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and entered on the journals. Any county now existing may be reduced to, an area of not less than seven hundred square miles by a like two-third vote. When any part of a county is stricken off and attached to or created into another county, the part stricken off shall holden for and obliged pay its proportion

be

to

of all the liabilities then existing of the county from which it was taken, in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

Third. No part of any existing county shall be detached from it and attached to another existing county until the proposition for such change shall have been submitted, in such manner as may be provided by law, to a vote of the electors of both counties, and shall have received a majority of those voting on the question in each.

2. IX.

The Legislature shall pass laws regulating the manner of removing county seats, but no county seat situated within five miles of the geographical center of the county shall be removed except by a vote of two-thirds of all the electors voting on the subject. A majority of such electors, however, voting at such election, may remove a county seat from a point more than five miles from the geographical centre of the county to a point within five miles of such centre, in either case the centre to be determined by a certificate from the commissioner of the general land office.

4. XII.

The first Legislature assembled after the adoption of this Constitution shall provide a mode of procedure by the Attorney-Gen

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eral and district or county attorneys, in the name and behalf of the State, to prevent and punish the demanding and receiving or collection of any and all charges, to freight, wharfage, fares and tolls, for the use of property devoted to the public, unless the same shall have been specially authorized by law.

21. XVI.

All stationery and printing, except proclamations and such printing as may be done at the deaf and dumb asylum, paper and fuel used in the legislative and other departments of the government, except the judicial department, shall be furnished and the printing and binding of the laws, Journals and department reports and all other printing and binding, and the repairing and furnishing the halls and rooms used for the meetings of the Legislature and its committees, shall be performed under contract, to be given to the lowest responsible bidder below such maximum price and under such regulations as shall be prescribed by law. No member or officer of any department of the government shall be in any way interested in such contracts; and all such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the Governor, Secretary of State and Comptroller. 22. XVI.

The Legislature shall have the power to pass such fence laws, applicable to any subdivision of the State or counties, as may be needed to meet the wants of the people.

23. XVI.

The Legislature may pass laws for the regulation of live stock, and the protection of stockraisers in the stock-raising portion of the State, and exempt from the operation of such laws

Bec. Art.

State, under such regulations and restrictions as the Legislature may prescribe.

55. XVI.

The Legislature may provide annual pensions, not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, to surviving soldiers or volunters in the war between Texas and Mexico, from the commencement of the revolution in 1835 until the first of January, 1837; and also to the surviving signers of the declaration of independence of Texas; and to the surviving widows, continuing unmarried, of such soldiers and signers: Provided, That no such pension be granted except to those in indigent circumstances, proof of which shall be made before the County Court of the county where the applicant resides, in such manner as may be provided by law.

9. II.

VERMONT.

The Representatives so chosen (a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum for transacting any other business than raising a State tax, for which two-thirds of the members elected shall be present) shall meet on the second Thursday of the succeeding October; and shall be styled the General Assembly of the State of Vermont; that they shall have power to choose their Speaker, Secretary of State, their clerk, and other necessary officers of the House-sit on their own adjournments-prepare bills and enact them into laws-judge of the elections and qualifications of their own members; they may expel members, but not for causes known to their constituents antecedent to their election; they may admin

Sec. Art.

--

ister oaths and affirmations in matters depending before them -redress grievances-impeach State criminals-grant charters of incorporation constitute towns, boroughs, cities and counties; they may annually, on their first session after their election, in conjunction with the Council (or oftener if need be), elect judges of the Supreme and several County and Probate Courts, sheriffs and justices of the peace; and also, with the Council, may elect major-generals and brigadiergenerals, from time to time, as often as there shall be occasion; and they shall have all other powers necessary for the Legislature of a free and sovereign State; but they shall have no power to add to, alter, abolish or infringe any part of this Constitution.

VI.

The Senate shall have the like powers to decide on the election and qualification of, and to expel any of its members, make its own rules and appoint its own officers, as are incident to or are possessed by, the House of Representatives. A majority shall constitute a quorum. The Lieutenant-Governor shall be President of the Senate, except when he shall exercise the office of Governor, or when his office shall be vacant, or in his absence, in which cases the Senate, shall appoint one of its own members to be President of the Senate pro tempore. And the President of the Senate shall have a casting vote, but no other. V.

A future Legislature may, when they shall conceive the same to be expedient and necessary,

6. V.

once

No

The General Assembly shall meet in two years, and not oftener, unless convened by the Governor in the manner prescribed in this Constitution. session of the General Assembly, after the first under this amendment, shall continue longer than ninety days without the concurrence of three-fifths of the members elected to each house; in which case the session may be extended for a further period, not exceeding thirty days. Neither house during the session of the General Assembly shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any

Sec. Art.

place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. A majority of the members elected to each house shall constitute a but a quorum to do business; smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and shall have power to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalty as each house may prescribe.

17. V.

The General Assembly shall not grant a charter of incorporation to any church or religious denomination, but may secure the title to church property to an extent to be limited by law.

21. V. The General Assembly shall provide for the annual registration of births, marriages and deaths. 23. V.

The Legislature shall have power to provide for the government of cities and towns, and to establish such courts therein as may be necessary for the administration of justice.

24. V.

The General Assembly shall have two-thirds vote, power, by a to remove disabilities incurred, under clause third, section one, article third, of this Constitution, with reference to duelling. 7. VII.

The House of Delegates shall choose its own Speaker; and in the absence of the LieutenantGovernor, or when he shall exercise the office of Governor, the Senate shall choose from their own body a President pro tempore; and each house shall appoint its own officers, settle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for supplying intermediate vacancies;

Sec. Art.

but if vacancies shall occur during the recess of the General Assembly, such writs may be issued by the Governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Each house shall judge of the election, qualification and returns of its members; may punish them for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

3. X.

The Legislature may exempt all property used exclusively for State, county, municipal, benevolent, charitable, educational and religious purposes.

4. X.

en

The General Assembly may levy a tax on income in excess of six hundred dollars per annum, and upon the following licenses, viz.: The sale of ardent spirits, theatrical and circus companies, menageries, jugglers, itinerant peddlers, and all other shows and exhibitions for which an trance fee is required; commission merchants, persons selling by sample, brokers and pawnbrokers, and all other business which cannot be reached by the ad valorem system. The capital invested in all business operations shall be assessed and taxed as other property. Assessments upon all stock shall be according to the market value thereof.

6. X.

The General Assembly shall pro

vide for a re-assessment of the real estate of this State in the year 1869, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and every fifth year thereafter: Provided, In making such assessment no land shall be assessed above or below its value.