The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-20

PREAMBLE.

Consultation u sAs state u new Asxise.
PREAMBLE.
Va the people of New Mexico in order to establish
Justice promote the welfare and the blessings Of
liberty 10 ourselves and our posterty lodging
with grateful hearts The goodness Of the Sovereign Ruler
of The Universe, and mporing his aid and direction
its ordsin and establish the following
constitution or form OF government, and do mutually
agree with each other to form ourselves into free and
independent State, BY the Of the State OF New
Mexico, with the following limits and boundaries. to
wit:
Beginning at the dam the Rio del Norte which sup
Plies with water the asequd, or figalnx canal OF the
town q Fl Paso del Nors and running thence due east
to the hundredh parallel thence due north said para
lei to point where the neTsects the river Arkan
thence up tue middle of the channel OF said river to
tie source thence in direct line TO point the Rio
Colorado Of California where the ntersected by
the hundred and eleventh parallel OF longitude
west from Greenwich; thence due south on the said
parallel OF longitude to point the Rio ella inter
seced by the same thence up the middle OF the main
channel OF said river to the point which may be desg
na s oy s ns ns d 70 s
Mexico, as the point where said river Of its
branches shall be nerseced by the western line of New
Mexico; thence south the said line the shall
be established by the commissioners to the angle formed
by the States OF chihuahua, Sonora, and New Mexico
thence easterly the line between the United States
and the republic OF Mexico as It shall be laid down by
said commissioners, to point where the same may in
the Rio del Nore thence down said the
place OF beginning.
ARTICLE I-Deelaration of Rights.
SEC L. All being born equally free and independ-
ent, and having certain natural nheran and nalenable
rights amongst which are the enjoying and defending of
life and liberty, the requirement possession. and protec
ton OF property, and the pursuit and attainment OF
happiness: therefore, no male person shall be held by
law to any person servant. slave, appren-
tce after he arrives at the age Of twenyone years.
female, like manner after she arrives at the age of
eighteen years. unless they be bound by their own
| RAn allc hound nv
| Tor punishment OF crime.
g. All power is inherent in the people; all free gov
ernments founded in their authority: they have
therefore, naenable and indefeasble right to ns
tute government. to alter and reform, totally change
the same when their safety and happiness require it.
worship God according to the dictates Of their
sciences. which right shall be infringed and
preference shall ever BE- given by law to any religious
cety, mode OF worship, any control interference
with the rights OF conscience be permitted
4. No religious test shall ever be required aquai
fcation to any office of public trust in this State
shall the civil rights. privileges capacities of any c
in any mannex be diminished enlarged account
his religious opinions except as is in this constitution
$. Every person may freely speak, write, and publish
his sentiments on all subjects being responsible for the
1 abuse of that liberty.
g. No law shall ever be passed to curail or restrain
the liberty OF speech or the press.
The people shall be in their persons, houses
seizures; and warrants shall issue without describing
the place to be searched, or the person thing to be
SEIZED az nearly as may be- nor without probable cause
supported by oath or affirmation
.. All elections shall be free and equal.
The right OF trial by jury shall be nviolabe, except
that the Legislature may authorize the trial OF civil SUITS
when the matter in dispute does not exceed fifty dollars,
by jury of Blk persons.
TO- In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have
the right to speedy and public trial by impartial jury,
to be informed of the accusation against him. be
fronted with the witnesses against him, to have compu
process for obtaining Witnesses in his favor and TO
have the assistance OF counsel in his defence.
H. No person shall be held to answer for criminal
offence, unless on the presentmen indictment OF
grsnd jury except in cases OF impeachment in
cognizable by justices Of the peace, the army,
in the militia, when in actual service in time OF
H. No person, after acquitta shall be tried for the
same offence and all persons SHALL before conviction, be
baable by sufficient securities except for capital offences,
when the proof evident the presumption great and
the writ OF hobeas corpus shall not De suspended unless
when, OF rebellion invasion, the public safety
! i3 Excessive bail shall not be required; excessive
fines shall not be imposed, or cruel and unjust punish
IA The military shall be subordinate to the civil pow
es No standing army shall be kept up by the State in
house without the consent Of the owne-nor in time OF
war, except in the manner prescribed BY law.
IS No person in this State. except such as are en-
ployed in the navy Of the United States or mi
a in time Of actual service shall be subject to corpo
real punishment under the military law.
L. Every citizen shall have the right to keep or bear
arms in the lawful defence OF himself or the State.
IL No conviction shall work corruption OF blood or
con6scahon Of property.
~
imparng the obligation OF contracts, shall be made.
10. Emigration from this State shall never be prohibit
ed nor shall any citizen be exiled under any pre-
tence whatever
20 No distinction shall be made by law between
resident aliens and citizens, in reference 10 the posses
sion, enjoyment, descent of property.
81 The people have the right freely to assemble to-
gethe TO counsel for the common good to make known
their opinions to their representatives, and to petition for
redress OF grievances.
20, power OF suspendng Laws shall be exercised,
except BY the legislature or it's authority
20 This enumeration OF rights shall not be construed
to impair or deny others retained by the people
ARTICLE ii -Diar,bus,on of Popsrs
SIC. l. The powers of the government OF the State OF
New Mexico shall be divided into three distinct depart,
magstracy wit Those which are legislative to one
those which are judicial to another; and those which
are executive 10 another.
q No person. collection OF persons, being OF one OF
those departments. shall exercise any power properly
belonging to either OF the others, except those nsan
ees hereinafter expressly directed or permitted.
tARTIcLr iii contains rs sections, all OF which relate
the "LEofsLATIvK DEPARTMENT"
ARTICLE Nv contains II sections all OF which relate to
the EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT"
ARTICLE contains sections, all relating to the cru
DICIAL DEPARTMENT"
ARTICLE vi relates to the "mtia"
ARTICLE VII pro vides for education.
ARTICLE VIII ia devoted to the night OF suffrage
ARTICLE TX is devoted to GENERAL PRovIsIoNs"-snch
AZ provisions for taxation, salaries OF officers,
divorces. &c, &c.
SCHEDULE.
Sec L. That no inconvenience may arise the change
from territorial to State government. Is declared that