Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-10-20
Article First.
Declaration Of certain Constitutional
Righfs and Princl les.

hgious nrd pnlllcal freedom established
by our vcneraled III &C s'ors, aud To pre-
serve The same for uII posterily. We dc
declare that the essential and un-
questionable rights and principles h,reln.
after mcuilourd, nn'ng "ther,, shall bt
established, mainta,ned. and preserved.
and shall be Of paranuunt obligation ~
all legislative, judicial aud executive pro-
ccedlngs.
ther of his Country, We declare, that
"ihe basis of our political systems is the
right OF the people TO make ard aIlei
iheu CONSTITUTIONS oi g"vrrnmci bni
that The constitution which AT any TN,
cxis:s, ilIl changed by an explicit aud
authentic act of the whole people, Is
sacredl: obligatory upon all"
Sec. ,. All free g verrmenIs arc IN
siituled Tor the protection, safety. aud
happiness "f The people. All laws
therefore, should be nude rur the good
of ihe whole aud the burdens oi ihc
State ought TO be fairly distributed
among its clIZens.
- ID. " ufl'd~, NlinIShtl N'bu udlI
created The mind ilco aud all attempt,
10 influence II by temporal puuishmens
ar bdrlhrns or bv cIvtl Interpretations,
tends to bcgel habits of hypocrisy uut
mcnnness and whereas IA principal oh
jecl OF our venerable ancestors, ~ then
lnigraiiou To this country and their sci
llrment of this State. was. rs they cX
pressed il, To huld forth lively expcri
inent that flpurishlng civil State may
stand aud be best maintained with tuil
liberty IN religious cOncernmclls we.
therefore. declare. u al no man shall b
Compelled To ,quch, or Ia support ANY
religious worship, lace or ministry what
ever, except ia tuliilneni al his Ow;
voluntary contract; nor enforced, re-.
s'rail ed mnies,cd or burihened IN HI
b.dy or goods nor disqualified from
hUlGlng any ollce nor Otherwise suffer
on accoinl Of his religious belief; aud
that every map shall DO Tree lo worship
God according to the dictates of his oun
conscience, and 10 profess and by argu
ncni 10 maintain his opinion IN naliers
of relini n; and that the same shall ~
10 ui,c diminish, enlarge or affect hi
evil capacity.
Soc d. Slavery shall not be permitted
in THIS State
Sec. ). Every person within lhl.
State ought to fird certain remedy, b,
having rt course 10 the laws, for all IA
jnries or wrongs which he may rrceiv,
III his per. on, property, or character
lie ought To obtain right and ju>llcc lree.
~. ard wHh"ul purchase. completely ard
without denial promptly and wnhoui
delay; comformably TO the laws
Sec 6. | he night of the pcopc TO b.
sccuIe ~ their persons, papers, and pos
sessions, against unreasonable searches
aud seizures, shall nol be violated; and no
warrant shall issue, but Oh complaint a.
WIRING, upon probable cause, supported
by oah or affirmation, and dcscrblrg a.
naiIy as may be-, the place 10 be search
I'd. and The persons or lhiugS ia be seized. |
See. Z. No person shall be held t. !
answer for Il capital or other infamous
crime. ~ less OIL piesenlmcut CT ndlct !
meni by grand Jury, except IN cases OF /
Impeachmrn', or of such fences as ar' .
usually coguzahlc bv ii justice Of the .
peace ; or IN cases arising in land OF
naval turccs, or III the militia, when iu
actual service ia imc Of var or public
darger. No person shall, after an ac. \
quIllaL be trIcd for The saunc otluce.
Sec. g. Excessive bail shn not BE-
required, nor excessive fines imposed, ,nol .
cruel purshmcnls inflicted, and all pun.
i>hments ght to be propOrtloucd 10 III, h
,ii,nce.
Sec. 0. All persons imprisoned ought
to Lc baIlablc by IA sufficient surely. unless
for ofenccs punishable by death or b\
Imprisonment for life, when the vroof ol
gulltis evident, or the presumption great.
The privilege Of the writ Of habeas cor.
pus shalI not be suspended, unless wieu
~ cases OF rebellion or INVASION the pub
lie safety shall require 1t; nor ever nllh
cut the authority Of the General Assem-.
bly,.
Sec. 10. In all criminal prosecutions. /
The accused shall enjoy the right to
speedy aud public trial, by an impartial
jury TO be informed cf the nature and II
with the Witnesses against him, To have
com, ulsory process for obtaining them IT, |.
his favor, 10 have the assistance of cuun .
seI IN his defence, and shall be at liberty to 4
81 cak for himself nor shall he be de-
rrved of life, liberty, or property. unless
b! the judgement Of his peers, or the
law of The land.
Sec. IL. The person Of deb r,wheu
there IS nm slrurg presumption OF fraud \
ought no, t0 bc continued ~ prison. aiiei n
he shall have delivered up his properl, n
Er the bentnl at his creditors. ~ such
manner as shall be prescribed 10y law.
Sec. ~. No cx post iaclo law, or law \
irnpni'Ing the obligation OF Contracts.
slldI be- passed.
Sec. l3. No man N n court Of com.
m"1 lhw shalI be- compelled to give e,i II
deice crimlnaliug himself.
See. IA. Every mau being presumed n
im or'ii,uniIl hc Is prm ount cd griIy by n
The law. 10 act 81 severity ~hIch Is not N
bc' essaii Ia sttuIc an accused person.
shnll be- UpTmhit a..