used for the purposes of a home, or as a place to exercise the calling or business of the head of a family: Provided, also, That any temporary renting of the homestead shall not change the character of the same, when no other homestead has been acquired.

Sec. 52. On the death of the husband or wife, or both, the homestead shall descend and vest in like manner as other real property of the deceased, and shall be governed by the same laws of descent and distribution, but it shall not be partitioned among the heirs of the deceased during the lifetime of the surviving husband or wife, or so long as the survivor may elect to use or occupy the same as a homestead, or so long as the guardian of the minor children of the deceased may be permitted, under the order of the proper court having the jurisdiction, to use and occupy the same.

Sec. 53. That no inconvenience may arise from the adoption all kinds which have been or may be issued and not returned or executed when this constitution is adopted, shall remain valid, and shall not be in any way affected by the adoption of this Constitution.

Sec. 54. It shall be the duty of the Legislature to provide for the custody and maintenance of indigent lunatics, at the expense of the State, under such regulations and restrictions as the Legislature may prescribe.

Sec. 55. The Legislature may provide annual pensions, not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, to surviving soldiers or volunteers in the war between Texas and Mexico, from the commencement of the revolution in 1835, until the 1st of January, 1837; and also to the surviving signers of the declaration of independence of Texas; and to the surviving widows, continuing unmarried, of such soldiers and signers: Provided, That no such pension be granted except to those in indigent circumstances, proof of which shall be made before the county court of the county where the applicant resides, in such manner as may be provided by law.

Sec. 56. The Legislature shall have no power to appropriate any of the public money for the establishment and maintenance of a bureau of immigration, or for any purpose of bringing immigrants to this State.

Sec. 57. Three millions acres of the public domain are hereby appropriated and set apart for the purpose of erecting a new

State capitol and other necessary public buildings at the seat of government, said lands to be sold under the direction of the Legislature; and the legislature shall pass suitable laws to carry this section into effect.

ARTICLE XVII.

Mode of Amending the Constitution of this State.

Section 1. The Legislature, at any biennial session, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, to be entered by yeas and nays on the journals, may propose amendments to the Constitution, to be voted upon by the qualified electors for members of the Legislature, which proposed amendments shall be duly published once a week for four weeks, commencing at least three months before an election, the time of which shall be specified by the Legislature, in one weekly newspaper of each county in which such a newspaper may be published; and it shall be the duty of the several returning officers of said election to open a poll for, and make returns to the Secre tary of State of the number of legal votes cast at said election for and against said amendments; and if more than one be proposed, then the number of votes cast for and against each of them; and if it shall appear from said return that a majority of the votes cast have been cast in favor of any amendment the said amendment so receiving a majority of the votes cast shall become a part of this Constitution, and proclamation shall be made by the Governor thereof.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

STATE OF VERMONT.

10. Rights of persons accused of 16. Superseded.