The Van Buren press., 1874-08-04
PROCEEDINGS OF THE C0NSTITU-
TIONAl CONVENTION.
MONDAY, July 27.
Little Rock Gazette.]

w oieCi W tuC piSSiuShe
The roll being called, eighty.three del
egates answered To their names
Prayer by The chaplain, Rev. w. w.
Keep.
The journal Of Saturday was read and
approved.
Mr. Garland, from the committee on
franchise and elections, submitted the
Ioliowleg report:
MR. PRESIDENT The standing com
mitlee Oh franchise and elect Ons, to
whom was referred that division of the
constitution relating to the subject OF
franchise and elections, have had the
same under consideration together with
the dtferent suggestions and propositions
which have been referred to them per
tainng to the subject. and ask leave to
submit the following as the result OF
their deliber tlons, and ask that they re-
ceiye favorable consideration from the
convention, as provisions suitable to be
engrated in the constitution, to,wt:
Section Every male citizen Of the
age of twenty one years, who has resided
county SIX months. and in the voting pre-
cinct or ward one month next preceding
any election where he may propose to
vote, and who shall. within the year next
preceding the election, have pad poll
lax to the proper officer, shall be entitled
to vote for all officers that are now or
may hereafter be elected by the people
shall ,,iy tn tho
Judges Of election where he offers to
vote, satisfactory evidence that he has
paid his poll-taX at the last time Of pay
ment preceding the election; provided,
that all male citizens who shall have ar
rived at the age Of twenty one years,
since the last assessment Of the poll-tax,
may be allowed to vote.
Sec. 3. All elections shall be by ballot
Every ballot shall be numbered in the or
der in which it shall be received and the
number recorded by the election officers
on the list of voters opposite the name of
the elector who presents the ballot. The
lection officers shall be sworn or affirm
ed not to disclose how any elector shall
have voted, unless required to do so as
witnesses in Il judicial proceeding.
Sec 4 Electors shall in all cases, ex
cept treason, felony or breach Of the
peace, be privileged from arrest during
their attendance at election or going to
and returning from the same.
Sec 5. No idiot or insane person shall
be entitled to the privileges ofan elector
Sec g. Any person who shall, while 4
candidate for office, be guilty of bribery,
fraud, or willful violation of any election
law, shall be forever disqualified from
holdiag any office OF trust or proht III
this state; and any person convicted OF
wilful violation Of tue election laws,
SHALL in addition to any penalty provld-
ed by law, be deprived OF the right OF
suffrage absolutely, for a tenn OF four
years.
Sec 7. No soldier, sailor, or marine,
IN the military or naval service OF the
Untcd States, shall acquire residence
By reason Of being stauoncd on duty IN
tins state
See s. The general elections shall be
held bicnnially. on the first Monday OF
September, but the general assembly
may, 10y law, fix Il different day, Two
tnrds Of all the members of each house
consentng thereto,
Sec 9 la trials of contested elections
and IN proceedings Tor the investigation
oi elections no person Shall be permitted
to wl,hhoiu his testimony upon the
ground that it may crlmnate himself or
subject him to puhllc iniamy; but such
testmt ny shall not be used against him
in any judicial proceeding except FOR
perjury IN giving such testimony.
Sec 10. No person shall be quaIihed
TO serve AS an election officer WHO shall
hold, at The time OF the election, any
office, appointment or employment IN or
under the government Of the United
States, or Of this state, or any Guy or
county, or any municipal board, commls
sion or trust IN any city, save only lhe
justices of the peace and aldermen, nota-
nes public, and persons in the militia
sci vice of the state. Nor shall amy elec'
ton officer be eligible to any clvl Once
to be hled al an election at which he
shall serve, save only to such subordl-
nate, municipal or local offices, below the
grade Of city or county officers, as shall
be designated 10y general law.
Sec IL. Any person who shall give,
or promise, or offer to give, to any elec.
tor any money, reward, or other volua
bic consideration, for his vote at an elec
ton, or for withholding the same, or
who shall give, or promise to give, such
consideration to any other person or
party for such electors vote, or for the
Withholding thereof; and any elector
who shall receive, or agree to receive,
for himself or for another, any money or
reward, or any other valuable consldera-
zion, for his vote at any election, or for
Withholding the same, shall thereby Tor
felt the right TO vote at sucn election ,
any eector whose right to vote shall be
challenged for such cause before the elec
ton officers, shall be required to swear
or affirm that the matter Of his challenge
is untrue before his vote shall be received
On motion Of Mr. Garland, the report
was laid on the table, and two hundred
copies ordered printed.
Mr. Fishback said he desired to INTRO
duce resolution which would bring up
This question Of the powers OF the con
ven,ion fully and proper y for discussion
lie then read the lollowing:
Whereas. There exist in the minds OF
many, very grave doubts as to whetner
the officials of Arkansas were elected oy