Thomas B. Corbett

“ That the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever hereafter be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege, or capacity, on account of his opinions concerning religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the good order, peace, or safety of the State. ”

“ The only case where a member has a right to insist on anything, is where he calls for the execution of a subsisting order of the House. Here, there having been already a resolution, any person has a right to insist that the Speaker, or any other whose duty it is, shall carry it into execution; and no debate or delay can be had on it. Thus any member has a right to have the House or gallery cleared of strangers, an order existing for that purpose; or to have the House told where there is not a quorum present. ”

“ The General Assembly may, at any time, by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house, recommend to the electors of the State, to vote at the next general election, for or against a Convention to revise, alter and amend this Constitution; and if a majority of those voting on the question shall declare in favor of such Convention, the General Assembly shall, at its next session, provide for the calling thereof. The number of members of the Convention shall be twice that of the Senate, and they shall be elected in the same manner, at the same places, and in the same districts. ”

“ No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid and comfort to the enemies thereof. ”

“ It is a breach of order in debate to notice what has been said on the same subject in the other house, or the particular votes or majorities on it there; because the opinion of each house should be left to its own independency, not to be influenced by the proceedings of the other; and the quoting them might beget reflections leading to a misunderstanding between the two houses. 8 Grey, 22.
Neither house can exercise any authority over a member or officer of the other, but should complain to the house of which he is, and leave the punishment to them. ”

“ Each House shall have power to determine the rules of its proceedings and punish its members or other persons for contempt or disorderly behavior in its presence; to enforce obedience to its process; to protect its members against violence, or offers of bribes, or private solicitation, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, to expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause, and shall have all other powers necessary for the Legislature of a free State. ”

“ No corporation shall issue stocks or bonds, except for labor done, services performed, or money or property actually received, and all fictitious increase of stock or indebtedness shall be void. The stock of corporations shall not be increased except in pursuance of general law, nor without the consent of the persons holding a majority of the stock, first obtained at a meeting held after at least thirty days’ notice given in pursuance of law. ”

“ No person while confined in any public prison shall be entitled to vote; but every such person who was a qualified elector prior to such imprisonment, and who is released therefrom by virtue of a pardon, or by virtue of having served out his full term of imprisonment, shall, without further action, be invested with all the rights of citizenship, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. ”

“ That treason against the State can consist only in levying war against it, or in adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort; 70 that no person can be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on his confession in open court; that no person can be attainted of treason or felony by the General Assembly; that no conviction can work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate; that the estates of such persons as may destroy their own lives shall descend or vest as in cases of natural death. ”

“ The proceedings of the Senate, as in a Committee of the Whole, or in Quasi-Committee, are precisely as in a real Committee of the Whole, taking no questions but on amendments. When through the whole, they consider the Quasi-Committee as risen, the House resumes without any motion, question, or resolution to that effect, and the President reports that “The House acting as in Committee of the Whole, have had under their consideration the bill entitled, etc., and have made sundry amendments, which he will now report to the House.” ”

“ When a question has been once made and carried in the affirmative, or negative, it shall be in order for any member of the majority to move for the reconsideration thereof; but no motion for the reconsideration of any vote shall be in order after a bill, resolution, message, report, amendment, or motion upon which the vote was taken shall have gone out of the possession of the Senate announcing their decision ”

“ That no law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech; that every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject, being responsible for all abuse of that liberty; and that all suits and prosecutions for libel, the truth thereof may be given in evidence, and the jury, under the direction of the court, shall determine the law and the fact. ”

“ But besides this, in magnificent and varied scenery Colorado is not excelled by any other land, and in rich resources is unequalled. In Colorado large sums have been expended in imposing school structures, and teachers are liberally remunerated. A spirit of religious toleration that is truly gratifying prevails throughout the State. All creeds are represented, and, in general, well supported. Towns spring into existence and grow with magic speed; mines are developed with much energy; farms show thrift and prosperity ”

“ This immense domain, thus acquired by purchase from France and Mexico, has been occupied by an intelligent and enterprising population, and divided into states and territories, each an empire in its dimensions, and has been cultivated, developed, and embellished by all the arts and inventions of the most progressed civilization. One portion of this domain is Colorado, destined by her position, resources and climate to enjoy an immortal precedence among the States of our great Republic. ”

“ When it is found necessary for the public service to put a member under arrest, or when, on any public inquiry, matter comes out which may lead to affect the person of a member, it is the practice immediately to acquaint the House, that they may know the reasons for such a proceeding, and take such steps as they think proper. ”

“ The powers of the government of this State are divided into three distinct departments—the Legislative, Executive and Judicial—and no person, or collection of persons, charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except as in this Constitution expressly directed or permitted. ”

“ A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill proposed or pending before the General Assembly, shall disclose the fact to the House of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon. ”

“ SECTION VII. CALL OF THE HOUSE.
On a call of the House, each person rises up as he is called and answereth; the absentees are then only noted, but no excuse to be made till the House be fully called a second time, and if still absent, excuses are to be heard. Ord. House of Commons, 92.
They rise that their persons may be recognized; the voice in such a crowd, being an insufficient verification of their presence. But in so small a body as the Senate of the United States, the trouble of rising cannot be necessary. ”

“ This last exception is denied by some, on the ground that it would leave very little matter for the treaty power to work on. The less the better, say others. The Constitution thought it wise to restrain the Executive and Senate from entangling and embroiling our affairs with those of Europe. Besides, as the negotiations are carried on by the Executive alone, the subjecting to the ratification of the representatives such articles as are within their participation, is no more inconvenient than to the Senate. ”

“ Those, therefore, who desire it, will rise.” If he finds and declares that one-fifth have risen, he then states that “those who are of the opinion that the bill shall pass, are to answer in the affirmative; those of the contrary opinion in the negative.” The clerk then calls over the names alphabetically, notes the yea or nay of each, and gives the list to the President or Speaker, who declares the result. In the Senate, if there be an equal division, the Secretary calls on the Vice-President and notes his affirmative or negative, which becomes the decision of the House. ”