This Constitution, if adopted, shall take effect on the first day of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, and shall supersede the Constitution adopted in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen. That no inconvenience may arise from the change in the government, it is hereby ordained as follows:
First. All laws now in force, and not inconsistent with this Constitution, shall remain in force, until they expire or be repealed.
Second. All indictments, prosecutions, suits, pleas, plaints, and other proceedings, pending in any of the courts, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution; and all appeals, writs of error, certiorari, and injunctions, shall be carried on in the several courts, in the same manner as is now provided by law.
Third. All fines, penalties, and forfeitures, due or accruing to the State, or to any county therein, shall inure to the State, or to such county, in the manner prescribed by law. All bonds executed to the State, or to any officer, in his official capacity, shall remain in force and inure to the use of those concerned.
Fourth. All acts of incorporation for municipal purposes shall continue in force under this Constitution, until such time as the General Assembly shall, in its discretion, modify or repeal the same.
Fifth. The Governor, at the expiration of the present official term, shall continue to act, until his successor shall have been sworn into office.
Sixth. There shall be a session of the General Assembly, commencing on the first Monday in December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Seventh. 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.
Eighth. The first general election under this Constitution, shall be held in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Ninth. The first election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Judges of the Supreme Court and Circuit Courts, Clerk of the Supreme Court, Prosecuting Attorneys, Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer of State, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, under this Constitution, shall be held at the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two; and such of said officers as may be in office when this Constitution shall go into effect, shall continue in their respective offices, until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.
Tenth. 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.
Eleventh. 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.
Twelfth. All vacancies 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.
Thirteenth. At the time of submitting this Constitution to the electors, for their approval or disapproval, the article numbered thirteen, in relation to Negroes and Mulattoes, shall be submitted as a distinct proposition, in the following form: "Exclusion and Colonization of Negroes and Mulattoes," "Aye" or "No." And if a majority of the votes cast shall be in favor of said article, then the same shall form a part of this Constitution; otherwise, it shall be void, and form no part thereof.
Fourteenth. No Article or Section of this Constitution shall be submitted as a distinct proposition, to a vote of the electors, otherwise than as herein provided.
Fifteenth. Whenever a portion of the citizens of the counties of Perry and Spencer, shall deem it expedient to form, of the contiguous territory of said counties, a new county, it shall be the duty of those interested in the organization of such new county, to lay off the same, by proper metes and bounds, of equal portions as nearly as practicable, not to exceed one-third of the territory of each of said counties. The proposal to create such new county shall be submitted to the voters of said counties, at a general election, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. And if a majority of all the votes given at said election, shall be in favor of the organization of said new county, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to organize the same, out of the territory thus designated.
Sixteenth. The General Assembly may alter or amend the charter of Clarksville, and make such regulations as may be necessary for carrying into effect the objects contemplated in granting the same; and the funds belonging to said town shall be applied, according to the intention of the grantor.
Done in Convention, at Indianapolis, the tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one; and of the Independence of the United States, the seventy-fifth.
GEORGE WHITFEILD CARR,
President, and Delegate from the County of Lawrence.
Attest:
Wm. H. English,
Principal Secretary.
Assistant Secretaries:
George L. Sties,
Herman G. Barkwell,
Robert M Evans.
Filed in the office of the secretary of state, at Indianapolis, on the twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one.
Charles H. Test, Secretary of State.