Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

30

if the county shall not have been so long erected, then within the limits of the county or counties out of which it shall have been taken.

28. No person who heretofore hath been, or hereafter may be, a col· lector or holder of the public moneys, shall have a seat in either house of the general assembly, until such person shall have accounted for and paid into the treasury all sums for which he may be accountable or liable.

ARTICLE 2.

§ 1. The supreme executive power of this state shall be vested in a governor.

2. The governor shall be chosen by the electors of the members of the general assembly, on the second Tuesday of October, at the same places and in the same manner that they shall respectively vote for members thereof. The returns of every election for governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, by the returning officers, directed to the speaker of the senate, who shall open and publish them in the presence of a majority of the members of each house of the general assembly; the person having the highest number of votes shall be governor but if two or more shall be equal and highest in votes, then one of them shall be chosen governor by joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly. Contested elections for governor shall be determined by both houses of the general assembly, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

3. The first governor shall hold his office until the first Monday of September, one thousand eight hundred and five, and until another governor shall be elected and qualified to office; and for ever after, the governor shall hold his office for the term of two years, and until another governor shall be elected and qualified; but he shall not be eligible more than six years in any term of eight years. He shall be at least thirty years of age, and have been a citizen of the United States twelve years, and an inhabitant of this state four years next preceding his elec tion.

4. He shall, from time to time, give to the general assembly information of the state of the government, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient.

5. He shall have the power to grant reprieves and pardons, after conviction, except in cases of impeachment.

6. The governor shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected.

7. He may require information, in writing, from the officers in the executive department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

8. When an officer, the right of whose appointment is, by this constitution, vested in the general assembly, shall, during the recess, die, or his office by any means become vacant, the governor shall have power to fill such vacancy, by granting a commission, which shall expire at the end of the next session of the legislature.

9. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the general assembly by proclamation, and shall state to them, when assembled, the purpose for which they shall have been convened.

10. He shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy of this state, and of the militia, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States.

11. In cases of disagreement between the two houses, with respect to the time of adjournment, the governor shall have the power to adjourn the general assembly to such time as he thinks proper, provided it be not a period beyond the annual meeting of the legislature.

12. In case of the death, impeachricnt, resignation, or the removal of the governor from office, the speaker of the senate shall exercise the office of governor until he be acquitted, or another governor shall be duly qualified. In case of impeachment of the speaker of the senate, or his death, removal from office, resignation, or absence from the state, the speaker of the house of representatives shall succeed to the office, and exercise the duties thereof, until a governor shall be elected and qualified. 13. No member of congress, or person holding any office under the United States, or this state, shall execute the office of governor.

14. There shall be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the governor, and used by him officially, and shall be called the great seal of the state of Ohio.

15. All grants and commissions shall be in the name and by the authority of the state of Ohio, sealed with the seal, signed by the governor, and countersigned by the secretary.

16. A secretary of state shall be appointed by a joint ballot of the senate and house of representatives, who shall continue in office three years, if he shall so long behave himself well. He shall keep a fair register of all the official acts and proceedings of the governor; and shall, when required, lay the same, and all papers, minutes, and vouchers, relative thereto, before either branch of the legislature, and shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned him by law.

ARTICLE 3

§ 1. The judicial power of this state, both as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in a supreme court, in courts of common pleas for each county, in justices of the peace, and in such other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish.

2. The supreme court shall consist of three judges, any two of whom shall be a quorum. They shall have original and appellate jurisdiction, both in common law and chancery, in such cases as shall be directed by law: provided, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the general assembly from adding another judge to the supreme court after the term of five years, in which case the judges may divide the state into two circuits, within which any two of the judges may hold a court.

3. The several courts of common pleas shall consist of a president and associate judges. The state shall be divided by law into three circuits: there shall be appointed in each circuit a president of the courts, who, during his continuance in office, shall reside therein. There shall be appointed in each county not more than three nor less than two associate judges, who, during their continuance in office, shall reside therein. The president and associate judges, in their respective counties, any three of whom shall be a quorum, shall compose the court of common pleas, which court shall have common law and chancery jurisdiction, in all such cases as shall be directed by law; provided, that nothing herein

Z

contained shall be construed to prevent the legislature from increasing the number of circuits and presidents after the term of five years.

4. The judges of the supreme court and court of common pleas, shall have complete criminal jurisdiction in such cases and in such manner as may be pointed out by law.

5. The court of common pleas in each county shall have jurisdiction of all probate and testamentary matters, granting administration, and the appointment of guardians, and such other cases as shall be prescribed by law.

6. The judges of the court of common pleas shall, within their respective counties, have the same powers with the judges of the supreme court, to issue writs of certiorari to the justices of the peace, and cause their proceedings to be brought before them, and the like right and justice to be done.

7. The judges of the supreme court shall, by virtue of their offices, be conservators of the peace throughout the state. The presidents of the court of common pleas shall, by virtue of their offices, be conservators of the peace in their respective circuits, and the judges of the court of common pleas shall, by virtue of their offices, be conservators of the peace in their respective counties.

8. The judges of the supreme court, the presidents, and the associate judges of the courts of common pleas, shall be appointed by a joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly, and shall hold their offices for the term of seven years, if so long they behave well. The judges of the supreme court, and the presidents of the courts of common pleas, shall, at stated times, receive for their services an adequate compensation, to be fixed by law, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office; but they shall receive no fees or perquisites of office, nor hold any other office of profit or trust under the authority of this state or the United States.

9. Each court shall appoint its own clerk, for the term of seven years; but no person shall be appointed clerk, except pro tempore, who shall not produce to the court appointing him a certificate from a majority of the judges of the supreme court, that they judge him to be well qualified to execute the duties of the office of clerk to any court of the same dignity with that for which he offers himself. They shall be removable for breach of good behaviour, at any time, by the judges of the respective

courts.

10. The supreme court shall be held once a year, in each county; and the courts of common pleas shall be holden in each county at such times and places as shall be prescribed by law.

11. A competent number of justice Peace shall be elected by

the qualified electors in each township in several counties, and shall continue in office three years; whose powers and duties shall from time to time be regulated and defined by law.

12. The style of all process shall be, The state of Ohio; and all prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority of the state of Ohio; and all indictments shall conclude against the peace and dig nity of the same.

ARTICLE 4.

§ 1. In all elections, all white male inhabitants, above the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state one year next preceding the election, and who have paid, or are charged with, a state or county tax, shall enjoy the right of an elector; but no person shall be entitled to vote, except in the county or district in which he shall actually reside at the time of the election.

2. All elections shall be by ballot.

3. Electors shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections, and in going to and returning from them.

4. The legislature shall have full power to exclude from the privilege of electing, or being elected, any person convicted of bribery, perjury, or any other infamous crime.

5. Nothing contained in this article shall be so construed as to prevent white male persons, above the age of twenty-one years, who are compelled to labour on the roads of their respective townships or counties, who have resided one year in the state, from having the right of an elector.

ARTICLE 5.

§ 1. Captains and subalterns in the militia shall be elected by those persons in their respective company districts subject to military duty. 2. Majors shall be elected by the captains and subalterns of the bat

talion.

3. Colonels shall be elected by the majors, captains, and subalterns of the regiment.

4. Brigadiers-general shall be elected by the commissioned officers of their respective brigades.

5. Majors-general and quarter-masters-general shall be appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the legislature.

6. The governor shall appoint the adjutant-general. The majorsgeneral shall appoint their aids, and other division officers. The brigadiers their majors; the brigade-majors their staff officers; commanders of regiments shall appoint their adjutants, quarter-masters, and other regimental staff officers; and the captains and subalterns shall appoint their non-commissioned officers and musicians.

7. The captains and subalterns of the artillery and cavalry shall be elected by the persons enrolled in their respective corps, and the majors and colonels shall be appointed in such manner as shall be directed by law. The colonels shall appoint their regimental staff, and the captains and subalterns their non-commissioned officers and musicians.

ARTICLE 6

§ 1. There shall be elected in each county one sheriff and one coroner, by the citizens thereof who are qualified to vote for members of the assembly: they shall be elected at the time and place of holding elections for members of assembly; they shall continue in office two years if they shall so long behave well, and until successors be chosen and duly qualified: provided, that no person shall be eligible as sheriff for a longer term than four years in any term of six years.

2. The state treasurer and auditor shall be triennially appointed, by a joint ballot of both houses of the legislature.

3. All town and township officers shall be chosen annually, by the inhabitants thereof duly qualified to vote for members of the assembly, at such time and place as may be directed by law.

4. The appointment of all civil officers, not otherwise directed by this constitution, shall be made in such manner as may be directed by law.

ARTICLE 7.

§ 1. Every person who shall be chosen or appointed to any office of trust or profit under the authority of the state, shall, before entering on the execution thereof, take an oath or affirmation to support the constitution of the United States and this state, and also an oath of office.

2. Any elector who shall receive any gift or reward for his vote, in meat, drink, money, or otherwise, shall suffer such punishment as the law shall direct; and any person who shall directly or indirectly give, promise, or bestow any such reward to be elected, shall thereby be rendered incapable for two years to serve in the office for which he was elected, and be subject to such other punishment as shall be directed by law.

3. No new county shall be established by the general assembly which shall reduce the county or counties, or either of them, from which it shall be taken, to less contents than four hundred square miles, nor shall any county be laid off of less contents. Every new county, as to the right of suffrage and representation, shall be considered as a part of the county or counties from which it was taken until entitled by numbers to the right of representation.

4. Chillicothe shall be the seat of government until the year one thousand eight hundred and eight. No money shall be raised until the year one thousand eight hundred and nine, by the legislature of this state, for the purpose of erecting public buildings for the accommodation of the legislature.

5. That, after the year one thousand eight hundred and six, whenever two-thirds of the general assembly shall think it necessary to amend or change this constitution, they shall recommend to the electors, at the next election for members to the general assembly, to vote for or against a convention; and if it shall appear that a majority of the citizens of the state, voting for representatives, have voted for a convention, the general assembly shall, at their next session, call a convention, to consist of as many members as there may be in the general assembly, to be chosen in the same manner, at the same places, and by the same elec tors that choose the general assembly, who shall meet within three months after the said election, for the purpose of revising, amending, or changing the constitution. But no alteration of this constitution shall ever take place, so as to introduce slavery or involuntary servitude into this state.

6. That the limits and boundaries of this state be ascertained, it is declared, that they are as hereafter mentioned that is to say, bounded on the east by the Pennsylvania line, on the south by the Ohio river, to the mouth of the great Miami river; on the west by the line drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami aforesaid; and or the north

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »