The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1895-12-18
ARTICLE VII.

Il
COUNTIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Sec. /. The general assembly may
establish new counties IN the following
manner: Whenever one-third Of the
qualified electors within the area OF
each section of an old county proposed
TO be cut off to form q new county
shall petition the governor 1or fne
creation of q new county, setting forth
the boundaries and showing comph-
apce with the requirements OF this ar
ticle, the governor shall order an elec-
ton. within q reasonable time there
after. by the qualified electors within
the proposed area, in which election
thew shall vote ''Yes'' or ''No' upon
the question of creating said new
county; and at the same electaoo the
question of name and county seat
for such county shall be submitted TO
the electors. ,c
Sec. 2. If two-thirds of the qualified
electors voting at such election snail
vote ssYes'' upon such questions, then
the general assembly at the next ses-
sion shall establish such new county:
Provided. No seetion OF the county
proposed to be dismembered shall oe
thas cut off without consent by q two
thirds vote of those voting In such sec
ton; ard no county shall be formed
without complying with all the eondl-
tions imposed in this article. An cleo
ton upon the question Of forming the
same proposed new county shall not
be held oftener than once IN four
years. ,...u
Sec. 3. No new county hereafter
formed shall contain less than one one
hundred and twenty-fourth part OF the
whole number of inhabitants OF the
State, nor shall it have less assessed
taxable property than $1,500,000 as
shown by the last tax returns, nor
shall It contain less area than 400
square miles.
Sec. 4. No old county shall be re-
dueed to less area than 500 square
miles. to less assessed taxable proper
ty than 81, 900, 900, nor to smaller
population tl.an 5000 Inhabitants.
Sec. 5. In the formation Of new
counties no old county shall be cnt
within eight miles Of its courthouse
building.
Sec. s. All new counties here
after formed shall bear just appor-
tionment of the validindebtness OF the
old county or counties from which they
have been forued.
= Sec. z. The general assembly shall
have the power to alter county lines at
anY time: Provided, That before any
existing county line is altered the
question shall be first submitted to the
qualified electors of the territory pro-
posed to be taken from one county and
given to another, and shall have re-
ceiyed two-thirds of the votes cast:
Provided, further, That the change
shall not reduce the county from which
the territory is taken below the limits
prescribed In sections 3, and 5 of
this article: Provided, That the prop
er proportion of the existing county
Indebtedness of the section so trans
ferred shall be assumed by the county
to which the territory is transferred.
Sec. s. No county seat shall be re-
moved except by vote OF two-thirds
Of the qualified electors of said county
votingin an election held for that pur-
pose, but such election shall not be
held In any county oftener than orce
in five years.
Sec. 8. Each county shall constitute
one election district, and shall be a
body polite and corporate.
( Sec. 10. The general assembly may
provide for the consolidation OF two
or more existing counties if a majority
of the qualified electors of such coun-
ties voting at an election held for that
purpose shall vote separately therefor,
but such election shall not be held
oftener than once in four years IN the
same counties.
Sec. II. Each of the several town
ships of this State, with names and
boundaries as now established by law,
shall constitute body polite and cor
porate, but this shall Dot prevent the
general assembly from organizing other
townships or changing the boundaries
of those already established; and the
general assembly may provide such
system of township government as it
shall think proper in any and al the
counties, and may make special provlS-
ion for municipal government and for
the protection of chartered rights and
powers of municipalities.
Sec. 12 Until changed by the gen
eral assembly, as allowed by this Con
stitution the boundaries of the several
counties shall remain as now estab-
lished, except that the boundaries of
the county of Edgefeld shall undergo
such changes as are made necessary by
the formation of new county from a
portion of Edgefeld, to be known as
Saluda, the boundaries Of which are set
forth in a Constitutional ordinance.
The election ordered in said ordinance
for the location of its county seat shall
be held under the Constitution. and
laws now of force. And the general
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