The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-08-05

| state, and is now presented 10 this general
| assembly for their action thereon: and a
| majority of all the members elect q %
each house at said annual meeting being
present and approving OF said prop sd
| amendment.
1; is enacted by the General Asse m5ly as
| follsVzs:
seem l. The following proposition of
amendment TO the constitution of this
| state, proposed by the last general assem-
| bly,. is hereby declared approved, as fol-
Lsws;
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
! AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
We. the people of the State of Rhode
! Island ard Providence Plantations. CRATE
! ~ o. IfsLSisLtv God for the civil and re-
| ngiOus liberty which We have so long en-
| joyed and looking 10 Him for a blessing
| upon our endeavOrs 10 preserve and per-
| petUate the same. do ordain and establish
this constitution Of government.
ARTICLE l.
| Dea@asa sseH of Cettain Constitutional
| Rights and PRINCIPLES.
| The rights and principles declared in this
article shall be strictly maintained, and
| shall be of paramount obligation in all
| legislative, judicial and executive proceed
| ings.
Section / In the words of the Father of
| his Country, we declare. that the basis of
our political systems is the right of the
| people 10 make ana alleT tnelr cOnsCIu-
tons of government; but that the consti-
! tuition which at any time exists. till
| changed by an explicit and authentic act
| of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory
| upon all
| Sec. 2. All free governments are insti-
tuted for the protection, safety and hap
| piness of the people. All laws therefore
shall be made for the good of the whole;
| and the burdens OF the state shall be fairly
! distributed among its citizens.
| Sec. 3. Whereas, God has created the
| oonEeierse free, and all attempts TO infiu-
| ence II by civil punishments or incapacita-
| tiOns tend TO habits of hypocrisy and
| meanness. and whereas. a principal OBJ
| ject of our forefathers, in their settlement
| of this state, was TO hold forth a lively
experiment, that a flOurishing civil state
| may stand ana be Ooat l-4,,--.-tintt With
| full liberty in reESiOus cOLcsTrr1eMJS. We
! therefore declare that no man shall be
| compelled TO attend, or, except in fulfill
| ment of his own contract. to support any
| religious worship; or shall be disqualified
| to hold any office or otherwise sUIer on
| account of his religious belief; and that
! every man shall be free TO worship God in
! his own way. and to profess and by argu-
ment main tain his opinion in religious mat
! ters; but nothing in this section shall be so
construed TO excuse any violation of
the law in civil things.
! Sec. 4. Every person within this state
ought to find certain remedy, by having
recourse to the laws, for all injuries or
| wrongs which he may receive in his per-
! son, property or character. He ought to
obtain right and justice freely and without
! purchase. completely and without denial;
! promptly and without delay; conformabiy
! to the laws.
! Sec. 5. The right of the people to be Sc
| cure in their persons papers, and posses
siOns, against unreasonable searches and
seizures shall not be violated; and no war
rant shall issue. but on complaint in writ
| ing, upon probable cause supported by
oath or affirmation and describing as
| nearly as may be, the place TO be searched
and the persons or things to be seized.
| Sec. 6. No person shall be held TO answer
| for a crime which shall be punishable by
! death or by imprisonment in the state
| prison. unless on presentment or indict-
| Hent by a grand jury, except in cases of
! impea ChmeRt, or in cases arising in the
| land or naval forces or in the militia when
| in actual service in time of war or public
| danger. No person shall be subject TO be
| twice put in jeopardy for the same offence.
| Sec. Z. Excessive bail shall not be re-
| quired, nor excessive fines imposed. nor
| cruel punishments inflicted; and all pun
| ishments shall be proportioned to the Of
fence.
| Sec. g. All persons imprisoned ought to be
| bailed by sufficient surety, unless for Of
| fences punishable by death or by impris-
| onment for life, when the proof of guilt is
| evident or the presumption great Inc
| privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not be suspended unless in case of reOel-
| lion or invasion the public safety shall
! quire il; nor ever without the authority Of
| the general assembly.
| Sec. 8. In all criminal prosecutions the
| accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy
| and public trial by an impartial jury; to be
! iAfsFtned of the nature and cause of the
! accusation, 10 be confronted with the wit
| neseeS against him, TO have compulsory
process for obtaining them in his favor TO
| have the assistance of counsel in his de-
fence, and shall be at liberty to speak for
| himself.
| Sec. 10. The person of a debtor. unless
| there is strong presumption of fraud. shall
| not be continued in prison after he shall
| have delivered up his property for the
! benefit of his creditors in such manner as
| shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. IL. No ex post facto law, or law i'm
pairing the obligation of contracts, shall
he pssssl
Sec. - No person shall be compelled to
| give evidence eliminating himself; or be
| deprived of life, liberty property, with
| out due process Of law.
! Sec. 13. Every person shall be presumed
| innocent until he is pronounced guilty by
| the law; and no act of severity which is
not necessary to secure an accused person
| shall be permitted.
| Sec. IA. The right Of trial by jury shall
| remain inviolate.
| Sec. Is. Private property shall not be
| taken for public use without just compen-
| sation therefor, unless by the consent OF
! the owner; nor, except for the use Of the
| state of a municipal or quasi-municipal
| corporation, or when taken under the law
| relating to water-mills, until such COM
| pensation has been made has been Sc
cured by a deposit Of money as prescribed
s ia
| Sec. 16. The people of this state shall
| continue to enjoy and freely exercise all
| the rights of fishery. and the privileges of
! the shore, TO which they have been hereto
| fore entitled under the charter and usages
| az tbss state. But no new right is in
| tfssae6 20 be granted. any existing
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