1868 Arkansas Constitution, Page 25 |
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3d district one Senator and four Representatives. 4th district one Senator and three Representatives.
5th district one Senator and three Representatives. 6th district one Senator and three Representatives.
7th district one Senator and four Representatives. 8th district one Senator and four Representatives.
9th district one Senator and four Representatives. 10th district one Senator and six Representatives.
11th district one Senator and six Representatives. 12th district one Senator and four Representatives.
13th district one Senator and three Representatives. 14th district one Senator and three Representatives.
15th district one Senator and three Representatives. 16th district one Senator and two Representatives.
17th district one Senator and four Representatives. 18th district one Senator and three Representatives.
19th district one Senator and two Representatives. 20th district one Senator and six Representatives.
21st district one Senator and two Representatives. 22nd district one Senator and six Representatives.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section One. The President of the Convention shall, immediately after the adjournment thereof, cause
this Constitution to be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, and shall transmit a copy of the
same to the President of the United States, to be by him laid before the Congress of the United States. Section Two. In all cases not otherwise provided for in this Constitution, the General Assembly may determine the
mode of filling all vacancies in all offices, and of choosing all necessary officers, and shall define their respect-
ive powers and duties, and provide suitable compensation for all officers.
Section Three. All general elections shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, and
shall be biennial commencing at the general election of A. D. 1868; but all officers elected under the provisions of
this Constitution and schedule, except members of Congress, at the election commencing on the 13th day of March, 1868,
shall hold and continue in office in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the same as though elected
at the general election, to be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, 1868; and no election
shall be held for said officers at the election of 1868.
Section Four. All chartered cities and villages under the laws of this State, shall hold their municipal elec-
tions for the year 1868 at such times and places as may be provided in this Constitution and the schedule to the same.
Section Five. The term of office of all township and precinct officers shall expire thirty days after this
Object Description
Title | 1868 Arkansas Constitution |
Date Original | 1868 Mar 13 |
Creator | Arkansas Constitutional Convention |
Historical Note |
As the Civil War came to an end in 1865, a new era began. Reconstruction was a time of great political, social, and economic upheaval in Arkansas. President Lincoln authorized the military to allow states to begin establishing governments, but the United States Congress did not allow Arkansas’s first Reconstruction-era congressmen and senators to participate in proceedings at the capitol.
Following the passage of the First Reconstruction Act in 1867, General E.O.C. Ord oversaw voter registration in militarily-governed Arkansas. By the time a new constitutional convention was held the following year, scalawags and carpetbaggers controlled the political scene. Both factions were considered to be “Radical Republicans,” and they dominated the convention. Between January 7 and February 14, 1868, delegates met in Little Rock to create a new constitution. The document they crafted went before voters in March, but former Confederates had little impact in the decision to approve the constitution, since they were not allowed to vote. In essence, carpetbaggers, scalawags, and African Americans controlled the election and the government. Former Union general Powell Clayton was elected governor, and James M. Johnson, lieutenant governor. Following congressional acceptance of the election’s results and the new constitution on June 22, 1868, military rule ended in Arkansas and the state returned to the Union. Arkansas’s 1868 Constitution contained many new provisions. While the state’s first three constitutions varied little, the new document imposed several major changes. The 1868 Constitution continued a four-year term for the governor, added the office of lieutenant governor, and established greater power within the executive branch, weakening local control. Forward-thinking provisions promoted railroad construction, encouraged immigration, promoted economic development, protected the rights of African Americans, and created a state system of public schools. Alternatively, the new constitution prohibited changes to voting districts until 1876, made the amendment process difficult, and established strict criteria for voter eligibility, assuring that ex-Confederates did not regain power. The new document called for the equality of all persons and that no citizen could be deprived of any right “on account of race, color, or previous condition.” African American males were given the right to vote. Women could own and dispose of property. An education system brought uniform standards and offered all students an opportunity to attend school, regardless of color. Another educational improvement established a state-supported university in Fayetteville. While portions of the new constitution took positive steps toward the future, the state failed to support the new initiatives over the long-term. In the aftermath of war, the disfranchisement of former Confederates created ill will throughout the general population, resulting in turmoil and even violence. |
Description | The Constitution of the State of Arkansas: framed and adopted by the convention which assembled at Little Rock, January 7th, 1868, and ratified by the people of the state, at the election beginning March 13th, 1868 |
Physical Description | 33 handwritten pages: 17 1/2" X 23" |
Subjects |
Constitutions; State Government; Constitutional conventions; |
Related Resources | Arkansas Constitutions finding aid: http://www.ark-ives.com/documenting/manuscripts/fulldetail.aspx?id=702 |
Geographical Area | Arkansas |
Language | English |
Local Identifier | MG.00295 |
Digital Resource | Document |
Digital Collection | Arkansas Constitutions Collection |
Contributors | Price, John G.,1832-1898; Murphy, William, 1810-; Hawkins, Monroe, 1832-; Portis, James P., 1838-; Beasley, William A., 1819-; Merrick, Alfred M. 1812-; Brashear, Walter W. 1839-1895; Brashear, Walter W., 1839-1895; Wilson, Ira L., 1810-; Van Hook, Robert Calvin, 1818-1899; Samuels, Richard; Beldin, Solomon D., 1810-; Montgomery, John R., d. 1907; Rawlings, Nathan N., 1819-; Oliver, Charles H., 1829-1902; Sams, Francis Marion, 1842-; Hodges, Asa,1824-1902; Priddy, John C., 1812-1894; Johnson, Thomas P., 1830-; Rector, Henry, 1846-; Hinds, James, 1833-1868; Hodges, James L., 1832-; Hollis, William, G. 1812-; McCown, George W., 1832-1880; Mason, James W., 1842-1874; Harrison, John W., 1824-1880; Hatfield, Robert, 1833-; Williams, Parley A., 1835-1914; White, James T., 1841-; Grey, William H., 1829 -1888; Smith, Thomas, 1810 - 1885; Brooks, Joseph, 1821-1877; Gray, James M., 1834-; Mallory, Samuel W., 1833-1888; Snyder, Oliver P., 1831-1882; Hinkle, Anthony, 1810-1893; Wyatt, William A., 1828-1916; Millsaps, Jesse, 1827-1900; Sarber, John N., 1838-1904; Evans, Amos Hart, 1840-; McClure, John, 1834-1915; Hutchinson, John H., d. 1897; Bell, Moses, 1827-1913; Kyle, Gale H, d. 1888; Langley, Miles Ledford, 1827 -1888; Rounsaville, Franklin Moore, 1824-1868; Exon, Solomon, 1826 -; Houghton, Jefrey A., 1825-; Coats, Daniel, 1842-1869; Sims, Clifford Stanley, 1839-1896. |
Publisher | Arkansas State Archives |
Preferred Citation | 1868 Arkansas Constitution, Arkansas Constitutions collection, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas. |
Rights and Usage | Public Domain |
Description
Title | 1868 Arkansas Constitution, Page 25 |
Transcription |
3d district one Senator and four Representatives. 4th district one Senator and three Representatives. 5th district one Senator and three Representatives. 6th district one Senator and three Representatives. 7th district one Senator and four Representatives. 8th district one Senator and four Representatives. 9th district one Senator and four Representatives. 10th district one Senator and six Representatives. 11th district one Senator and six Representatives. 12th district one Senator and four Representatives. 13th district one Senator and three Representatives. 14th district one Senator and three Representatives. 15th district one Senator and three Representatives. 16th district one Senator and two Representatives. 17th district one Senator and four Representatives. 18th district one Senator and three Representatives. 19th district one Senator and two Representatives. 20th district one Senator and six Representatives. 21st district one Senator and two Representatives. 22nd district one Senator and six Representatives. ARTICLE XV MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Section One. The President of the Convention shall, immediately after the adjournment thereof, cause this Constitution to be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, and shall transmit a copy of the same to the President of the United States, to be by him laid before the Congress of the United States. Section Two. In all cases not otherwise provided for in this Constitution, the General Assembly may determine the mode of filling all vacancies in all offices, and of choosing all necessary officers, and shall define their respect- ive powers and duties, and provide suitable compensation for all officers. Section Three. All general elections shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, and shall be biennial commencing at the general election of A. D. 1868; but all officers elected under the provisions of this Constitution and schedule, except members of Congress, at the election commencing on the 13th day of March, 1868, shall hold and continue in office in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the same as though elected at the general election, to be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, 1868; and no election shall be held for said officers at the election of 1868. Section Four. All chartered cities and villages under the laws of this State, shall hold their municipal elec- tions for the year 1868 at such times and places as may be provided in this Constitution and the schedule to the same. Section Five. The term of office of all township and precinct officers shall expire thirty days after this |