Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-16
INTELLIGENCER.
new CONSTITUTION.

new CONSTITUTION.
PREAMBLE.-we, the people OF Missouri
with profound reverence Tor the Supreme Rule
OF the Universe, and grateful ioI His goodness
do, for the better government OF the State, cs'
tabllSh this Constitution.
ARTICLE I.
BOUNDARIES.
Section /. The boundaries of the Stale rs
heretofore established by law, are hereby ratl-
| fed and confirmed. The State shall have con
current Jurisdiction on the river MISSISSIPPI,
| and every other river bordering on the State.
| so far rs the SAID rivers shall form 4 common
boundary to this State G and any other T state OF
| BILE rivers and waters leading to the same, shal
| he common highways, and forever free to the
citizens of this State and the United States
without any tax, duty, i1npOst or toll therefor,
| imposed 10y this State.
ARTICLE IL.
/ BILL OF RIGHTS.
| In order to assert our rights, acknowledge
| our duties, and proclaim the principles on
| which our government is founded, we declare:
Section l. That all political power Is vested
in, AMI derived from. the people; that all gov
ernment of right originates from the people, is
founded upon their will only. and is instituted
solely for the good OF the whole.
Sec: .. That the people of this State have
the inherent, sole and exclusive right to regu-
| late the internal government and police thereof,
| and to alter and abolish their Constitution and
form of government whenever they may deem
it necessary TO their safety and happiness pro-
vided, such change be mot repugnant to the
| Constitution of the United States.
Sec 3. That Missouri is a free aad independ-
| ent State, subject only 10 the Constitution OF
the United States; and MS the preservation of the
| States and the maintenance OF their govern
ments, are necessary to an indestructible Union,
| and We're intended to co-eNist with it, the Leg
| slature IS not authorized TO aCopt nor Will the
people of this State ever assent TO any amend-
ment me-, or shangc of the Constitution Of the IN.
right Of LEGAL self-gOvernment belonging to the
| people OF this State.
Sec. 4. That all constitutional government IS
| intended to promote the general welfare Of the
people: thar all persons have natural rig to
life, liberty and the enjoyment OF the gains OF
their own industry; that to give security to these
| Is the principal office of government. and that
when government does not confer this security,
| II fails of Its chief design.
sec. >. That all men have a natural right to
worship Almighty God according to the dictates
| OF theifOwn conscience; that no pei son can, oh
account Of his religious opinions be , sehdeGed
| this state, nor be disqualified from testifying,
| or from serving as juror; that no human au-
thOrity can control or interfere with the rights
| OF conscience; that no person ought, by any
| law, 10 be molested i'll his person or estate, on
/ account of his religious persuasion or profess
sion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secur-
ed, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts
OF licentiousntss, nor to justify practices incon
| sistent with the good order, peace safety OF
| this state, or with the rights of others.
| Sec. =. That no person can be compelled to
erect, support or attend any place system OF
worship, or to maintain or support any priest,
| minister preacher, or teacher OF any sect,
| church. creed or denomination of religion; bu.
| ii any person shall voluntarily make contract
for any such object, lie shall be held to the per-
Sec. 4 That no money shall ever be taken
from the public treasury, directly or indirectly,
IN aiu OF amy church, sect or denomination OF
l daft prbnS nhnr ain,
| ister or teacher the feot, AS such; and that no
| preference shall be given to, nor any diScrimi-
nation made against any church, sect or creed
OIL religion, or any form of religious faith OF
| worship.
sec. s. That no religious corporation can be
established in this State, except such as may bt
oi holding the title to such real estate may be
prescribed by law for church. editices, parson-
| ages ami cemeteries.
| Sec. 8. That all elections shall be free and
| open; and no power, civil or military, shall nj
any time Interfere to prevent the tree exercise OF
| the right Of suffrage.
| Sec, 10. That courts of Justice shall be oper
| TO every person, and certain remedy Afforded tol
every injury to person, property or character
ed without sale, denial or delay,
| Sec IL. That the people Shall be secure in
their persons, papers, homes and effects, from
| unreasonable searches and seizures; and nc
| warrant to search any place. seize any per-
son or thing shall issue without describing tn,
place to he searched, or the person OF thing tC
| be seized, as nearly as may b.; nor without
| probable cause, supported by Oh h or affrma-
| lion reduced TO writing.
be proceeded against crminally, otherwise
| than by Indictment, except in cases aris-
ing in the land or nava1 forces. or in
| of war public danger; in all Other
cases, oflenses shall be prosecuted crimi.
naily by indictment or information rs concur
| Sec. 13. That treason against the State car
| consist only in levying war against ii, or ad-
hefinS TO its enemies, giving them aid and CON-
| Tort; that no person can be convicted of treason
| unless ON the testimony of two witnesses to tht
| same overt act. or on his confession in open
| court; that no person can be attanted of trea-
son or felony by the General Assembly: that nc
conviction can work corruption OF blood OF for
Ieiure of estate; that the estates of uch persons
/ vest as in cases of natural death; and when any
l person shall be killed by causuality, there shall
i be no tol teiture by reason thereof.
4 Sec IA. That no law shall be passed impair
| ing the freedom of speech; thar every person
| shall be free to say, write or publish Whatever
he will on any subject, being responsible for ali
| abuse of that liberty, and tnat in all suits and
prosecutions for libel the truth thereof may b.
given in evidence, and the jury, under the direc.
tIon of the court, small determine the law ant
| the fact.
Sec. 10. That no ex post facto law, nor law
nnpairlng the obligation Of contracts, or retro
spectiye in Its operation, making any Irrevo.
| Cable grant OF special privileges or fnmunlties
can be passed by the General Assembly
Sec. IL. That Imprisonment for debt stal
bnes and penalties imposed for violation of law
5, seG. I'll, Il. That the right of no citizen to keel
and bear arms III defense oil his home, person o
properly, or III aid oI shc civil power, whei
thereto legally summoned, shall be called il
question; but nothing herein contained is in
Irnded to justify the practice of wearing con
c''alc'i weapons.
Sec Is That no person elected or appointed
tn any Office or employment Of trust or prof
un,irr lie laws ci this Stale, or any other ordi
nance Of any municipality in this State, shall
hold such Office without personally devOting hi
time 10 Ike performance Of the duties to til
same belonging.
Sec. 10. That no person who is now, or ma
hereafter become collector or receiver Of pub
lie money, or assistant or deputy Of such collec
tor or receiver, shall be eligible to any Office q
trust or profit in the State OF Missouri under tn
laws thereof, or OF any municipality therein
until he shall have accounted for and paid owe
all the public money for which he may be &c
countable.
,, Sec 10. That no private property can be ta
Ken Tor private use with or without cOmpen,a
, ton, unless by consent of the owner eXcept TO
: private WAYS Of Necessity, and except for dram
and dItches across the lands of others for agri
cultural and sanitary purposes IN such mann-
as may be prescribed by law; and that wneneye
an attempt is made 10 take private property for
llse alleged to be public, the question wiiethe
the contemplated Use he really public, shall he
Judicial question:, and is such Judiciully deter
mined. without regard TO any legislative asser
ton that the use is public.
Sec. al That private property shall not b
! taken or damaged for public use without J,ls
compensation. such compensation shall be Us
certaIhed by Il Jury or board OF commissioner
. "i not less than three lreehoders III such man
ii"r as may be prescribed by law; and until tn
sane shall he paid by the owner, or into cutir
lpf the owner, the property shall hot be disturb
ett or the proprietary rights Of the owner there
Invested HE lee OI land taken for railroa
tracks without consent Of the owner thereof
Shall remain IN such owner subject to the use fu
| which il is taken.
Stc. - IN criminal prosecutions the accllse
9iltii nave Inc right to api,ear and defend, il
person, anu by counsel; to denan,l the n,tur
AMI c:ise OF the accusatiOn TO meet the witness
es igainst INN face to face; to have process +
compel Tie attendance Of Witnesses in his be
3 jury OF the county.
SEC 2i T!.at no person shall be compelled t
| lesluS against nm III 4 criminal cause nor sll
.. any person ailcr being once acuilIited by a jury
bt again. iOr ltie same OntnSe, put in leonard
ul lIir or liberty; but il The jury to which In
Question oil his guilt or innocenre is submitted
IAN Ia render Il ver,iicf, the court befur. whic.
The trial Is had, may, III lis discretion dischury
lIcJuy anu commit or bail The prisoner for Fri,
al Inc next Term OF court, If the state OF bI,.
mess will lerint, at the same term; and
Judgment bc arrested after verdict OF guilty O
Il detective indictment, or if Judgment ON Il vel
dict of guilty be reversed for error in law moth
ing herein contained shall prevent "a new trial ,
the prisoner ON Il PROPER indictment, OF ACCORD
ing 10 correct principles OF law.
sec. "A. That all persons shall be bailablc b
when the proof Is evident or the presumptiO
| great
See, % That excessive bail shall not be r,
Tulred, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cru
AMI unusual punishment inflicted
Sec. u. Thai the privilege of the writ of h;
beas corpus shall never be suspended
] Sec q. That the military shall aiWavs be
strict siibnr,iInatlOn 10 ihe civil power; that Il
soldier shall in time of peace be quartered
| any house without the consent of the owner n,