of the said Constitution be so amended as to
hereafter read as follows towt: Section %. In each
and every organized county in the State there shall be
an assessor and collector OF taxes elected by the peo
pie at the next ensuing general election and every four
years thereafter who shall assess the property and col
ect the taxes so assessed IN conformity TO such laws
as now exist or may be enacted hereafter by the Leg
isature, relative to the assessment and collection Of
taxes.
SEC 40 The Legislature shall not pass local or
special laws in any of the following enumerated cases.
that to say for locating changing the county seats
regulating county or town affairs regulating the prac
tce in Courts Of Justice; regulating the duties and
jurisdiction Of justices OF the peace and constables;
providing for changes of venue in civil and criminal
COURTS Incorporating cities towns changing or
amending the charter of any city village; providing
for the management Of common schools; regulating
the rates of interest on money; RENTING fines pen
aties foretures; changing the law of descent in all
no special law shall Be enacted: or in any case when
general law be made applicable special law shall
be enacted. The Legislature shall enact general laws
providing by the cases before enumerated in this
ton, and for all other cases which in its judgment may
be provided by general laws; and, whereas, section
fifty of article twelve of the Constitution provides that
such proposed amendments shall be duly published in
the public prints Of this State at least three mouths
before the next general election Of Representatives
for the consideration Of the people and It shall be the
duty of the several returning officers at the next gen.
election which shall be thus holden to open poll
for and make return to the Secretary Of State Of the
names of all those voting for Representatives who
have voted on such proposed amendments,
Now therefore, /, Edmund ]. Davis, Governor of
Texas by virtue of the authority vested in by the
Constitution and laws Of this State do hereby order
and direct that at the next general election, viz: On
the first Tuesday, being the second day Of Dec ember
A. D. 1873 the polls be opened receive the votes Of
those who desire to vote said amendments, and the
tickets used shall have on them the words 'For the
Amendments" or against the Amendments" The
amendments being voted for a whole, either for
against. It will be observed that the caption of the
above recited joint resolution would seem to indi
cate proposed amendment to section forty-eight of
article twelve of the Constitution, but such amend
ment is proposed in the body Of the resolutions there
fore it win not be considered.
Returns will be made to the Secretary Of the State
Of the names Of all persons voting for Representatives
who have voted on such proposed amendments pro-
vided in section fifty OF article twelve Of the COnsti
tuition Said election to be conducted in all other re-
spects in accordancewth the provisions of IAN act
regulating elections" Approved March 81, 1873 and
an act amending the same, approved April 1, 1873.
In testimony whereof, have hereunto signed my
name, and have caused the great seal OF
[SEAL the State to be affixed at the city of Aus.
tin, this fifteenth day Of August, A. D.
1879.
EDMUND J. DAVIS, Governor.
JAMES P. NEwooMB, Secretary Of State.
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