Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-11-21
CONSTITUTION.
New Constitution Proposed TO the
Citizens OF this Com m on wealth
for their Approval or Rejection,
by the Constitutional Convention.

Published by order of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, IN pursuance of the 4tt
section ofan act ofthe General Assembly
entitled IAN act to provide for calling q
Convention TO amend the Constitution, ~
approved the 11th day Of April, A. ID.
1872.
! PREAMBLE.
We, the people OF the Common wealth of Penn.
sylvania, grateful TO Almighty God for the bless
! ings OF civil and religious liberty, and humbly
invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish
! this Constitution.
ARTICLE1.
DECLARATION OF RIaHrs.
That the General, great and essential principles
OF liberty and free government may be recognized
and unalterably established, we declare that
SEcTIoN l. All uien born equally free and
independent, and have certain inherent and inde-
feasible rights, among which are those of enjoy
| Ing and defending life aud liberty, of acquiring,
possessing aud protecting property and reputa-
ton, aud of pursuing their own happiness.
SEC 2. All power Is Inherent In the people, and
all free governments are founded on their autho-
rity and instituted for their peace, safety and
happiness. For the advancement of these ends
they have at all times au nalienable and indefea-
sible right to alter reform abolish their govern
ment In snch manner they may think proper.
SEC. 3. All men have natural and iudefeasiblo
right TO worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of their own consccnces no man can 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 the
rights OF conscience, and no conference shah ever
be gwen by law to any religious establishments
or modes Of worship.
SEC. 4, No person who acknowledges the being
CT God and future state of rewards aud pun
ishments shall, on account of his religious scnti
ments, be disqualified to hold any office or place
of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.
SEC. 5. Elections shah be free and equal and
no power, civil or military, shall at any time in
terere to prevent the free exercise of the right oil
suffrage.
SEC. G. Trial by jury shall lie as heretofore, and
the right thereof remain inviolate.
SEC. z. The printing press shall be free to every
person who may undertake to examine 'he pro.
cecdings of the Legislature or any oranch OF
government, and no law shall ever DC inauc 10
retain the right thereof, The free communica-
tion Of thoughts and opinions Is ono OF the IN
valuable rights of man, and evcyy citizen may
freely speak, write and print or any subject, be-
ing responsible for the abuse that liberty. NO
conviction shall be had IL any prosecution ior
the publication of paprs relating to the official
conduct of officers or men In public capacity,
to any other matte proper for public investiga-
tion or informaton where the fact that such pub
lication was ut malicously or negligently made
shall be est.bshed to the satisfaction of the
Jury; ar, In all indictments for libes the Jury
shall b.ce the right to determine the la W and the
facts under the direction of the court, as in
otter cases.
: SEC s. The people shall be secure In their pe,-
sons, houses, papers, and possessions, from un-
reasonable sen chcs and seizures, and no warrant
to search any place or to seize any person
things, shall issue without describing them as
nearly as may be, nor without probable cause,
supported by oath or affirmation, subscribed to
by the atlant.
SEC. 9. In all criminal prosecutions, the accus-
ed hath right 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 OBJ
tanning witnesses in his favor, and la prosecu-
tions by Indictment or Information, speedy
public trial by an impartial jury Of the vicinage;
he cannot be compelled to give evidence against
himself nor can he be deprived Of his life, liberty
or property, unless by the Judgment Of his peers
or the law of the land.
SEC. TO- No person shall for any indictable Of
Tense be proceeded against crimnally, by infor-
nation, except in arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the militia when in actual service,
In time of war or public danger, or by leave of
the court, for oppression or misdemeanor in Of
flee. No person shall for the same ofense be twice
put In jeopardy OF life or limb nor shall private
property be taken or applied TO public use with
out authority of law, and without just compen-
sation being first made or secured.
SEQ. ii. All courts shall be open (; and every
man for an injury done him in his lands, goods,
person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due
without sale, denial, or delay. Suits may be
brought against the Commonwealth in such man
ne., in such courts, and in such cases rs the Leg
islature may by law direct.
SEC. IL. No power of suspending laws shall be
exercised unless BY the Legislature or by its au-
thorty.
SEC. 49, Excessive bail shall not be required,
mol excessive fines imposed NOR cruel paushments
inflicted.
SEC. IA. All prisoners shall be bailable by sum.
nj nna hen
the proof Is cvidcnt or presumption great aud
the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not be suspended, unless when In case of rebellion
or invasion the public safety may require it.
SEC. Is. No commission OF oyer and termner or
Jail delivery shall be ISSUED.
SEC. 10. The person of II debtor, where there Is
not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be
continued in prison after delivering up his estate
for the benefit OF his creditors, in such manner as
shall be prescribed by law.
SEc. II. No Ex POST PACTo law, nor any law
impairing the obligation of contracts, or making
irrevocabe any grant of special privileges or i'm
munities, shall be passed.
SEC. Is. No person shall he attainted OF treason
or felony by the Legislature.
SEC. 10. No AIT linder shall work corruption OF
blood, nor, except during The life of the offender,
forfeiture of estate to The Commonwealth, Ihe
estate of such persons rs shall destroy their own
lives shall decend or vest In cases of natural
death, and il any person shall be killed by casu-
atty, there shall be no forfeiture by there
Of.
SEc. 20. The citizens have right in paacea-
bic manner to assemble together for their COM
mon good, and To apply to those invested with
the powers of government for redress OF grlevan-
ees or other proper purposes, by petition, address
remonstrance.
sgo. 81. The right of citizens to bear arms in
defence of themselves and the State shall not be
questioned.
SEC. %. No stapding army shall, in time of
peace, be kept up without the consent of the Leg
islature and the military shall. in all cases, and
at all times, be In strict subordination, TO the
civil power.
SEC .3. No soldier shall in time of peace be
quartered In any house without the consent of
the owner, nor In time Of war but in manner TO
be prescribed by law.
SEQ. 24. The Legislature sh-n -. s,.--. anv
title of nobility or hereditary distinciion' nor
create any offioc the appointment oil when snaii
be for longer term than during good behavior
SEQ. 25. Emigration from the State shall not
be prohibited.
SEC. 20. To guard against transgressions OF the
powers which We have delegated, We declare
~ .verythng In this article Is excepted out OF
y lerai powers of government, and shall Tor
main iuyiolate.
ARTICLE III.
SECTION /. The legislative power OF this Com
| monweaith shall be vested In General Assem-
bly,, which shall consist OF a Senate aud House oil
R...,r tatfu