Page:The constitution ("grondwet") of the South African Republic.djvu/9

 8. The People demands the highest possible social liberty, and expects to derive such from the maintenance of its religious belief, from the observance of its engagements, from its submission to law, order, and right, and from the vindication of the same. The People shall permit the promulgation of the Gospel among the heathen, subject to definite precautions against defective or erroneous teaching.

9. The People shall not permit any equality of coloured persons with white inhabitants, neither in the Church nor in the State.

10. The People shall not tolerate any slave traffic or slavery in this Republic.

11. The People shall reserve to itself exclusively the protection and defence of the independence and inviolability of Church and State according to the laws.

12. The People shall place the Legislative Power in the hands of a “Volksraad,” the Supreme Authority in the Country, consisting of representatives or power-holders of the People, elected by “burgers” entitled to vote; but subject to three months time being allowed the People, if it so elect, to deliver to the Volksraad its opinion concerning any proposed law, with the exception of such laws as shall not permit of any delay.

13. The People shall entrust the proposition and execution of the laws to an Executive Council (“Uitvoerende Raad”), which body shall also propose to the Volksraad, for appointment, all State officials.

14. The People shall entrust the maintenance of order to the Council ofWar(“Krijgsraad”).

15. The People shall place the Judicial Power in the hands of Magistrates (“Landdrosts”) and such persons as are sworn for that purpose, and shall leave it to their judgment and conscience to act in accordance with the laws of the country.

16. The People shall receive yearly from the Volksraad duly passed estimates of general expenditure for the Church and the State, and shall ascertain therefrom the amount of the taxes to be levied on each individual.

17. Potchefstroon, situated on the Mooi River, shall be the capital of the Republic, and Pretoria shall be the seat of the Government.

18. All services demanded in the public interest shall be remunerated out of the public chest.

19. The liberty of the Press shall be permitted, provided that the printer and publisher shall be responsible for all libellous, insulting, or defamatory articles.