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lien law. Furthermore, the convention was forbidden to pass or- 

 dinances of a legislative character. It was required that any 

 amendments adopted by the convention be submitted to the people 

 for their approval before becoming effective. As in 1835> it was 

 required of the delegates that they take an oath to abide by the 

 limitations pieced upon them by the convention act and adopted by 

 the people in voting for convention. 

 Convention of l87$ » 



Four years later, in 1875, the General Assembly exercised 

 its constitutional povxer to call a convention on its own authority, 

 without a vote of the people. The convention act, however, for- 

 bade the convention to consider or propose any amendment which 

 would have affected the homestead and personal property exemptions, 

 the mechanics' s and laborers' lien, or the rights of married uomenj 

 the legislature's taxing power or the debt limitation] or the ratio 

 between poll and property taxes established in the Constitution, 

 No term of office could be cut off by an amencjnent abolishing the 

 office, nor could compensation be alloxred the owners of emancipated 

 slaves. No educational qualification for voting or office holding 

 could be imposed. No ordinary legislative business could be handled 

 by convention ordinance. "The Constitution, as amended," was re- 

 quired to be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. 

 The delegates were required to take an oath not to evade "the 

 duties enjoined nor the restrictions imposed upon the Convention 

 by the act of the General Assembly authorizing" their election. 



^^Fublic Laws l87h-75, C. 222, 



