CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. We the people of Missouri, inhabiting the limits hereinafter designated, by our representatives, in Convention assembled, at St. Louis, on` Monday the 12th day of June, 1820, do mutually agree to form and establish a free and independent republic, by the name of "THE STATE OF MISSOURI;" and for the government thereof, do ordain and establish this Constitution. ARTICLE I. Of Boundaries. Description of the permanent boundaries of the State of Missouri. We do declare, establish, ratify and confirm, the following, as the permanent boundaries of said state, that is to say: "Beginning in the middle of the Mississippi river, on the parallel of thirty-six degrees of north latitude; thence west, along the said pallel of latitude, to the St. Francois river; thence up, and following the course of that river in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the parallel of latitude of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes; thence west alot the same, to a point where the said parallel is intersected by a meridia, line passing through the middle of the mouth of the Kansas river, vhere the same empties into the Missouri river; thence, from the point foresaid north, along the said meridian line, to the intersection of the parall of latitude which passes through the rapids of the river Des Moines, m king the said line correspond with the Indian boundary line, thence east from the point of intersection last aforesaid, along the said parallel of latitude. to the middle, of the channel of the main fork of the said river Des Moines; thence down along the middle of the main channel of the said river Des Moines to the mouth of the same, where it empties into the Mississippi river; thence due east to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river; thence down and following the course of the Mississippi river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the place of beginning." ARTICLE II. Of the Distribution of Powers. Of the distribution of the powers of the government. The powers of government shall be divided into three distinct de partments, each of which shall be confided to a separate magistracy; and no person charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments, shall exercise any 'power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the instances hereinafter expressly directed or permitted. ARTICLE III. Of the Legislative power. SEC. 1. Legislative power, in what body vested. 2. Members of the House of Representatives, how often, by whom, and for what length of time chosen; may not exceed 100. 3. Qualifications of representatives 4. Enumeration of inhabitants and apportionment of representatives to be made every fourth year. 5. Term of service, and qualification of Senators. 6. Constitution of the Sena-apportionment and districts. 7. Senators to be classe 8. Elections when yod-electors privileged from arrest on election days, except in certain cases 9. Writs of elecrons to supply vacancies-by whom issued. 10 Electors .neir qualifications. 12. Nisbursing or receiving officer eligible to the legislature, who has not accounted for, and paid all moneys due the state. 13. lergymen disqualified from holding any office except that of justice of the peace. 14 Persons disqualified from holding office on account of crime. 15. Disqualification for bribery. 16. Disqualification of senato:s and representatives for certain offices. 17. Each house to appoint its own officers-what constitutes a quorum. 18. Powers and duty of each touse--rules, expulsion, &c Journal to be published-yeas and nays to be recorded when desired by two members. 19. Doors to be kept open, except in cases which require secrecy-power to punish for disre spect and contempt. 20. Of adjournment. 21. Bills may originate where, how often read, and by whom signed. 22. Appointment of officers viva voce. 23. Privileges of senators and representatives. 24. Compensation. 25. Of suits against the state. 26. The power of the general assembly does not extend to-1st, the passage of an emancipaThe tion law, or 2nd, to prevent emigrants from removing their slaves to this state. legislature may prohibit, 1st, the introduction of slaves guilty of high crimes; or 2nd, for the purpose of speculation; or, 3rd, in contravention of a statute of the United States; and 4th, may permit their emancipation, good security being first given. It is their duty to pass laws, Ist, to prevent the introduction of free negroes and mulattoes, and 2nd, to compel masters to treat slaves with humanity. 27. Rights of slaves in trials for crimes. 28. Crimes committed on slaves. 29. Of impeachment. 30. Impeachment to be made by the house of representatives and tried by the senate. 32. Appointment of officers-oath of office. 33. Meetings of general assembly. 34. Counties to be not less than 20 miles square, § 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a "General Assembly,” which shall consist of a "Senate," and of a "House of Representatives." § 2. The house of representatives shall consist of members to be chosen every second year by the qualified electors of the several counties. Each county shall have at least one representative, but the whole number of representatives shall never exceed one hundred. § 3. No person shall be a member of the house of representatives who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-four years: who shall not be a free white male citizen of the United States; who shall not have been an inhabitant of this state two years, and of the county which he represents one year next before his election, if such county shall have been so long established, but if not, then of the county or counties from which the same shall have been taken; and who shall not moreover have paid a state or county tax. § 4. The general assembly, at their first session, and in the years one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, and one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, respectively, and every fourth year thereaf ter, shall cause an enumeration of the inhabitants of this state to be made; and at the first session after each enumeration, shall apportion the number of representatives among the several counties, according to the number of free white male inhabitants therein. D § 5. The senators shall be chosen by the qualified electors, for the term of four years. No person shall be a senator, who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years; who shall not be a free white male citizen of the United States; who shall not have been an inhabitant of this state four years, and of the district which he may be chosen to represent, one year next before his election, if such district shall have been so long established, but if not, then of the district or districts from which the same shall have been taken; and who shall not, moreover, have paid a state or county tax. § 6. The senate shall consist of not less than fourteen nor more than thirty-three members; for the election of whom the state shall be divided into convenient districts, which may be altered from time to time, and new districts established, as public convenience may require; and the senators shall be apportioned among the several districts, according to the number of free white male inhabitants in each; provided, that when a senatorial district shall be composed of two or more counties, the counties of which such district consists shall not be entirely separated by any county belonging to another district, and no county shall be divided in forming a district. 7. At the first session of the general assembly, the senators shall be divided by lot, as equally as may be, into two classes. The seats of the first class shall be vacated at the end of the second year; and the seats of the second class at the end of the fourth year; so that one half of the senators shall be chosen every second year. § 8. After the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, all general elections shall commence on the first Monday in August, and shall be held biennially; and the electors, in all cases except of treason, felony, or breach of the peace, shall be privileged from arrest during their continuance at elections, and in going to, and returning from the same. § 9. The governor shall issue writs of election. to fill such vacancies as may occur in either house of the general assembly. § 10. Every free white male citizen of the United States, who may have attained to the age of twenty-one years, and who shall have resided in this state one year before an election, the last three months whereof shall have been in the county or district in which he offers to vote, shall be deemed a qualified elector of all elective offices; provided, that no soldier, seaman, or mariner, in the regular army or navy of the United States, shall be entitled to vote at any election in this state § 11. No judge of any court of law or equity, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor, state or county treasurer, register or recorder, clerk of any court of record, sheriff, coroner, member of congress, nor other person holding any lucrative office under the United States, or this state, militia officers, justices of the peace and postmasters excepted, shall be eligible to either house of the general assembly. § 12. No person who now is, or who hereafter may be, a collector or holder of public money, nor any assistant or deputy of such collector or holder of public money, shall be eligible to either house of the general assembly, nor to any office of profit or trust, until he shall have accounted for and paid all sums for which he may be accountable. § 13. No person while he continues to exercise the functions of a bishop. priest, clergyman, or teacher of any religious persuasion, denomination, society or sect whatsoever, shall be eligible to either house of the general assembly; nor shall he be appointed to any office of profit within the state, the office of justice of the peace excepted. 14. The general assembly shall have power to exclude from every office of honor, trust or profit, within this state, and from the right of suffrage, all persons convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime. § 15. Every person who shall be convicted of having, directly or indirectly, given or offered any bribe to procure his election or appointment, shall be disqualified for any office of honor, trust, or profit, under this state; and any person who shall give or offer any bribe to procure the election or appointment of any other person, shall, on conviction thereof, be disqualified for an elector, or for any office of honor, trust or profit, under this state, for ten years after such conviction. §16. No senatar or representative shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office under this state, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of whic. shall have been increased during his continuance in office, except to such officers, as shall be filled by elections of the people. 17. Each house shall appoint its own officers, and shall judge of the qualifications, elections, and returns of its own members. A majority of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. § 18. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, |