Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-03-22
BILL OF RIGHTS,

welfare, do establish this Constitution.
ARTICLE l.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
Sec. j. All mensare by nature free and in
dependent, and have certain inalienabe rights,
among which are those of enjoying and de-
Tending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing
and protecting property and seeking and OBJ
tanning happiness and safety.
Sec. 2. All political power is inherent in
the people Government is instituted for
their equal protection and benefit; and they
have the right 10 alter, reform, or abolish the
same, whenever they may deemit necessary;
and no special privileges Or immunities shall
ever be granted that may not be altered, re-
voked or repealed by the General Assembly.
Sec. 3. The people have the right to assem-
bic together, in a peaceable manner, TO con-
suit for their common good, 10 instruct their
Representatives and to petition the General
Assembly for the redress of grievances.
Sec. 4. The people have the right to bear
arms for their defence and security; but
standing armies, in time of peace, are danger
Gus to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and
the military shall be in strict subordination to
the civil power.
Sec. s. The right of trial by jury shall be
inviolate.
Sec g. There shall be no slavery in this
State nor involuntary servitude, unles for the
punishment of crime.
Sec. T. All men have a natural and inde-
feasible right to worship Almighty God ac-
eording to the dictates of their own conscience
No person shall be compelled to attend, erect,
or support any place of worship, or maintain
any form of worship. against his consent, and
no preference shall be given, by law, to any
religious society; nor shall any interference
with the rights of conscience be permittcs.-
No religious test shall be required as quail
fication for office, nor shall any person be in
competent 10 be witness on account of his
religious belief; but nothing herein. shall be
construed to dispense with oaths and afirua-
tions. Religion, morality and knowledge,
however, being essential to good government,
it shall be the duty Of the General Assembly
to pass suitable laws, to protect every relig-
ious denomination in the peaceable enjoy
ment of its own mode of public worship. and
to encourage schools, and the means of in
struction
Sec. 8. The privileges of the writ of hebeas
corpus shall not be suspended, unless in cases
of rebellion or invasion, the public safety re-
quire it.
Sec 8. All persons shall be bailable by
sufficient sureties, except for capital offences
where the proof is evident, or the presump-
ton great.-Excessive bail shall not be re-
quired; nor excessive fines imposed; nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Sec. 10. Except in cases of impeachment
and cases arising in the army and navy, or in
the militia, when in actual service, in time of
war, or public danger. and in cases Of petit
larceny and other inferior offences, no person
shall be held to answer for a capital or other
wise infamous crime, unless on presentment or
indictment of II grand jury. In any trial, in
any court, the party accused shall be allowed
to appear and defend in person and with coun-
sci; TO demand the nature and cause Of the ac-
cusalion against him, and to have copy
thereof; to meet the witnesses face to face,
and to have compulsory process to procure
the attendance of witnesses in his behalf and
a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of
the county or district in which the offence is
alleged TO have been committed nor shall any
person be compelled, in any criminal case to
be Il witness against himself, or be twice put
in jeopardy for the same offence.
Sec IL. Every citizen may freely speak,
write, aud publish his sentiments on all sub
iects, being responsible for the abuse of the
right; and no law shall be passed to restrain
or abridge the liberty of speech or of the
press. In any criminal prosecution for libel,
the truth may be given in evidence to the ju-
ry, and if it shall appear to the jury that the
matter charged as libelous is true, and was
published with good motives and for justifable
ends, the party shall be acquitted
Sec. II. No person shall be transported out
of the State, for any offence committed with
in the same; and no conviction shall work cor
ruptien of blood, or forfeiture of estate.
Sec. Is. No soldier shall, in time of peace,
be quartered in any house, without the con
sent of the owner; nor. in time of war, except
in the manner prescribed by law.
Sec. IA The right of the people to be Sc
cure in their persons, houses, papers, and pos
sessions, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated and no warrant
shall issue, but upon probable cause, support
ed by oath or affirmation, particularly des-
cribing the place to be searched, and the per-
son and things to be seized.
Sec. 5. No person shall be imprisoned for
debt in any civil action, on mesne or final pro-
cess, unless in cases of fraud.
Sec. 16. Ali courts shall be open, and ev-
cry person, for an injury done him in his land,
goods, person, or reputation, shall have RENE
dy by due course OF law, and justice admins
tered without denial or delay.
Sec II. No hereditary emoluments, honors
or privileges, shall ever be granted or confer
red by the State.
Sec. Is. No power of suspending laws
shall ever be exercised, except by the General
Assembly.
Sec 10. Private property shall ever be held
inviolate, but subservient to the public welfare.
When taken in time of war, or other public
exigency. imperatiVeIy requiring its immediate
seizure, or for the purpose of making or re-
pairing roads, which shall be open to the pub
lie, without charge, a compensation shall be
made to the owner. in money; and in all other
cases, where private property shall be taken
for public use, a compensation therefor shall
first be made in money, orfrst secured by a
deposite of money; and such compensation
shall be assessed by Jury, without deduc-