The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27
PREAMBLE.
ARTICLE I.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

principles OF liberty and free govern
ment may be recognized aud unalterably
, established, We declare that
SECTION l. All men are born equally
free and independent, and have certain
inherent and indcfeasible rights, among
which are those of enjoying and defend
ing life and liberty, Of acquiring, pos,
sossiug aud protecting property and rep
utation, and OF pursuing their own hap
piness
SEC. 2. All power is Inherent in the
people, and all free governments are
founded on their authority and iustitu-
ted for their peace, safety aud happi-
ness. For the advancement Of these
ends they have at all times an inaliena-
bic aud indeieasible right to alter, re-
form or abolish their government ia such
manner as they may think proper.
SEC. ). All men have natural and
indeieasib!e right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their
own consciences; 90 man eau of right
be compelled to attend, erect or support
any place of worship Or to maintain any
ministry against his consent; no human
authority can, in any case whatever,
control or interfere with lhe rights os
conscience, and preference shall ever be
g!y5n by law to any religious establish
mGnts or modes OF worship.
SEC. +. No person who Acknowledges
the being OIL God and 4 future state OF
rewards and punithments shall, on ac
count OF his religious sentiments, be dis
qualified to hold any office or place OF
trust or profit under this Common
wealth.
SEC. ). Elections shall be free and
equal; and no power, civil or military,
shall at any time interfere to prevent
tue tree exercise CT the right Of suf-
trage.
SEC. 6 Tria! by jury shall be as
heretofore, and the right thoteot remain
inviolate
SEC. I. The printing press shall be
free to every person who may undertake
to examine the proceedings of the Leg
isiaturo or any branch of government
and 10 law shall ever be made TO restrain
the right thereof The Tree communi.
cation OF thoughts and opinions is one OF
tie invaluable rights Of man, and every
citizen may freely speak. write aud print
On any subject, being responsible for the
abuse Of that liberty. No conviction
shall be had IN prosecution for the pub
licatlon OF papers relating to the official
conduct OF officers or men in public GA
paclty, or to any other matter proper for
public investigation Of information
where the fact that such publication was
not maliciously or neeiigenty made
shall be established 10 the satisfaction of
the jury; and in all indictments for
libes the jury shall have the right to
determine the Law aud the !acts, under
the direction Of the court, as 10 other
cases.
SEC. s. ILe people shall be secure iu
their persons, houses, papers and pos
sessions, from unreasonable searches and
seizures, and no warrant to search any
place or to seize any person or things.
shall issue without describing them as
nearly as may be, nor witbout probable
cause, supported ty oath or affirmation
subscribed to By the atfiaat.
SEC. 8. IN al! criminal prosecutions.
the accused hath wight to be heard by
himself and his counsel, to demand the
nature and cause of the accusation
against him, to meet the witnesses face
to face, to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and in
prosecutions by Indictment or iniorma-
tiou, speedy public JriaI by au impair
tlai jury Of the yiciuage; he cannot be
compelled to give evidence against him
self, nor eau he be deprived of his life,
liberty or property, unless by the judy
ment OF his peers or the law Of the
land
SEC 10 No person shalt for any in
dictable oifense be proceeded against
crImiaally, by information, except in
cases arising io the land Or naval forces,
o" in the militia, when in actual ser-
vice, in dime Of war OF public danger, or
by leave OF the court, for oppression or
misdemennor in office. No person shall
iOr the same ohense be twice put 10
jeopardy Of life or limb; nor shall pri-
vato property be takeu or applied to
public use without authority OF law, and
without uat compensation being first
made or secured.
SEC. IL. All courts shall be open, and
every man for an injury doue him in his
lands, goods, person or reputation, shall
have remedy by cue course of law, and
right aud justice administered without
sale, dcnial Or delay. Suits may be
brought against the Commonwealth in
such manner, in such courts. and in
such courts, and in such cases as the
Legislature may by law direct.
SEC. II. No power of suspendiug laws
shall DE exercised unless by the legis-
lature or by It's authority.
SEC. ID. Excessive bail shall not be
required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel puuishmonts inflicted.
SEC. II, All prisoners shall be baila-
ble by sufficient sureties, unless for
capital otfenses, when the proof is evil
dent OR presumption great; aud the
privilege of the writ Of habeas corpus
shall DOT be suspended, ualess when in
case Of rebellion or invasion the public
safety may require it,
SEC. 10. No commisson of oyer and |
terminer Or Jail delivery shall be issued.