The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-11
ARTICLE I.


ment may be recognized and unalterably
established, we declare that
SECTION l. All men are born equally
free and independent, and have certain
inherent and indefeasible rights, among
which are those of enjoying and defend
ing life and liberty, of acquiring, pos.
sesslng aud protecting pr ,rty and rep
utation, and OF pu,suiug their own hap
piness.
Sec. 2. All power is inherent in the
people, and all free governments are
founded on their authority and institu-
ted for their peace, safety and happi-
ness. For the advancement of these
ends they have at all times an inaliena-
bic aud indeteasible right to alter, re-
form or abolish their government 10 such
manner as they may think proper.
SEC. 3, All men have natural and
indefeasible right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their
own conscienccs; 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 preference shall ever be
g!v5u BY law to any religious establish
ments or modes of worship.
SEC. 4. No person who acknowledges
the being of God and future state OF
rewards and puniahments shall, OF ac-
count of his religious sentiments, be dis
qualified to hold any Office or place Of
trust or profit under this Common
wealth.
SEC. 5. Elections shall be free and
equal; and 30 power, civil or military,
shall at any time interfere to prevent
the free exercise Of the right of suf-
frage.
SEC. e. Trial by jury shall be as
heretofore, and the right theteot remain
inviolate.
SEC. I. The printing press shall be
free to every person who may undertake
to examine the proceedings OF the Leg
lslature or any branch Of government,
and no law shall ever be made to restrain
the right thereof The free communi
cation Of thoughts and opinions is one OF
the invaluable rights of mau, and every
citizen may freely speak. write aud priut
on any subject, being responsible for the
abuse of that liberty M conNjftiar
hcatl0n OF papers relating to the official
conduct OF officers or men in public GA
pacity, or to any other matter proper for
public investigation of information
where the fact that such publication was
not maliciously or negligently made
shall be established to the satisfaction of
the jury; and in all indictments for
IibeIs the jury shall have the right to
determine the law aud the Facts, under
the direction Of the court, as ia other
cases.
SEC. S. The people shall be secure in
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 without probable
cause, supported by oath or affirmation
subscribed to by the afiaut.
SEC. 3. In all crimiual prosecutions.
the accused hath right to be heard by
himself aad bis 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 inlorma-
ton, speedy public trial by an impair
tial jury of the vicinage; he cannot be
compelled to give evidence against him
self, Dor can he be deprived OF his life,
liberty or property, unles1 y the iudg.
ment of his peers or the law Of the
land
SEC. 10 No person shall for any ia-
dictable ofense be proceeded against
crlminally, by information, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces,
or in the militia, when in actual ser
vice, in time Of war or public dauger OF
by leave OF the court, FOR oppression or
misdamoanor in office. No person shall
for the same oifense be twice put in
jeopardy Of life or limb; nor shall pri-
vate property be taken or applied to
public use without authority OF law, and
without just compensation being first
made OF secured.
Sac. 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 course of law, and
right and justice administered without
sale, denial or delay. Suits may be
brought against the Commonwealth in
such manner, in such courts, and 10
such courts, and in such cases as the
Legislature may by law direct.
SEC. IL. No power of suspendiug laws
shall be exercised unless by the egis-
lature or by its authority.
SEC. Is. Excessive bail shall not be
required, nor excessive fines Imposed,
nor cruel punishments Inflicted
SEC. II. All prisoners shall be baila-
BILE by sufficient sureties, unless for
capital otfenses, when the proof is evil |
dent or presumption great; and 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.
SIC. Is, NJ commisson of over sad |
terminer or iail delivery shall he issnad |