ARKANSAS One of the United States of America ; admitted into the Union by act of congress of June 15, 1836.
it ivas foraged of part of the Louisiana Territory purchased by the United States of France, by treaty of April 30, 1803. By act of congress of March 2, 1819, a separate territorial government was esta blished for Arkansas. 3 Stat. at Large, 493.
On the 30th of January, 1836, the state constitu tion was adopted by a convention, and was not sub mitted to a vote of the people for ratification.
It contains a preamble setting forth the name and style of the state as The State of Arkansas ; a bill of rights enumerating and securing many rights to the people, in whom all power is declared to in here. .
2. Free white male citizens of the United States of the age of twenty-one and upwards, who have been citizens of the state six months, are entitled to vote ; but soldiers, seamen, and marines in the army or navy of the United States are excluded from the right. All voting is to be by ballot; and elections are held every two years on the first Monday in August. Gould, Dig. c. 62. The electors are privileged from arrest, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, while attending, going to, and returning from elections. Public defaulters are ineligible to any office.
The Legislative Power.
3. The Senate is to consist of not less than fifteen nor more than thirty-three members, chosen every four years by the qualified electors of the several districts from among the free white male citizens of the United States, thirty years of age, who have been inhabitants of the state one year and are actual residents of the districts for which they are chosen.
The senators, on their first meeting, were divided by lot into two classes, in order that one class might be elected every two years.
The state is to be divided, from time to time, into senatorial districts, based upon the free white male inhabitants, so that each senator may, as nearly as practicable, represent an equal number.
Provision is to be made by law for taking an enumeration of the inhabitants every four years, commencing on the la of January, 1838; and the senatorial districts are to be arranged by the gene ral assembly at its first meeting after each enu meration.
The ratio of representation in the senate is to be fifteen hundred white male inhabitants to each senator, until the senators amount to twenty-five, when the ratio is to be increased, without increas ing the senators, until the population of the state amounts to five hundred thousand, when the sena tors may be increased, and divided again into classes, by lot, as above provided.
4. The Entine of Repreeentatives is to consist of not less than fifty-four nor more than one hundred representatives, chosen every second year, by the qualified electors of the several counties, from among the free white male citizens of the United States, above the age of twenty-five years, who have resided in the state one year at least and are actual residents of the counties for which they are chosen, apportioned among the several counties according to the number of white male inhabitants therein, taking five hundred as the ratio, until the number of representatives amounts to twenty-five; when they shall not be further increased until the population of the state amounts to five hundred thousand. Provided, that each county organized when the constitution was adopted shall be entitled to one representative, though its population may not give the existing ratio. A new apportionment of representatives is to be made at the first session of the general assembly after each enumeration of the population.
5. The general assembly meets biennially Vacancies in either house are filled by writs of election, issued by the governor. No person hold ing any lucrative office under the United States, or state, except militia officers, justices of the peace, poitmasters, and judges of the county court, is eligible to a seat in either house.