Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-05-05

Government, 40 oEuhlu anu Sa'"p'is" 'N''
Constitution.
ARTICLE I.-DILL or RIGHTS.
That the general, great, and essential
principles Of Liberty and Free Government
may be recognized and established, we de-
clare that
SECTION |. All political power is Inherent
in the people, and all free governments are
founded ON their authority, and Instituted
for their benefit and they have at all times
the unalienablc right to alter, reform, or
abolish their form of government in such
manner as they may think expedicnt.
SEQ. 2. All frecmen, when they form
social compact, have equal rights; and no
man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive
separate public emoluments or privileges,
but in consideration Of public services.
SEC. g. No religious test shall ever be
required as n qualification to any office or
public trust in this State.
SEC. 4. All men have q natural and inie-
feasible right to worship God according to
the dictates of their own consciences: no
man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or
support any place of worship, or TO main
tain any ministry against his consent: no
human authority ought, in any case what
ever, to control or interfere with the rights
of conscience in matters of religion; and no
preference shall ever be given by law to any
religious societies or mode OF worship. But
il shall be the duty of the Legislature to
pass such laws rs (may) shall be necessary
10 protect every religious denomination in
the peaceable enjoyment Of their own mode
of public worship.
SEC. s. Every citizen shall be at liberty
to speak, write, or publish his opinions on
any subject, being responsible for the abuse
of that privilege: and no law shall ever
be passed curtailing the liberty of speech
or of the press.
SEC. G. In prosecutions for the publica-
ton of papers investigating the official con-
duct of officers, or men, in public capaci-
ty, or when the matter published is proper
for public information, the truth thereof
NAV be given in evidence. And in all in
diciments for lbels, the jury shall have the
right to determine the law and the facts
un der the direction of the court, as in 9TH
er cases.
SEC. 7. The people shall be secure in their
| (persons) houses, papers, and possessions
! from all unreasonable seizures or searches;
| and no warrant to search any place or to
| seize any. person or thing shall issue, with
out describing them as near as may be, nor
| WltuOut ploDuulS SouoO supPoA'S WV " O"'h
or affirmation.
SEC. 8. In all criminal prosecutions, the
accused shall have speedypublictrial, by an
impartial jury; he shall not he compelled to
give evidence against himself; he shall
have the right of being heard by himself
or counsel, or both; shall be confronted with
the witnesses against him, and shall have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses
in his favor and no person shall beholden
to answer for any criminal charge, but on
indictment or information except in cases
arising in the land and naval forces, or Of
fences against the laws regulating the mi
| litia; orogided, that in criminal prosecutions,
the punishment whereof shall be fine not ex-
ceeding one hundred dollars, and imprison-
ment not exceeding thirty days, or either
or any less punishment the accused. may
be tried for the same by jury, or other
wise as the Legislature may provide.
SEC 9. All prisoners shall be bailable
by sufficient sureties, unless for capital Of
fences, when the proof is evident; but this
provision shall not be so construed as to
prohibit bail after indictment found, upon
an examination of the evidence by a Judge
of the Supreme or District Court, upon the
return of u writ of habeas corpus, returna-
BILE IN the county where the offence is COM
mitted, or to such other counties as the
same may by consent of parties be made
returnable.
SEC. 10. The privileges of the writ of
haJeas corpus shall not be suspended, ex-
cept when in case of rebellion or invasion
the public safety may require it.
| SEC IL. Excessive bail shall not be re-
| quired, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel or unusual punishment inflicted. All
courts shall be open, and every person, for
an injury done him in his lands, goods,
person, or reputation, shall have remedy by
due course of law.
SEC. H. No person, for the same offence,
shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or
! limb, nor shall person be again put upon
| trial for the same offence after verdict Of
not guilty; and the right of trial by jury
shall remain invioate.
SEC. 10. Every citizen shall have the
right to keep and bear arms, in the lawful
defence of himself or the State.
SEC. IA. No bill of attainder, ex post facto
law, retroactive law, or any law impairing
the obligation of contracts, shall be made,
and no person property shall be taken or
applied to public use without adequate
compensation being made, unless by the
consent of such person.
SEC. Is. No person shall ever be impris-
oned for debt.
SEC. l6. No citizen of this State shall be
deprived of life, liberty, property, or privi-
ileges. outlawed, exiled, or in any manner
disfranchised, except by due course of the
law of the land.
SEC. II. The military shall at all times
be subordinate to the civil authority.
SEC. Is. Perpetuities and monopolies are
I contrary to the genius of a free govern
ment, and shall never be allowed: nor shall
the law of primogeniture or entailments
ever be in force in this State.
SEC. 10. The citizens shall have the right,
in peaceable manner, to assemble to-
gether for their common good, and to apply
to those invested with the powers of gov
ernment for redress of grievances, or other
purposes, by petition, address, or remon-
STRANGE.
SEC. 20. No power Of suspending laws
in this State shall be exercised, except by
the Legislature or its authority.
SEC. q. To guard against transgres-
sion Of the high powers herein delegated,
we declare that everything in this "Bill Of
RIGHTS is excepted out OF the general DOW
ers of government, and shall forever remain
inyiolate, and all laws contrary thereto, or
to the following provisions, shall be void.
ARTICLE II-DIvIsIoy OF The TOWERS OF
GOvERSdEsT
See 1. The powers Of the Government
Of the State Of Texas shall be divided into
three distinct departments, and each Of
them be couhded to a separate body Of mag
istraey-jo wit: those which are Degisia-
tive 10 one, those which are Executive TO
another, and those which are Judicial to
another; and no perscn, or collection oi
persons, being Of one Of those departments
shau exercise any power, properly attached
to either Of the others, except in the in
stances herein expressly permitted.