Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-27

whether to promulgate the constitution, |
when the terms of officers therein pro- |
yided for shall begin, and other similar |
details. The full text of the Constitution, |
as finally adopted by the convention, and |
as declared complete, is as follows:
WE. THE PEOPLE. HEREBY OR
DAM AND ESTABLISH THIS |
CONSTITUTION OF GOVERN
MENT FOR THE STATE OF
DELAWARE.
PREAMBLE.
Through Divine goodness, ali men have
by nature the rights of worshipping their
Creator according to the dictates of their
conscience, of enjoying aud defending life
and liberty, of acquiring and protecting
reputation and property, and in general of
attaining objects suitable to their condi-
tion, without injury by one to another;
and as these rights are essential to their
welfare, for the due exercise thereof.
power is inherent in them; and therefore
all just authority in the institutions of
political society is derived from the people.
and established with their consent, to adj
vance their happiness; and they may for
this end, as circumstances require. from
time to time, alter their Constitution of
government.
ARTICLE BILL OF RIGHTS.
Section 1. Although il is the duty Of all
men frequently to assemble together for
the public worship of Almighty God: and
piety and morality, on which the prosper
ity of communities depends are thereby
promoted; yet no man shall or ought to be
compelled TO attend any religious worship,
to contribute to the erection or support of
any place Of worship; or to the mainten-
ance of any ministery, against his own
free will and consent; and no power shall
or ought to he vested in or assumed hy any
magistrate that shall in any case interfere
with. or in any manner control, the rights
Of conscience, in the free exercise of rclig-
ious worship, nor a preference given by
law to any religious societies, denomina-
tons. or modes of worship.
Section .. No religious test shall be re-
CURED as a qualification TO any office, or
public trust, under this State.
Section 3. All elections shall be free and
equal.
Section 4. Trial by jury shall be as here
tcfore.
Section ). The press shall he free TO
every citizen who undertakes to examine
thu official conduct of men acting in public
capacity; and any citizen may print on
any subject, being responsible for the
abuse of that liberty. In prosecutions for
publications., investigating the proceed
ings of officers, or where the matter pub
!slled is proper for public information,
the truth thereof may he given i'm evil
dence; and in all indictments for libels the
jury may determine the facts and the law,
as in other cases.
Section Il. The people shall be secure in
their persons. houses. papers and posses
sinns. from unreasonable searches and
seizures; and no warrant To search any
place, or to seize any person or thing, shall
issue without describing them as partcu
larry ms may he: nor then. unless there b.
probable cause supported by oath or aflir
nation.
Section I. In all criminal prosecutions
the accused hath right to he heard b.
himself and his counsel, To he plainly anc
fully infogmed of the nature and cause q
the accusation against him. to meet tn
witnesses in their examination face Il
fnce, 10 have compulsory process in du
time. oil application by himself, his friend
or counsel, for obtaining witnesses in hi
favor. aud u speedy and public trial 10y ~
impartial jury; he shall not he cumpelc
To give evidence against himself nor shal
be he deprived Of life, liberty or property
unless by the judgment of his peers o
10y the law of the land.
Section 3. No person shall for any il
dictahle offence he proceeded against erin
inally by information, except in eases aris
ing in the land or naval forces, or in til
militia when in actual service in time q
war or public danger; and no person sha
he for the same offence twice put in icuI
ardy of life or limb; nor shall any mnn
property he taken or applied to public Ms
without the consent Of his representative
and without compensation being made,
Section o. All courts shall he omen: IN
every man for an injury done him in h
reputation, person. movable or immn
able possessions shall have remedy /
The due course of law, and justice Il,
ministcrcd according 10 the very right ,
the cause and the law of the land witt
out sale, denial or unreasonable delay ,
expense: and every action shall hr tri,
in the county in which it shall he cor
mcnced. unless when the judges of Il
court in which the cause is to he tri,
shall determine that nm impartial tri
thereof cannot he had in that count
Suits may be brought against the Stat
according to such regulations as shall
made 10y law.
Section 10. No power of suspcndiI
laws shall he exercised but by authuri
of the General Assembly.
Section II. Excessive bail shall not
required. nor excessive fines Imposed, n
cruel punishm"nts inflicted; and in I
construction of inils II proper regard sh
he had to the health of prisoners.
Section l.. All prisoners shall be In
able ny sufficient securities. unless for "a
itnl offences when the proof is rnsi'ivc
the presumption great; and when prrso
are confined on accusation for su
offences their friends and counsel may
proper seasons have access to them.
Section IS. The prl, ilcgr of the writ
hnhcHS corpus shall not br suspended, I
less when in eases of rebellion or inyasi
the public safety may require it.
Section II. No commission of oyer n
tcrmincr or Jail delivery. shall bc issued
Section II. No attnndcr shall work q
ruptinn of blood. nor except during
life of the offender forfeiture of csta
The estates of those who destroy til
own lives shall descend nr vest as in e;
Of natural death. and if any person
Killed by accident no forfeiture shall the
by hc incurred.
Section III. Although disobedienCr
laws by part Of the people upon sugg
iicns of inroliry or injustice in the
tends Icy immediate effect and the mi
cncc of example moi only to endanErr
public welfare aud safety. but also in q
ernmen's "f republican form cont
veres tho social principles of such &
ernmcnia, founded on common consent
common good; vet tho citizens have