All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense. No wise legislature will affix the same punishment to the crimes of theft, forgery, and the like, which they do to those of murder and treason. For the same reason a multitude of sanguinary laws is both impolitic and unjust. The true design of all punishments being to reform, not to exterminate mankind. Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreason- able searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions.
Retrospective laws are highly injurious, oppressive, and unjust.
No such laws, therefore, should be made, either for the decision of civil causes, or the punishment of offenses. A well regulated militia is the proper, natural, and sure defense, of a state. Art 25th Standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised, or kept up, without the consent of the legisla- ture. The legislature shall assemble for the redress of public grievances and for making such laws as the public good may require. No magistrate, or court of law, shall demand excessive bail or sureties, impose excessive fines, or inflict cruel or un- usual punishments.