Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1846-06-17
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500, Pream6k and RDssadaries.
we, The PsopIs Of the rerritcsy ofJowa,
erassful 10 The Snprens Being for the bles-
rinss hitherto enjoyed. and feeling our de-
psn1enee en- Him for CONTINUATION Of
those blessings, do ordain and establish a
free and independent government, by the
name ofthe State Of Iowa, the boundaries
whereof shall be as follows:
Beginning in the middle Of the main
channel Of the Mississippi river, at point
due east Of the middle Of the mouth of the
main channel Of the Des Moihes river,
thence up the middle Of the main channel
Of the said Des Moines river, TO . point on
aaid river where the northern boundary
line Of the State Of Missouri, as establish
ed by the constitution Of that State, adopted
June 18th, IS o, crosses the said middle
ol'the main channel Of the said DesMoincs
river; thence wes,wardly, along the said
northern boundary line Of the State o. Mis-.
souri,, rs established at the time aforesaid,
until an extension Of said line, intersect
the middle ofthe main channel Of the Wis
souri, river; thence up the middle Of the
main channel Of the said Missouri river,
to point opposite the middle Of the main
channel Of the Big Sioux river, according
to Nicollett's map; thence up the main
channel Of the said Big Sioux river, ac-
cording to said map, unit! it is interseeted
by the parallel Of forty three degrees and
thirty minutes north latitude thence east,
along said parallel Of forty three degrees
and thirty minutes, until said parallel in
tersect the middle Of the main channel Of
the Mississippi river thence down the mid
die Of the main channel Of said Missis-
sippi river, to the place OF beginning.
ARTICLE 2.
Bill Of Rights.
l. All men are by nature free and
independent. and have certain unalicnable
rights, among which are those Of enjoying
aud defending life and liberty, acquiring,
possessing, and protecting properly, and
pursuing and obtaining safety and happi-
ness.
2. All political power is inherent in
the people. Government is instituted for
the protection, security, ard benefit Of the
people; and they have the rightsst alltimes,
to alter or reform the same, Whenever the
public good may require it.
5. The General Assembly .sh-ll make
no law respecting an establishment Of re-
ligion, or prohibiting tie free exercise
thereof, nor shall any person he eompel,-
ed to attend any place Of worship, pay
tithea, taxes. or other rates for building or
repairing places Of ~orshit,. or for the
maintenance Of any minister,o ministry.
4 No religious test shall tie required
ss qualification for any office or public
trust, and no person shall be deprived of
any Of his rights, privileges ~ capacities,
or disqualified from the performance of
amy Of his public or private duties, or rem
dered incompetent to give evidence in any
court Of law or equity, in consequence Of
his opinions on the subject Of religion.
s. Any citizen Of this Stale who may
hereafter be engaged, either: directly or
indirectly, in a duel, either as'prineiple or
accessory before the fact, shall forever be
disqualified from holding any Office under
the constitution and laws OF this State.
3. AL laws Of general nature shall
have uniform operation.
T.. Every person may speak, write,
and puhlish his sentiments OH all subjects,
being responsible for the abuse OF that
right. No law shall be passed to restrain
or sbridge the liberty Of speech or Of the
press. In all prosecutions or.indictmems
for libel, the truth may be given in evi-
dence to the jury. and if j. appear 10 the
Jury that the mater charged as ibell"us
was true, and was published with good
ana for justiiiablc ends, the party
shall-be acquitted.
8. The right ofthe people to be Sc
cure in their persons, houses, papers and
effects, against unreasonable seizures and
searches, shall net be violated, and no
warrant shall Issue, but on probable cause,
supported BY oath or affirmation, particn-
larly describing the place to be searched,
aud the papers and things to be seized.
.. The right Of trial by jury shall re-
main inviolate; but the General Assembly
may authorize trial BY jury Of a less
number than twelve men in inferior
courts.
10. In all criminal prosecutions, the
accused shall have right to speedy .ri
al by an impar'ial jury, TO be informed
Of the accusation against him, to be con-
fronted with the witnesses against him, to
have compulsory process for his own wit.
nes.es, and to have the assistance OF coun-
sci.
IL. No person shall be held to an
swsr for a criminal offence, I,less on pre-
sen ment, or indictment by y grand jury.
except in cases cognizab!e by justices Of
the peace, or arising in the s5my or navy,
or in the militia when il, actual service in
time Of war or public danger.
II. No person shall after acquittal, be
tried for the same offence. All persons
shall, before conviction, be bailahle by snf
Glen. s,lreties, except for capital offences.
where the proofs evidentor,the presump-
lion great. :,
l3. Tile writ Of Habeas Corpus shall
not be suspended, unless. in case Of re-
bsllion or invasion, the public safety re-
quire it. !,
a. The military shall be subordinate
10 ihe civil power. NJ standing army
shall be kept up by the State in time OF