resident in the election district, he shall not be eligible unless he be legally seized and possessed, in his own right, of a settled freehold estate of the value of three hundred pounds sterling, clear of debt. If a non-resident in the election district, he shall not be eligible unless he be legally seized and possessed, in his own right, of a settled freehold estate, in the said district, of the value of one thousand pounds sterling, clear of debt

9. Immediately after the senators shall be assembled, in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, and of the second class, at the end of the fourth year; so that one-half thereof, as near as possible, may be chosen, forever thereafter, every second year, for the term of four years.

10. Senators and members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen on the second Monday in October next, and the day following: and on the same days in every second year thereafter, in such manner, and at such times, as are herein directed; and shall meet on the fourth Monday in November annually, at Columbia, (which shall remain the seat of government until otherwise determined, by the concurrence of two-thirds of both branches of the whole representation,) unless the casualties of war, or contagious disorders should render it unsafe to meet there; in either of which cases, the Governor or commander-in-chief for the time being may, by proclamation, appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting.

11. Each house shall judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as may be provided by law.

12. Each house shall choose by ballot its own officers, determine its rules of proceeding, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause.

13. Each house may punish, by imprisonment, during sitting, any person, not a member, who shall be guilty of disrespect to the house, by any disorderly or contemptuous behavior in its presence-or who, during the time of its sitting, shall threaten harm to body or estate of any member, for anything said or done in either house; or who shall assault any of them therefor; or who shall assault or arrest any witness or other person ordered to attend the house, in his going to or returning therefrom; or who shall rescue any person arrested by order of the house.

14. The members of both houses shall be protected in their persons and estates, during their attendance on, going to, and returning from the Legislature, and ten days previous to their sitting, and ten

days after the adjournment of the Legislature. But these privileges shall not be extended so as to protect any member who shall be charged with treason, felony, or breach of the peace.

15. Bills for raising a revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but may be altered, amended, or rejected by the Senate. All other bills may originate in either house, and may be amended, altered, or rejected by the other.

16. No bill or ordinance shall have the force of law, until it shall have been read three times, and on three several days, in each house, has had the Great Seal affixed to it, and has been signed, in the Senate-House, by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

17. No money shall be drawn out of the public treasury, but by the legislative authority of the State.

18. The members of the Legislature, who shall assemble under this Constitution, shall be entitled to receive out of the public treasury, as a compensation for their expenses, a sum not exceeding seven shillings sterling a day, during their attendance on, going to, and returning from the Legislature: but the same may be increased or diminished by law, if circumstances shall require; but no alterations shall be made by any Legislature, to take effect during the existence of the Legislature which shall make such alteration.

19. Neither house shall, during their session, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

20. No bill or ordinance, which shall have been rejected by either house, shall be brought in again during the sitting, without leave of the house, and notice of six days being previously given.

21. No person shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislature whilst he holds any office of profit or trust under this State, the United States, or either of them, or under any other power-except officers in the militia, army, or navy of this State, justices of the peace, or justices of the county courts, while they receive no salaries; nor shall any contractor of the army or navy of this State, the United States, or either of them, or the agents of such contractor, be eligible to a seat in either house. And if any member shall accept or exercise any of the said disqualifying offices, he shall vacate his

seat.

22. If any election district shall neglect to choose a member or members, on the days of election, or if any person chosen a member of either house shall refuse to qualify and take his seat, or should die, depart the State, or accept any disqualifying office, a writ of election shall be issued by the President of the Senate, or Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, for the purpose of filling up the vacancy thereby occasioned, for the remainder of the term for which the person so refusing to qualify, dying, departing the State, or accepting a disqualifying office, was elected to'

serve.

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23. And whereas the ministers of the Gospel are, by their fession, dedicated to the service of God, and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duty of their functions: therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or public preacher, of any religious persuasion, whilst he continues in the exercise of his pastoral functions, shall be eligible to the office of Governor, LieutenantGovernor, or a seat in the Senate or House of Representatives.

ARTICLE II.

SEC. 1. The executive authority of this State shall be invested in a Governor, to be chosen in manner following: as soon as may be, after the first meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives, and at every first meeting of the House of Representatives thereaf ter, when a majority of both houses shall be present, the Senate and House of Representatives shall, jointly, in the House of Representatives, choose, by ballot, a Governor, to continue for two years, and until a new election shall be made.

2. No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, unless he hath attained the age of thirty years, and hath resided within this State, and been a citizen thereof, ten years, and unless he be seized and possessed of a settled estate within the same, in his own right, of the value of fifteen hundred pounds sterling, clear of debt.

No person, having served two years as Governor, shall be re-eligible to that office, till after the expiration of four years.

No person shall hold the office of Governor, or any other office or commission, civil or military, except in the militia, either in this State or under any State, or the United States, or in any other power, at one and the same time.

3. A Lieutenant-Governor shall be chosen at the same time, in the same manner, continue in office for the same period, and be possessed of the same qualifications, as the Governor.

4. A member of the Senate or House of Representatives, being chosen, and acting as Governor or Lieutenant-Governor, shall vacate his seat, and another person shall be elected in his stead.

5. In case of the impeachment of the Governor, or his removal from office, death, resignation, or absence from the State, the Lieutenant-Governor shall succeed to his office. And in case of the impeachment of the Lieutenant-Governor, or his removal from office, death, resignation, or absence from the State, the President of the Senate shall succeed to his office, till a nomination to those offices respectively shall be made by the Senate and House of Representatives, for the remainder of the time for which the officer so impeached, removed from office, dying, resigning, or being absent, was elected.

6. The Governor 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 actual service of the United States.

He shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons, after conviction, except in cases of impeachment, in such manner, on such terms, and under restrictions, as he shall think proper, and he shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, unless otherwise directed by law.

8. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed in mercy.

9. He shall have power to prohibit the exportation of provision, for any time not exceeding thirty days.

10. He shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation, which shall neither be increased or diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected.

11. All officers in the executive department, when required by the Governor, shall give him information, in writing, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.

12. The Governor shall, from time to time, give to the General Assembly information of the condition of the State, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary or expedient.

13. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the General Assembly, and, in case of disagreement between the two houses with respect to the time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, not beyond the fourth Monday in the month of November then ensuing.

ARTICLE III.

SEC. 1. The judicial power shall be vested in such superior and inferior courts of law and equity, as the Legislature shall, from time to time, direct and establish.

The judges of each shall hold their commissions during good behavior; and judges of the superior courts shall, at stated times, receive a compensation for their services, which shall neither be increased or 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 this State, the United States, or any other power.

2. The style of all processes shall be, "the State of South Carolina." All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority of the State of South Carolina, and conclude-" against the peace and dignity of the same."

ARTICLE IV.

All persons who shall be chosen or appointed to any office of profit or trust, before entering on the execution thereof, shall take the following oath: "I do swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the office to which I have been appointed, and will to the best of my abilities,

discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this State, and of the United States."

ARTICLE V.

SEC. 1. That the House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching; but no impeachment shall be made, unless with the concurrence of two-thirds of the House of Representatives.

2. All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or or affirmation and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

3. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and all the civil officers, shall be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office; but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to a removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust, or profit, under this State. The party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law.

ARTICLE VI.

SEC. 1. The judges of the superior courts, the commissioners of the treasury, Secretary of the State, and Surveyor-General, shall be elected by the joint ballot of both houses, in the House of Representatives. The commissioners of the treasury, Secretary of this State, and Surveyor-General, shall hold their offices for four years: but shall not be eligible again for four years after the expiration of the time for which they shall have been elected.

2. All other officers shall be appointed as they hitherto have been, until otherwise directed by law; but sheriffs shall hold their offices for four years, and not be again eligible for four years after the term for which they shall have been elected.

3. All commissions shall be in the name and by the authority of the State of South Carolina, and be sealed with the seal of the State, and be signed by the Governor.

ARTICLE VII.

All laws in force in this State at the passing of this Constitution, shall so continue until altered or repealed by the Legislature; except where they are temporary, in which case they shall expire at the times respectively limited for their duration, if not continued by act of the Legislature.

ARTICLE VIII.

SEC. 1. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall, forever hereafter, be allowed within this State to all mankind: Provided, ` that the liberty of conscience thereby declared, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State.