and was declared by the President, in his message of Jan. 8, 1798, to have been adopted by the requisite number of States. The twelfth amendment was proposed by Congress December 12th, 1803, and was adopted during the year 1804. The thirteenth amendment was adopted by the Senate of the United States April 8th, 1864, by a vote of 38 yeas to 6 nays; and by the House on the 31st of January, 1865, by a vote of 119 yeas to 56 nays. On the 18th of December, 1865, the Secretary of State made proclamation that it had been ratified by the requisite number of States. The fourteenth amendment was adopted by the Senate of the United States, June 8th, 1866, by a vote of 33 yeas to 11 nays; and by the House on the 13th of June, 1866, by a vote 138 yeas to 36 nays. On the 21st of July, 1868, the Senate and House passed this concurrent resolution: "Whereas, The legislatures of the States of Connecticut, Tennessee, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Maine, Iowa, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, South Carolina and Louisiana, being three-fourths and more of the several States of the Union, have ratified the fourteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, duly proposed by two-thirds of each house of the thirty-ninth Congress; therefore "Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring,) That said fourteenth article is hereby declared to be a part of the Constitution of the United States, and it shall be duly promulgated as such by the Secretary of State." Afterwards, a proclamation was issued by the Secretary of State, in which it was declared that the amendment had been ratified and had become a part of the Constitution. The fifteenth amendment was adopted by Congress "on or about the 27th day of February, in the year 1869." On the 30th of March, 1870, the Secretary of State proclaimed its ratification "by the legislatures of the States of North Carolina, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Maine, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New York, New Hampshire, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Nebraska and Texas, in all twentynine States," three-fourths of the whole number. And the Secretary further proclaimed that it appeared from official documents on file in his department that "the legislature of New York has since passed resolutions claiming to withdraw said ratification;" and that "the legislature of Georgia has by resolution ratified the said proposed amendment." The Secretary then certified that" the amendment aforesaid has become valid to all intents and purposes as a part of the Constitution of the United States." CONSTITUTION OR FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE Commonwealth of Massachusetts. PREAMBLE. Objects of Government-Right of people to alter it-Body politic; how formed-Its nature-Duty of the people. PART I.-DECLARATION OF RIGHTS. ARTICLE 1. Equality and natural rights of all men. ART. 2. Right and duty of public religious worship-Protection of the subject in his own mode of worship, unless, &c. ART. 3. Provisions in relation to public worship, election of public teachers, parochial taxes, etc., abolished by Art. XI. of the amendments. ART. 4. Right of self-government secured-Exercise of all powers not delegated, etc. ART. 5. Accountability of all officers, &c. ART. 6. Services rendered to the public, being the only title to peculiar privileges, hereditary offices are absurd and unnatural. ART. 7. Objects of government; right of people alone to institute and change it. ART. 8. Right of people to cause their public officers to retire to pri vate life. ART. 9. All, having the qualifications prescribed, equally eligible to office and equal right to elect. ART. 10. Right to be protected and duty to contribute correlativeTaxation, founded on consent-Private property not to be taken for public uses, without, &c. 3 ART. 11. Remedies by recourse to law, to be free, complete and prompt. ART. 12. Rights of persons held to answer for crimes-Right to trial by jury in criminal cases, except, &c. ART. 17. Right to keep and bear arms-Standing armies dangerousMilitary power subordinate to civil power. ART. 18. Adherence to fundamental principles of piety, etc., necessary -Moral obligations of law-givers and magistrates. ART. 19. Right of people to assemble, to instruct representatives and petition legislature. ART. 20. Power to suspend laws or their execution-When and by whom exercised. ART. 21. Freedom of debate in the legislature. ART. 22. Frequent sessions, and objects thereof. Taxation founded on consent. ART. 23. ART. 24. Ex post facto laws prohibited. ART. 25. Legislature not to convict of treason, or felony. ART. 26. ART. 27. Excessive bail or fines, and cruel punishments, prohibited. ART. 28. Citizens exempt from law-martial, unless, &c. Judges of supreme judicial court-Tenure of their offices ART. 29. Salaries. ART. 30. Separation of executive, judicial and legislative departments. PART II.-THE FRAME OF GOVERNMENT. CHAPTER I.-THE LEGISLATIVE POWER. SECTION I.-The General Court. ARTICLE 1. Legislative department shall consist of, &c.-Shall assemble every year-Style of. [See amendments, Art. X.] ART. 2. Governor's veto-Bill may be passed by two-thirds of each house, notwithstanding. [See amendments, Art. I.] ART. 3. General Court may constitute judicatories, courts of record, &c.-Courts, &c, may administer oaths. ART. 4. General Court may enact laws, &c., not repugnant to the Constitution; may provide for the election or appointment of officers; prescribe their duties; impose taxes; duties and excises, to be disposed of for defence, protection, &c.-Valuation of estates, once in ten years, at least, while, &c. SECTION II.-The Senate. ARTICLE 1. Senate. [See amendments, Art. XIII., XVI., XXII.] ART. 2. Senate the first branch-Word "inhabitant" defined-Selectmen to preside-Return of votes-Inhabitants of unincorporated plantations, who pay State taxes, may vote-Plantation meetings-Assessors to notify, &c. ART. 3. Governor and five of the council to examine and count votes and issue summonses. ART. 4. Senate to be final judge of elections, &c., of its own members ART. 6. Senate not to adjourn for more than two days at a time. ART. 8. Shall try all impeachments-Oath in such case-Limitation of sentence. ART. 9. Quorum. SECTION III.-House of Representatives. ARTICLE 1-Annual representation of the people. ART. 2. House. [See amendments, Art. XII., XIII., XXI.] Towns liable to fine, etc.-Mileage. ART. 3. Elections by ballot-Freehold Qualifications. [See amendments, Art. XIII., XIV., XXI.] ART. 4. Qualifications of a voter. [See amendments, Art. III., XX.] ART. 5. Representatives, when chosen. [See amendments, Art. X., XV.] ART. 6. House alone can impeach-Senate to try. ART. 7. House to orginate all money bills-Senate may amend. ART. 8. Not to adjourn for more than two days at a time. ART. 9. Quorum. [See amendments, Art. XXI.] ART. 10. House to judge of returns, &c., of its own members; to choose its officers and establish its rules, &c.-May punish for certain offences-Members free from arrest, &c. ART. 11. Senate's power in like cases-Governor and council may punish-General limitations-Trial may be by committee, or otherwise. ARTICLE 1. CHAPTER II.-THE EXECUTIVE POWER. SECTION I.-The Governor. Governor-His title. ART. 2. To be chosen annually-Qualifications. [See amendments, Art. VII.] |