The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-27
THE REVISED CONSTITUTION

fNo
/ STATE or RHODE ISLAND AND PRCFl-
DENcE PLANTATIONS
! We, ihe people q the state OF Rhode Island
/ ana ProNilsuce Plantations. grateful 10 Az
mighty God Tor The civil and religious liberty
/ wh,ch we have So Ions enjoyed ana looking
! 10 Him FOR blessing mon our enafavors 20
I preserve and pcrIttuate the same, do oriGin
aad establish uis constitution of government.
ARTICLE l.
/ Declaration Of certain constitutional Rights
aud PRINCIPLES.
! The rights and principles declared in this
| article shall be strictly maintained. and shall
| be Of paramount obligation In all legislative.
| judicial aad eyocntive proceedings.
| Section IN the words OF the Father yf his
Conniry, We declare, that the basis OF our
I political systems rs the right of the people to
make and alter their constitutions Of govern
ment but that the constitution which at any
| time exists til changed by an explicit and
| authentic act Of tie Whole people is saeredly
! obligatory upon all
See. 2 An free governments are instituted
| for the protection. safety and happiness OF
the people Al laws, therefore. shall be made
I for the good of the whole; and the burdens of
the state shall be fairly distributed among It's
| Citizens.
| See 9. whereas. God has created the CON
science free. and all attempts 20 influence u
| b. civil punlshments or Interpretations tend 10
| habits 81 hypocrisy and mcGnness, and where
ss. priucpal object OF our furefathers. in
| their settlement of this state. 10 hold
| forth a lively experiment, that a nonrshing
| civil state may stand snd be best maintained
with full liberty in religious cOncernments, we
therefore declare that mo- man shall be COM
| PEELED TO attend. or except in fuldllment of
his own contract, 20 support any religious
worship; shall be disquaihed to hold any
| Office or otherwise suffer on account Of his
religious belief: and that every man shall be
free TO worship God I'm his own way. aud 90
| profess and by argument maintain his opinion
| In rclSions matters; but nothing in this sec
| tion shall be SO construed as 70 excuse amy
violation Of the law I'm civil thinga.
Sec. T. 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 Isis person. property
| or character lie ought Ia obtain right and
| justice freely and without purchase, complete
! ~ and without denial; promptly and without
, delay. conformahly 20 the laws.
Sec. 9. The right OF the people 10 be secure
In their persons. papers and possessions.
against unreasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated; and no warrant shall
issue, but on complaint In writing, upon prob
able cause supported by oath or affirmation.
and describing, nearly as may be. the place
To be searched, and the persons or things TO
De seized
See. 5. No person shall be held 20 answer
| for a crime which shall be punishable by death
| or by imprisonment in the state prison, unless
on presentment or indictment by a grand jury.
except in cases OF Impeachment. or in cases
arising in the land or naval forces or In the
| miltis 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. T. Excessive bail shall not be required,
| nor excessive fines imposed. cruel punish
ments inflicted, and an punishments shall be
prop0rtloned 10 the offence
Sec. s. All persons imprisoned ought 10 be
hailed BY sufficient surety. unless for offences
| punishable by death or by Imprisonment Tor
lfs when The pr"of a. guilt IS evident or the
| presumption grrat The privilege q the writ
| OF hahess corpus shall not be suspended. un-
less In case OF rebellion or invasion the public
| safetv shall require a.; nor ever without the
authority ~ the general assembly.
Il a.NN aal IA g.. fHa
/ Cused shall enjoy the right 10 speedy aud
| public trial by impartial jury: TO he in
formed Of the nature and cause OF the acousa-
| tion 10 be confronted with the witnesses
against him. 20 have compulsory process for
obtaining them IN his favor, 10 have the
| sistance % counsel iva his defence, and shall
| be AZ liberty To speak for himself
Sec. 10. The person Of a debtor, unless there
| is strong preeumpion Of fraud shall not be
continued in prison aftfr he shall have de-
| livcr,l up his property for the benefit OF hs
| creditors IN rucl. manner as shall be prescribed
Sec. H. i-,~-irr---
! poIrius tho obligation of contracts. shall be
! ss, ie so i,erasn shau 10 compelled to give
| evidence cr'mniatirE lrlSelt. Or be deprived ~
hfe. liberty a. lgaFeIiy' without due process
| of law.
| i.nocrut until lre .-.pip0ou0cei guilty - the
law. sind no gct &C severity Which ts not ucces-
sasy to secure aa accused rcIsan shall be
| Sec a. IRE rlght OF trial by jury shal!
see o. rrirs;e property shall not he taken
| f0r pubic uge without iuFt compensatun
| therefor. upl,st ry ibr consent of the owner:
| uur except tor thc 1Fe ~ ihc ststo or of a
| municipal or cTari-ulnicirul corporation. or
! WHOM taken un4.r iae Jaw relating to water
/ mills until tuca C9wpeDssticn has been made.
| or hsH Seen secure hy q deposit OF money ss
! Soc ie. The pso9le ~ this state shall con-
| tuuo 10 cnttv ara freely exercise AL the
| rights 20 nshsry aai tie privileges ~ the
| shore. to walsh ,hry have hefn heretofore en-
! titled unJer tDe c.wrter AID usages Of this
! state. nui n0 ness p4lt ~ intended tO b.
/ granted. urr cry oAi4tig right impaired. ~
| this 1e,i1rs tion.
! 81. l7 rue military shall hc hold In strict
! suhcriiaptlru o. the o.vll Huthority. And the
/ law marital shau ne uz"t and exercised IN
t1e1 casca uus va oec'sloi sasil necessarily
ses IS. 10 soldier shag Do quarered In any
| house" i1 trc 30 pta.g "thoai ihc consent
| manner % ie PRESCRIBED by ,ag.
/ -, b. Ef-r pcrsen irGr freely speak.
| Nr,if opd p.'H u; l'l'eiN ail sub.
! iiharty. ard ln 900 ir.s'f fur uhe ~ slauder
| BON ,Itil asd triwlnrl the truth. unless pub
| lishfd ol uiittrd lfen .'gl'e,fHs n'o'.yr' shall
! See l1 IUf ,l.un. slHU have light In
! u pc1refhlr WtIier ta essen t.' ipr their come
/ mon good. ana to hrp} 20 ,ho.e iuverted Win
! grievance ~ ior o,hrr pulrofes' by petition
/ sddrcsr. or rauousfu7le
Sec % lee re"' . 81, r'.Pi' TO keep and
| Sec g.. Tns sffnfI0n - thc f0roroirg
| rightr riau foi ht Construed ~ impair o.
deny oilcs ppiaircd iy thi people.
AurtrLr IT,
of Qrslifosuops o. Electors
section D. iaory male inhsbusIt of this
| rfate ~ the sa. of twenty-one Ysars. Who
| Ils beer . ciusen ~ the United States for
| ninety day.. whp has bad BE residence and
1 home ~ his state fqf one year and in the
4 tavn or eity in Which he nay claim riaht
1 % voie s.S ni'tftg psri prfssdinr the line
/ uf voting sua Who fiau have hr4i dulY fcgie.
| tered al IL tid-t - law. shall have rigtt
| 20 vote In ali elections q ci,u ,Nlegs -" !.