The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-11-20
CONSTITUTION.

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CITIZENS or RUS CoMMoNwsALTu Fol
THEIR APPROVAL OR REJECTION, BY TIL
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
PuBLIsHrD BY oRpEs THE SECRETARY or rHu Con-
hoS"rALra,IN rrRsuANcR or the 4TH sscTiok %
ACT To PRovIDE FOR CALLING A CoSvBsTioN II
oF APRIL, A. d., 1872.
PREAMBLE
We, the people of the commonwealth OF Pennsyy a
MIA grateful TO Almighty God fo- the blessings of civi
and religious Hberty, and humbly invoking His guld
anee, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
ARTICLE l.
RIoHTs
That the general great and essential principles o
liberty and free government may be recognized anc
SECTION l. AL Een arc born equally free snl inde
pendent and havr scrtain inherent and indefeas b.
rights, among which those of enjoying and
defending life and liberty, acquiring, possess ing
protecting property ans sputatton and of pursuing
sEc. 2. All power is inherent in the people and al
free governments founded their authority and
the advancement ofthese end. they have tim E,
nm inaenable and indeffa,bc right to ster, reform
abolish Their government In such manner as they may
sKc.s An natnrpl aud indie feasible righ,
10 worship Almighty God accoFdu2 to the dictates OF
their own consciences right be com
or mainain any ministry against hs consent No
human authority can, in whatever, ntrol
shall be given by law any religious e,.b
shments or modcs of worship
God and future state of rewards and puushu, .nt
shall on account OF his religious sentiments be quail
this Commonwealth.
SEC. 5 Elections shall be free and equal: and no
power, civil or military shall at any time interfere
prevent the free exercise Of the right ofsuflrase
right thereof remain involatc
SEC The printing press fhsl be free every per-
who may undertake examine the proceedings of
the Legislature any branch of government, and
.w shall over be made TO restrain the right thereof
The free communication Of thoughts and opinions
of the invaluable rights of and every citizen
may freely speak, write and print subject being
responsible for the abuse OF that liberty Ma
sn shall be had in any prosecution for the pubcAton
OF papers relating 10 the official conduct Officers
public investigation information where the fact
THAI such publication not malciou.ly negligent
y made shall be established 10 the satsfaeti" of the
jury and in all indictments for ihsa the Jury shall
have the gnt to determine the law and :e fcs under
the direction of the court, as in other
SEC S. The people shall be secure In their persons,
houses, papers, and possessions froA unreasonable
searches and seizures, and search any
place 10 seize any person tkAg shall issue with
probable cause supported by oath or affirmation sub
scribed to by the alfiant
right to be heard ty himself and his counsel 10 de-
mtnd the nature aud cause OF the accusation against
hiIn, The witnesses face face, have
pussry process for obtaining witnesses in his favor.
speedy public trial by impartial jury of the vicnage
he cannot be compelled 10 give evidence against him
self he be deprived of his life liberty prop
erty unless by the Judgment of his the law~of
SEc 10 No person shall for any indietabe offence he
proceeded against "r hinay, by informaiion except
ia arising in the land naval forces in the
militia when n actual eervce in time of public
Danger by the court for oppression
!emeanor in Office. No person slall for the same OF
f.nsc be twice put in jeopardy of life limb shall
private property be taken applied public with
oat authority of law, and without just compensation
being first made secured.
SEC H. All courts shall be open; ard every for
injury done him in his lands, goods person, repu
1alion shall have remedy Icy due course Of law, and
r=h and jus ice administered without safe de- nil.
.!eay SUITS may be brought against the Common
wealth in such manner in such courtE. and in such
cases as the legis ature may 10y law direct.
SEC. y No power of suspending laws shall be exer
ei-ed unless by the Legislature or 10y Its authority
SEC l3. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor
cessive fines imposed, nor cruel inflicted
sEc IA All prisoners shall be liable by sufficient sur
cites unless for capital oenses when the proof ia ev
Wr of babeaa shall not be sgpended unless
when in of rebellion invasion the public safety
may require it.
SEC is. No commission OF oyer and termner or Jail
delivery shall be issued
SEC 16. The person OF debtor where there is not
strong presumption of fraud, shall not he continued in
prison after delivering up his estate for the benefit OF
SIC IT. No Ex POST rAoro law, nor any law impair
ing the obligation of contracts, making irreyocable
grant OF special privileges on immunies shall be
passed
sec Is No atfainder shall work corruption of blood
nor except during the life of the offender forfeiture Of
10 the Commonwealth; the estate of such per
shall destroy their lives shall descend or
vest of death and if any person shall
be killed by casualty, here shall be ne forfeiture by
SEc 20 The citizens have right in peaceabs man
assemble together for their common good and TO
apply with the powers of
redress of grievances other proper purposes by
petition, address remembrance
SEc 81 The right OF citizens 10 bear arms in defense
themselves and the State shall not be questioned
SEC % No standing army shall, in time OF peace be
kept without the consent of the Legislature and the
military shs in all cases. and at all times be in strict
subordination to the civil power:
%. No soldier shall in time of peace be quar-
tered any without the consent Of the owner
in time Of war but in manner to be prescribed by
Sac "a The Legislature shall not grant any title of
nobility hereditary Distinction create any office
the appointment of which shall be for longer term
Ihan during good behaviour.
Sec IS Emigration from the State shall not be pro
hbited.
+rythng this article is excepted out OF the general
powers government and shall forever remain invio
ARTICLE II.
LEGISLATURE.
sEc. The legislative power Of this Common
wealth shall be vested in a General Assembly when
shall consist Of Senate and House OF Representative
SEC 3 Members of the General Assembly shall be
chosen the general election every second year Ihelr
of servi,e shall begin the first day OF Decem
sha in either House the presiding officer there
of shall issue writ OF election TO al such vacancy for
ssc Senators shall be elected for the term of four
ears and Representatives for the term of two years
o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January every
year, and other times when convened by the
the year thousand eight hundred and seventy
eight. In Of vacancy in the office Of the United
between sessions the Governor shall convene the two
houses by proclamation notice not exceeding sixty
days fill the
Sac Senators shall he at twenty five years OF
age and Represent atiyes twenty-one years OF age
They shall have been citizens and inhabitants o
the State four years. and inhabitants Of their respective
districts year b. fore their election (unless alb
the public business Of the United States or o.
this State and shall reside in their respective dstrc
during their terms Of service
SEC & No Senator Representative shall during
the time for which he shall have been elected be ap
pointed to any civil Office under this Commonwealth
and no member of Congress other person holding
any office (except OF attorneys law or In the iiitia
under the United States this Common wealth snail D.
member of either house during his continuance IN OF
flee.
$50 No person hereafter convicted of em bezzemen
of public moneys, bribery perjury or other lniamoY
crime shall be eligible to the General Assembly or ca