The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-08-06
PERSONAL LIBERTY UNDER
THE CONSTITUTION

THE CONSTITUTION.
Individual liberty is very carefully
guarded sifder the constitution. II IS
everywhere in that instrument treat.
ed as Of paramount Importance. II
is guarded by every safeguard known
TO the law and distinctly set out as
the greatest boon OF mankind.
Individual liberty is given the first
place in the preamble of the pro.
posed constitution Rigntful govern.
ment and general welfare and hap
tul government and welfare arc hap
piness are the other objects set forth
as a reason for making a constitution.
OF these liberty is regarded as the
fundamental proposition and is set
forth IN those words
Invoking the guidance OF Almighty
God, in order to secure and perpetu-
ate the blessings of liberty
we. the people OF the state Of okla
homa. do ordain and establish this
constitution
This right to personal liberty is
BY the constitution declared to be
one of thc inherent rights of man
kind This means that even tiiv con.
stitution does not profess tC grant
individual liberty. but simply presents
IL as a rightful heritage of every man
born into the world. "All persons
have the inherent right to liberty is
one of the firm declarations of the
bill OF rights
or course all individual liberty
must be exercised with regard to the
equal liberty which Is inherent in
others One man may not use. or
rather abuse, his liberty to the injury
of his neighhor. To this end and to
guarantee the equal liberty of other
men, government is established and
laws are made aad courts given power
10 construe and enforce those laws.
Therefore the new constitution pro-
vides that, No person shall be de.
prived of his liberty without due pro-
cess OF law"
So csreful Is the constitution of
this right of individual liberty that It
is provided in section 10 of the bill
Of rights that "'rhe privilege Of the
writ of habeas corpus shall never be
suspended There is the absolute
right so personal liberty guaranteed.
and no man may take u away; aad if
any person Is restrained without due
process of law the coarts will at once
release him. Under this. no depart
melt OF the government may arbi-
trarily imprissn or deport any man,
as was done in the case of the Colo
rado miners during the strike. I'm.
peaohment would lie against any gov
ernor of Oklahoma for any act similar
10 the action Of the governor Of Col
orado
Individual liberty in religious mat
ters is solemnly guaranteed and lib
erty Of speech and of the press Is to
remain forever inviolate
The inherent persnadi liberty OF
the people has Only one guarantee
against ususPatims by unjust and ann
bilious government aad against the
midnight assassin. and therefore IL
IS provided that the right Of the peo.
pie TO keep aud bear arms must never
be prohibited
Equal personal liberty is guaranteed
In all property matters and 20 that
end section 32. of the bill of rights
declsres that: "Perpetuities and mon
opolies are contrary to the genius OF
a free government and shall never be
allowed
The more one studies the proposed
constitution. the more clearly does Il
appear how mach store the conyen-
tion set by this matter OF personal
lihorty. Indeed it seems insofar as
words and solemn declarations in the
written fundamental law caa guar
antee the right OF liberty, TO that eX.
tent the contention found It to be
its duty and privilege 10 90.
To attain to such heights OF individ-
ual liberty as those marked by the
new constitution, humanity has plung
ed through rivers o fblood and scaled
mountains OF difficulty defended by
all the devilish devices of kingcraft
class privilege and Imperialism.