SEC. 3. That the people of this State have the inherent, sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof, and of altering and abolishing their Constitution and form of government whenever it may be necessary for their safety and happiness; but every such right should be exercised in pursuance of law, and consistently with the Constitution of the United States. [Sidenote: That there is no right to secede.] SEC. 4. That this State shall ever remain a member of the American Union; that the people thereof are a part of the American Nation; that there is no right on the part of the State to secede, and that all attempts, from whatever source or upon whatever pretext, to dissolve said Union, or to sever said Nation, ought to be resisted with the whole power of the State. [Sidenote: Of allegiance to the U. S. government.] SEC. 5. That every citizen of this State owes paramount allegiance to the Constitution and government of the United States, and that no law or ordinance of the State in contravention or subversion thereof can have any binding force. [Sidenote: Public debt.] [Sidenote: Bonds issued under ordinance of Convention of 1868 and under acts of 1868, 1868-'69, 1869-'70, declared invalid.] [Sidenote: Exception.] SEC. 6. The State shall never assume or pay, or authorize the collection of any debt or obligation, express or implied, incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; nor shall the General Assembly assume or pay, or authorize the collection of any tax to pay, either directly or indirectly, expressed or implied, any debt or bond incurred, or issued, by authority of the Convention of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, nor any debt or bond incurred or issued by the Legislature of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, at its special session of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, or at its regular sessions of the years one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight and one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine and one thousand eight hundred and seventy, except the bonds issued to fund the interest on the old debt of the State, unless the proposing to pay the same shall have first been submitted to the people and by them ratified by the vote of a majority of all the qualified voters of the State, at a regular election held for that purpose. [Sidenote: Exclusive emoluments, etc.] SEC. 7. No man or set of men are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community but in consideration of public services. [Sidenote: The legislative, executive and judicial powers distinct.] SEC. 8. The legislative, executive and supreme judicial powers of the government ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other. [Sidenote: Of the power of suspending laws.]