blish government agreeable to the mode herein before described.

RICHARD CASWELL, PRESIDENT.

December the eighteenth, one thousand seven hundred and feventy-fix, read the third time, and ratified in open Congress.

By Order,

JAMES GREEN, Jun. Secretary.

SOUTH

WH

Government agreed to and refolved upon by the Freemen of this country, met in Congrefs the 26th day of March, 1776, was temporary only, and fuited to the fituation of their public affairs at that period, looking forward to an accommodation with Great-Britain, an event then defired: and whereas the United Colonies of America have been fince constituted Independent States, and the political connexion heretofore fubfifting between them and GreatBritain entirely diffolved, by the Declaration of the Honourable the Continental Congrefs, dated

dated the 4th day of July 1776, for the many great and weighty reasons therein particularly fet forth; it therefore becomes abfolutely neceffary to frame a Conftitution fuitable to that great event: Be it therefore conftituted and enacted, by his Excellency Rawlins Lowndes, Efq. Prefident and Commander in Chief in and over the State of South-Carolina, by the Honourable the Legislative Council and General Affembly, and by the authority of the fame, That the following articles agreed upon by the Freemen of this State, now met in General Affembly, be deemed and held the Conftitution and Form of Government of the faid State, unless altered by the legislative authority thereof; which Conftitution or Form of Government fhall immediately take place and be of force from the paffing of this Act, excepting fuch parts as are hereafter mentioned and specified.

I. That the ftile of this country be hereafter, THE STATE OF SOUTH-CAROLINA.

II. That the legislative authority be vested in a General Affembly, to confift of two diftinct bodies, a Senate and Houfe of Reprefen

tatives;

tatives; but that the legislature of this State, as established by the Conftitution or Form of Government paffed the 26th of March 1776, fhall continue and be in full force until the 29th day of November next enfuing.

III. That as foon as may be after the first meeting of the Senate and House of Reprefentatives, and at every firft meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives thereafter, to be elected by virtue of this Constitution, they shall, jointly, in the House of Representatives, choose by ballot, from among themfelves or from the people at large, a Governor and Commander in Chief, a Lieutenant-governor, both to continue for two years, and a Privy-council, all of the Proteftant religion; and till fuch choice fhall be made, the former Prefident, or Governor and Commander in Chief, and Vice-prefident, or Lieutenantgovernor, as the cafe may be, and Privycouncil, fhall continue to act as fuch.

IV. That a Member of the Senate or House of Reprefentatives, being chofen and acting as Governor and Cominander in Chief, or Lieutenant-governor, fhall vacate his feat, and another perfon fhall be elected in his room.

V. That

V. That every person who shall be elected Governor and Commander in Chief of the State, or Lieutenant-governor, or a Member of the Privy-council, fhall be qualified as followeth, that is to fay, the Governor and Licutenant-governor fhall have been refidents in this State for ten years, and the Members of the Privy-council five years, preceding their faid election; and fhall have in this State a fettled plantation or freehold, in their and each of their own right, of the value of at least ten thousand pounds currency, clear of debt; and on being elected, they fhall refpectively take an oath of qualification in the House of Reprefentatives.

VI. That no future Governor and Commander in Chief who fhall ferve for two years, fhall be eligible to ferve in the faid office after the expiration of the faid term, until the full end and term of four years.

VII. That no perfon in this State (hall hold the office of Governor thereof, or Lieutenantgovernor, and any other office or commiffion, civil or military, (except in the militia) either in this or any other State; or under the authority of the Continental Congrefs, at one and the fame time.

VIII. That