That general and field officers of the militia, on any vacancy, be appointed by the two houses, and all inferior officers be chosen by the respective companies.
That all officers of the Army be appointed by the two houses, except they should direct otherwise in case of any emergency.
That all civil officers for the colony and for each county be appointed, and the time of their continuance in office be determined by the two houses, except clerks of Courts, and county treasurers, and recorders of deeds.
That a treasurer, and a recorder of deeds for each county be annually chosen by the people of each county respectively; the votes for such officers to be returned to the respective courts of General Sessions of the Peace in the county, there to be ascertained as the Council and Assembly shall hereafter direct.
That precepts in the name of the Council and Assembly, signed by the President of the Council, and Speaker of the house of Representatives, shall issue annually at or before the first day of November, for the choice of a Council and house of Representatives to be returned by the third Wednesday in December then next ensuing, in such manner as the Council and Assembly shall hereafter prescribe.[1]
Part I.—The Bill of Rights
article i
All men are born equally free and independent; therefore, all government of right originates from the people, is founded in consent, and instituted for the general good.
II. All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights; among which are — the enjoying and defending life and liberty —
- ↑ See “Constitutional Conventions in New Hampshire,” pp. 219–220, in the Historical Magazine, July, 1866. Morrisonia, N.Y., Henry B. Dawson, New York; American News Co., London: Trübner & Co. Idem for August, 1866. “The New Hampshire Constitution of 1779, pp. 260, 261. “An Address of the Convention for Framing a new Constitution of Government for the State of New-Hampshire, to the inhabitants of said State, New Hampshire: Printed and to be sold, at the Printing Offices in Portsmouth and Exeter. MDCCLXXXI.” pp. 63.
- ↑ “Early State Papers of New Hampshire, Including the Constitution of 1784, Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives, and Records of the President and Council from June 1784 to June 1787, with an Appendix Containing an Abstract of the Official Records Relative to the Formation, Promulgation, Consideration, and Adoption of the Federal Constitution, and Illustrative Notes. Volume XX. Albert Stillman Batchellor, editor and compiler. Manchester: John B. Clarke, Public Printer, 1891.” pp. 9–31.
- ↑ A convention met at Concord, June 10, 1778, and framed a constitution, which was submitted to the people at their town-meetings in 1779, and rejected. A new convention was called, which met at Exeter, June 12, 1781, and framed another constitution, which was submitted to the people at their town-meetings for approval or amendments. So numerous were the amendments suggested, and so difficult was it to reconcile conflicting opinions, that the convention did not complete its labors until October 31, 1783. The constitution, thus discussed, amended, and approved in detail by the people of New Hampshire in their town-meetings assembled under the supervision of the convention, was inaugurated June 2, 1784.
