Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-12-12

Published by order of the Secretary Of the
Qommenwealth, in pursuance Of the 4th
section of fan act ofthe General Assembly,
entitled IAN act to provide for calling a
Convention to amend the Constitution"
approved the 11th day of April, A. ID.
1872.
PREAMBLE.
We, the people OF the Common wealth Of Penn
sylvsnia, grateful to Almighty God for the bless
ngs OF civil and religious liberty, and humbfy
INVOKING His guidance. do ordafn and establish
HI Constitution.
ARTICLKf.
DECLARATION OF RraHrp
That the General, great and essential principles
ofMberty and free government may be recognized
ape unalterably established. we declare that
bhoT1oN I. All men are born equally free and
adcpndent, and have certain Inherent and inde-
feasible rishts, among which are those of enjoy
Ing and ae!,nding life and liberty, of acquiring,
possessing a,d protecting property and reputa-
tion, ana OF p'rsuing their own happiness.
SEC =. All pwer Is Inherent In the people, and
all free 2oyernm0ts are founded on their autho-
rity ana inst.u'ee for their peace, safety and
happiness. for tte advancement of these ends
they nave at al IAN iualienable and indefea-
ment in such manner as,bey NAV think Droper.
SEC. 8. All men have n tnral and ,ndefen sihjs
right to worship Almighty Sod accordinU to the
dictates OF thel, onn ,s es; no man can OF
place of worship, or to mainta, anv miniatry
against his consent no human a,bor;tv can IN
any case whatever, control or inter no ritb ,be
rights of conscience, and no cor ferent shaIl ever
be given by law to any religious estabxbmsnts
or modes Of worship.
SEC. 4. No person who acknowledges tn horo
of a God aud = future state of rewards and ann,
ishments shall. on account of bis religious SET
ments be disqualified to hold any office or plS,
of trust profit under this Commonwealth
SEC. s. Elections shall be free and equal and
no power. civil or military, shall ut any time In
terfere to prevent the free exercise OF the right
suffrage.
SEC. s. Trial by jury shall be as heretofore. a
the right thereof remain inviols,o
SEC. Z. The printing press shall be free to every
person who may undertake to examine the pro-
ceedngs of the Legislature or any branch Of
government and no s W shall ever be made to
restrain the right thereof. The free communiee-
tion of thoughts and opinions is one ot the in-
valuable rights OF man, and every citizen may
freely speak. write and print OH any subject, oe'
ing responsible for the abuse Of that liberty. Nc
conviction shall be had IN any prosecution ioi
the publication of papers relating TO the ohcta
conduct of officers or men In public capacity, oi
TO any other matter proper Tor puolic lnvesllgs
ton or information where the fact that such pro
LEGATION was not msiciously or negigeutly Tsne
shall be established TO the satisfaction g the
Jury; and 10 all indictments for libeis tie lu.y
shall have the right to determine the la1 ana tne
facts, under the direction of the csurt, ss IN
other cases.
SgS. g. The people shall be secure In their per-
sons, houses, papers. and possessions, 1rom un.
reasonable sea, chcs and seizures, snd no "arrant
to search any place or to seize any person Oh
things, shall issue without describing them az
suppHr ID by oath or af.,iatioli s3escribed tC
- The afnant. -
SIC. .: IL &, criminal pro.oea.,nns. tho .ccu,.
ID hstu 9 right to be heard by himself ana iiIr
counsel, TO demand the nature and csuse of tbs
accusation against him, to meet the witnesses
isee 10 faec, TO have compulsory process for oh.
tanning witnesses In his favor, and In prosecu-
tionG by Indictment or information a sn..d .
puohc ira by an impartial jury Of the vcinsgs
nc cannot be compelled to give evidence against
hl'n'eit nor can he be deprived Of his life lberty
OF property, unless by the judgment Of his peers
or the law OF the land.
ekc. TO- No person shall for suy i1dictabe Of
tense be proceeded against crininally, by infor-
10 'lon,e1cept in cases arising IN the laud or naval
Iorces, or In the militia, wien in actual service
IN time Of war or pubIc danger, or by leave Of
the court, for oppression or misdemeanor in Of
dee. No person shall for the same onenre be twIcs
put 10 jeopardy OF life or limb nor sha all priyste
property be taken or applied to public use with
ont authority of law, and without just compen-
sation being first made or secured.
SEC. H. All courts shall be open; and syerv
man FOR an injury done him in his lands, goods.
person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due
course Of law aud right and Justice administered
s without sale, deniaI, or delay. Suits may be
brought against the Common wealth In such man
h'F, In such courts, and in such cases as the Leg
isiatnre may by law direct.
SEC IL. No power OF suspending laws shall bs
exercised unless by the Legislature or by it's au-
thOrity.
SIC. l3. Excessive bail shall not be required.
inflicted.
SEC. Il. All prisoners shall be bailable BY sum.
cient sureties, unless for capital ofenses when
the pro"f is evident or presumption great; and
the privilege Of the writ Of haseas corpus shall
not De suspended, unless when In of rebellion
or invasion the public safety may require it.
SEC, Is. No com mission of oyer and termiper or
jail delivery shall be issued.
SEC. 10. The person of a debtor, where there ls |
moi strong presumption of fraud, shall not be
continues In prison after delivering up his estate
ih tne dement, OF his creditors, In such manner as
shall be prescribed by law.
SEC. H. No EI rosr PAcro law, nor suy law
lmpalrlng the obligation of contracts, or making
irrevoeable any grant of special privileges or i'm
munities, shall be passed.
SEC. Is. No person shall be attainted of treason
or felony by the Legislature.
SEC. 49, No attainder shall work corruption Of
blood, nor, except during the life OF the offender
forfeiture of estate to the Commonwealth, The
estate or such tersons as shall destroy their own
Nes shall descend or vest as IN cases of natural
death, and if any person sialI u hui.d ~ >.s-
atty, there shall be no forfeiture by reason there
Of
SEC. 20. The citizens have right In a psacea-
be manner to assemble together for their COM
mon good, and to apply TO those invested with
the powers of government for redress Of greyan-
ces or other proper purposes, by petition, address
or remonstrance.
SEC. 81. The right OF citizens to bear arms In
defence Of themselves and the State shall not be
questioned.
SEC. 90. No standing army shall, in time OF
peace, be kept up without the consent of the Leg
isature and the military shall, in all cases, and
at all times, be in strict subordinaton, to the
civil power.
SEC. 23. No soldier shall In time of peace be
quarered in any house without the consent OF
the owner, nor In time of war but in a manner to
be prescribed by law.
SEC. "a. The Legislature shall not grant any
title Of nobility or hereditary distinction, nor
create any Office the appointment of which shall
be for a longer term than during good behavior.
SEC. 25. Emigration from the State shall not
be prohibited.
SEC. 26. Toguard against transgressions OF the
high powers which we have deeg ated. w11esclara I
that everything In this article tisY.cepted ont Of
ever remain inolate.
ARTICLE II.
ION 1. The legislative power OF this Com
18th shall be vested In General Assem-
shall consist OF Senate and House of
tives.
Members of the General Assembly
at the peneral electiou every