ARTICLE XIV.

1 SECTION 1. The first election of Senators and Members of Assembly, 2 pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution, shall be held on the Tuesday 3 succeeding the first Monday of November, one thousand eight hundred and 4 forty-seven. The Senators and Members of Assembly who may be in office 5 on the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, shall 6 hold their offices until and including the thirty-first day of December follow7 ing and no longer.

duty of the General Assembly to submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people, in such manner and at such time as the General Assembly shall prescribe. And if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, by a majority of all the citizens of the State voting for Representatives, voting in their favor, such amendment or amendments shall become part of this Constitution. When any amendment or amendments to the Constitution shall be proposed in pursuance of the foregoing provisions, the same shall at each of the said sessions be read three times on three several

days in each House. The Legislature shall not propose amendments to the Constitution oftener than once in six years. Tenn. 499.

--The Legislature, by a vote of three-fourths of all the members of each House, with the approval of the Governor, shall have the power to call a Convention of the people, for the purpose of altering, amending or reforming the Constitution of this State; the manner of electing delegates to the Convention, the time and place of assembling them, to be regulated by law. Tex., 517.

--The Legislature, at any biennial session, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of each House, may propose amendments to the Constitution, to be voted upon by persons legally qualified to vote for members of the House of Representatives of the State; which proposed amendments shall be duly published in the public prints of this State, at least three months before the next general election for the Representatives to the Legislature for the consideration of the people; and it shall be the duty of the several returning officers, at said general election, to open a poll for, and make returns to the Secretary of State, of the number of legal votes cast at said election, for and against said amendment, and if more than one be proposed, then the number of legal votes cast for and against each of them; and if it shall appear, from said return, that a majority of the votes cast upon said proposed amendment or amendments have been cast in favor of the same, and two-thirds of each House of the Legislature, at the next regular session thereafter shall ratify said proposed amendment, or amendments so voted upon by the people, the same shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as parts of the Constitution of the State of Texas; provided that the said proposed amendments shall, at each of said sessions, have been read on three several days, in each House of the Legislature, and the vote thereon shall have been taken by yeas and nays; and provided further, that the rule in the above proviso shall never be suspended by either of said Houses. Tex., 517.

[A Council of Censors, elected at intervals of seven years, to inquire whether the Constitution has been preserved inviolate in every part during the last septennary, and whether the Legislative or Executive branches have performed their duty. They have power to call a Convention, and to perform other acts tending to preserve the integrity of the government] V. 527.

-No Convention shall be called, having authority
to alter the Constitution of the State, unless it be in
pursuance of a law passed by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the members elected to each branch of
the Legislature, and providing that polls shall be held
throughout the State, on some day therein specified,
which shall not be less than three months after the
passage of such law, for the purpose of taking the
sense of the voters on the question of calling a Con-
vention. And such Convention shall not be held
unless a majority of the votes cast at such polls be
in favor of calling the same; nor shall members be
elected to such Convention, until at least one month
after the result of the polls shall be duly ascertained,
declared and published. And all acts and ordinances
of said Convention shall be submitted to the voters
of the State for ratification, or rejection, and shall
have no validity whatever until they are ratified, and
in no event shall they, by any shift or device, be
made to have any retrospective operation or effect.
W. Va., 558.

FIRST ELECTIONS UNDER THE CONSTITU-
TION.

-All Officers of State and District Judges first elected
under this Constitution, shall be commissioned by the
Governor of this Territory, which commission shall
be countersigned by the Secretary of the same, and
shall qualify before entering upon the discharge of
their duties, before any officer authorized to adminis-
ter oaths under the laws of this territory; and also
the State Comptroller and State Treasurer shall each
respectively, before they shall qualify and enter upon
the discharge of their duties, execute and deliver to
the Secretary of the Territory of Nevada an official
bond, made payable to the people of the State of Ne-
vada, in the sum of thirty thousand dollars, to be
approved by the Governor of the Territory of Nevada,
and shall also execute and deliver to the Secretary of
State such other or further official bond or bonds as
may be required by law. Nev., 395.

That the Sheriffs, State Attorneys, and all other
officers elected under this Constitution, shall perform
such duties as shall be prescribed by law. Ill., 167.
--The first election for Governor, Secretary of State,
Auditor of State, one Representative to Congress, the
Justices to the Supreme Court, the members of the
Senate and House of Representatives, shall be held
on the second day of June, one thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty-six, at the places, and in the manner
now prescribed by law for general elections. The
members of the Senate shall be elected in and from
the same districts that are now prescribed by law for
councilmen districts. The members of the House of
Representatives shall be elected in and from the same
districts that are now prescribed by law for members
to the House of Representatives of the Territory of
Nebraska, and all the officers mentioned, to wit: Sen-
ators and Representatives, shall hold their offices until

1 § 2. The first election of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor under this 2 Constitution, shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of 3 November, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight; and the Governor 4 and Lieutenant-Governor in office when this Constitution shall take effect, 5 shall hold their respective offices until and including the thirty-first day of 6 December of that year.

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S3. The Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney-General, 2 District Attorney, Surveyor-General, Canal Commissioners and Inspectors of 3 State Prisons, in office when this Constitution shall take effect, shall hold their 4 respective offices until and including the thirty-first day of December one 5 thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, and no longer.

an election shall be held for those State officers whose terms are about to expire; at the election held in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, all county officers required to be elected under this Constitution in that year shall be elected, and in like manner in every second year thereafter, an election shall be held for those county officers whose terms are about to expire. Md., 277.

--All civil officers heretofore commissioned by the Governor, or who have been duly appointed, or elected, since the first day of January last, but who have not received their commission and who have not resigned, nor been removed from office, and whose terms of office shall not have expired, shall continue in the exercise of the duties of their respective offices during the periods for which they were duly appointed or duly elected as aforesaid, and commissioned, and until their successors shall be appointed under the

CONTINUANCE OF OFFICERS AND OF OF- provisions of this Constitution; unless removed from

FICES.

-That no inconveniences may arise from the amendments of the Constitution of this State, and in order to carry the same into complete operation, it is hereby

declared and ordained as follows:

-The offices of the present Senate and Representatives shall not be vacated by any amendment of the Constitution made in this Convention, nor otherwise affected, except that the terms of the Representatives and the terms of the Senators which will expire on the first Tuesday of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, are hereby extended to the second Tuesday of November in that year; and the terms of the Senators which will expire on the first Tuesday of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, are hereby extended to the second Tuesday of November in that year; and the terms of the Senators which will expire on the first Tuesday of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, are hereby extended to the second Tuesday of November in that year. De!., 126. -The Registers' Courts and Justices of the Peace shall not be affected by any amendments of the Constitution made in this Convention; but the said courts and the terms of office of Registers and Jutices of the Peace shall remain the same as if said amendments had not been made. Del., 128.

-- The provision in the twentieth section of the sixth article of this amended Constitution (being the thirtieth section of the sixth article of the original Constitution) of limitation of writs of error, shall have relation to, and take date from, the twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, the date of said original Constitution. Del., 128.

-It is declared that nothing in this amended Constitution gives a writ of error from the Court of Errors and Appeals to the Court of Oyer and Terminer or Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Jail Delivery, nor an Appeal from the Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Jail Delivery. Del., 128.

office as herein provided. Ga., 150.

-The County Commissioners' Courts and the Probate Justices of the several counties, shall continue in existence and exercise their present jurisdiction, until the County Court provided in this Constitution, is organized in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly to be passed at its first session. Ill., 157.

Every person elected by popular vote, and now in any office which is continued by this Constitution, and every person who shall be so elected to any such office before the taking effect of this Constitution (except as in this Constitution otherwise provided), shall continue in office until the term for which such person has been, or may be elected, shall expire: Provided, That no such person shall continue in office after the taking effect of this Constitution for a longer period than the term of such office in this Constitution prescribed. Ind., 182; (nearly similar), Iowa,

195.

On the taking effect of this Constitution, all officers thereby continued in office shall, before proceeding in the further discharge of their duties, take an oath or affirmation to support this Constitution. Ind., 182. -All vanancies that may occur in existing offices prior to the first general election under this Constitution, shall be filled in the manner now prescribed by law. Ind., 182.

-Senators elected at the August election, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, shall continue in office until the second Tuesday of October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fiftynine, at which time their successors shall be elected as may be prescribed by law. Iowa, 195.

The Governor, Secretary, and Judges, and all other officers both civil and military, under the territorial government, shall continue in the exercise of the duties of their respective departments until the said officers are superseded under the authority of this Constitution. Kan., 207.

-No office shall be superseded by the adoption of this Constitution, but the laws of the State relative to the duties of the several officers, Legislative, Executive, Judicial and Military, shall remain in full

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§ 4. The first election of Judges and Clerk of the Court of Appeals, Justices

2 of the Supreme Court, and County Judges, shall take place at such time be

3 tween the first Tuesday of April and the second Tuesday of June, one thousand 4 eight hundred and forty-seven, as may be prescribed by law. The said courts 5 shall respectively enter upon their duties on the first Monday of July next 6 thereafter; but the term of office of said Judges, Clerk and Justices, as 7 declared by this Constitution, shall be deemed to commence on the first day 8 of January, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.

force, though the same be contrary to this Constitution, and the several duties shall be performed by the respective officers of the State, according to the existing laws, under the organization of the Government, as provided for under this Constitution, and the entering into office of the officers to be elected or appointed under said Government and no longer. Ky., 224.

In order that no inconvenience may result to the public service from the taking effect of this Constitution, no officer shall be superseded thereby; but the laws of this State relative to the duties of the several officers, Executive, Judicial and Military, except those made void by military authority, and by the ordinance of emancipation, shall remain in full force, though the same be contrary to this Constitution, and the several duties shall be performed by the respective officers of the State, according to the existing laws, until the organization of the government under this Constitution, and the entering into office of the new officers to be appointed under said government, and no longer. La., 237.

-The members of the House of Representatives of the Legislature of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office under the provisions of law until superseded by their successors elected and qualified under this Constitution. Mich., 316. -All county officers, unless removed by competent authority, shall continue to hold their respective offices until the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three. The laws now in force as to the election, qualification, and duties of township officers, shall continue in force until the Legislature shall, in conformity to the provisions of this Constitution, provide for the holding of elections to fill such offices and prescribe the duties of such officers respectively. Mich., 316.

-All territorial officers, civil and military, now holding their offices under the authority of the United States or of the Territory of Minnesota, shall continue to hold and exercise their respective offices until they shall be superseded by the authority of the State. Min., 330.

-The Governor and all officers, civil and military, now holding commissions under the authority of this State, shall continue to hold and exercise their respective offices until they shall be superseded, pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution, and until their successors be duly qualified. Miss., 344.

-The Governor and all other officers of the Territorial Government, shall continue to discharge and exercise the duties of their respective offices, until superseded by the provisions of this Constitution or the officers appointed or elected by authority of its provisions. Neb. 377.

-The Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction of the Territory of Nevada, shall each continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices after the admission of this State into the Union, and until the time designated for the qualification of the above-named officers to be

elected under the State government; and the Territorial Auditor shall continue to discharge the duties of his said office until the time appointed for the qualification of the State Comptroller; Provided, That the said officers shall each receive the salaries and be subject to the restrictions and conditions provided in this Constitution; And, provided further, That none of them shall receive to his own use any fees or perquisites for the performance of any duty connected with his office. Ner., 394.

-All officers now filling any office or appointment,
shall continue in the exercise of the duties thereof,
according to their respective commissions or appoint-
ments, unless by this Constitution it is otherwise
directed. N. J., 420.

-The present Governor, Chancellor and Ordinary or
Surrogate-General, and Treasurer, shall continue in
office until successors elected or appointed under this
Constitution shall be sworn or affirmed into office.
N. J., 420.

-In case of the death, resignation, or disability of
the present Governor, the person who may be Vice-
President of Council at the time of the adoption of
this Constitution, shall continue in office, and admin-
ister the government until a Governor shall have been
elected and sworn, or affirmed into office under this
Constitution. N. J., 420.

-The Register and Receiver of the Land Office, Directors of the Penitentiary, Directors of the benevolent institutions of the State, the State Librarian, and all other officers, not otherwise provided for in this Constitution, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office until their terms expire, respectively, unless the General Assembly shall otherwise provide. Ohio, 444.

-All officers of the Territory, or under its laws, when
this Constitution takes effect, shall continue in office
until superseded by the State authorities. Or., 460.
-All civil and military officers which have been or
may hereafter be appointed by the acting Governor
of the State, are hereby ratified and affirmed, and
they shall continue to hold and exercise the functions
of their respective offices until their successors shall
be elected or appointed, and qualified as prescribed
by the laws and Constitution of the State and United
States. Tenn., 504.

- All officers, civil and military, now holding their
offices under the authority of the United States, or of
the Territory of Wisconsin, shall continue to hold
and exercise their respective offices until they shall
be superseded by the authority of the State.
572.

Wis.,

-All county, precinct, and township officers, shall continue to hold their respective offices, unless removed by the competent authority, until the Legislature shall, in conformity with the provisions of this Constitution, provide for the holding of elections to fill such offices respectively. Wis., 572.

The acts of the General Assembly, increasing the number of Justices of the Peace, shall remain in force

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$5. On the first Monday of July, one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven 2 jurisdiction of all suits and proceedings then pending in the present Supreme 3 Court and Court of Chancery, and all suits and proceedings originally com4 menced and then pending in any Court of Common Pleas (except in the city 5 and county of New York), shall become vested in the Supreme Court hereby 6 established. Proceedings pending in Courts of Common Pleas, and in suits 7 originally commenced in Justices' Courts, shall be transferred to the County 8 Courts provided for in this Constitution, in such manner and form and under 9 such regulations as shall be provided for by law. The Courts of Oyer and

until repealed by the General Assembly; and no office shall be vacated by the amendment to this Constitution, unless the same be expressly vacated thereby, or the vacating the same is necessary to give effect to the amendments. Del., 128.

-The salaries or compensation of all persons holding office under the present Constitution, shall continue to be the same as now provided by law, until superseded by their successors elected or appointed under this Constitution; and it shall not be lawful hereafter for the Legislature to increase or diminish the compensation of any officer during the term for which he is elected or appointed. Mich., 317.

-All executive, judicial and other officers and members of the General Assembly now elected shall continue in office until their present terms expire, in the same manner as if this Constitution had not been adopted. The Senate may so fix the term of members first elected thereto from districts not now represented, that one-half the number of Senators (or as near that number as may be) shall be elected every two years. Va., 544.

-In order that no inconvenience may result to the
public service from the taking effect of this Consti-
tution, no office shall be superseded thereby, nor the
laws relative to the duties of the several officers be
changed, until the entering into office of the new
officers to be appointed under this Constitution. Cal.,
105.

--The Governor, at the expiration of the present
official term, shall continue to act until his successor
shall have been sworn into office. Ind., 181.
-Senators now in office and holding over under the
existing Constitution, and such as may be elected at
the next general election, and the Representatives
then elected, shall continue in office until the first
general election under this Constitution. Ind., 181.
-The members of the present Legislature shall, on
the first Monday of March next, take and subscribe
an oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution,
so far as the same shall then be in force. Sheriffs,
clerks of counties, and coroners, shall be elected at
the election hereby directed to commence on the first
Monday of November, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-two; but they shall not enter
on the duties of their offices before the first day of
January then next following. The commissions of
all persons holding civil offices on the last day
of December, one thousand-eight hundred and twenty-
two, shall expire on that day; but the officers then in
commission, may respectively continue to hold their
said offices until new appointments, or elections, shall
take place under this Constitution. N. Y. (1821), 43.
-All civil and military officers now elected, or who
shall be hereafter elected by the General Assembly,
or other competent authority, before the said first
Wednesday of April, shall hold their offices and may
exercise their powers until the said first Tuesday of
May, or until their successors shall be qualified to act.
R. I.,
481.

CONTINUANCE OF LAWS, RIGHTS AND
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

-That no inconvenience may arise from the alterations and amendments made in the Constitution of this State, and to carry the same into complete effect, it is hereby ordained and declared: Ill., 167., &c.,

That all laws in force at the adoption of this Constitution, not inconsistent therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions, claims and contracts of the State, individuals or bodies corporate, shall continue and be as valid as if this Constitution had not been adopted. Ill.,167; (nearly similar), Cal., 105; Ind., 181; Iowa, 199; Kan., 200; Ky., 229; La., 237; Mich., 316; Min., 330; Miss., 344; Neb., 377; Nev., 393; Pa., 469; Wis., 571.

-All laws of the State passed during and since the tenth session of the Legislature thereof, in 1860, not repugnant to the Constitution of this State, or of the United States, shall be valid; all writs, actions, prosecutions, judgments and decrees, of the courts of the State, all executions and sales made thereunder, and all acts, orders and proceedings of the Judges of Probate; and of executors, administrators, guardians and trustees, provided they were in conformity to the laws then in force, and not fraudulent, shall be as valid as if made under the usual and ordinary legislation of the country, provided that the same be not repugnant to the Constitution of the State and of the United States.

Fl., 140.

-The clauses, sections, and articles of the said Con-
stitution which remain unaltered, shall continue to
be construed and have the effect as if the said Con-
stitution had not been amended. Pa., 469.
-All fines, penalties, and forfeitures, owing to the
Territory of - or any county, shall inure to the
use of the State or county. All bonds executed to
the Territory, or any officer thereof, in his official
capacity, shall pass over to the Governor, or other
officers of the State or county, and their successors
in office, for the use of the State or county, or by
him or them to be repectively assigned over to the
use of those concerned, as the case may be. Kan.,
206; (nearly similar), Nev., 393.
-The rights and duties of all corporations shall
remain as if this Constitution had not been adopted,
with the exception of such regulations and restric-
tions as are contained in this Constitution. All judi-
cial and civil officers now in office, who have been
appointed by the General Assembly and commis-
sioned according to, law, and all such officers as shall
be appointed by the said Assembly, and commis-
sioned as aforesaid, before the first Wednesday of
May next, shall continue to hold their offices until the
first day of June next, unless they shall, before that
time, resign, or be removed from office according to
law. The Treasurer and Secretary shall continue
in office until a Treasurer and Secretary shall be
appointed under this Constitution. All military offi-
cers shall continue to hold and exercise their respec-