Page:The Federal and state constitutions vol1.djvu/348

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306
Arkansas—1868

vention, in the same manner as hereinbefore described, at any time thereafter, till the whole State is fully organized and represented.

Sec. 7. The officers to be voted for in this election, are governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, attorney-general, three judges of the supreme court, nine circuit judges and nine district attorneys, (according to act of January fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one,) county judges, clerks, sheriffs, coroners, constables, justices of the peace, and all other officers provided for in the constitution and ordinances of this convention, or which may exist by law, and members of the legislature, according to the ratio or apportionment of senatorial districts in force in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty, and members to Congress in districts Nos. 1 and 2, according to the act approved January nineteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, (no election being ordered in district No. 3, this convention recognizing the election of Colonel James M. Johnson as the representative from that district.) And it is further hereby declared that all laws in force in this State on the fourth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, are still in force, not inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, and which have not expired by limitation therein contained.

John McCoy, President.

Attest:

Robert J. T. White, Secretary.
James R. Berry, Ass't Secretary.


CONSTITUTION OF ARKANSAS—1868[1][2]

PREAMBLE

We, the people of Arkansas, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution:

Article I
BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people, and they have the right to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it. But the paramount allegiance of every citizen is due to the Federal Government in the exercise of all its constitutional powers as the same may have been or may be defined by the Supreme Court of the United States, and no power exists in the people of this or any other State of the Federal Union to dissolve their connection therewith, or perform any act tending to impair, subvert or resist the supreme authority of the United States.


  1. Verified from Judge U. M. Rose’s edition of the Constitution of Arkansas, 1836, pp. 277–328.
  2. A constitutional convention, called under the reconstruction acts of Congress, met at Little Rock, January 7, 1868, and adopted this constitution on the 11th of February following. It was submitted to the people, and ratified by 27,013 votes against 26,597 votes.