Page:The Federal and state constitutions v2.djvu/578

Rh The laws, public records, and the written, judicial, and legislative proceedings of the State, shall be conducted, promulgated, and preserved in the English language.

Aliens who are or who may hereafter become bona fide residents of this State, shall enjoy the same rights, in respect to the possession, inheritance, and enjoyment of property, as native-born citizens.

No county-seat shall be removed until the point to which it is proposed to be removed shall be fixed by law, and a majority of the voters of the county voting on the question shall have voted in favor of its removal to such point.

All property, both real and personal, of the wife, owned or claimed by marriage, and that acquired afterwards by gift, devise, or descent, shall be her separate property, and laws shall be passed more clearly defining the rights of the wife, in relation as well to her separate property as to that held in common with her husband. Laws shall also be passed providing for the registration of the wife’s separate property.

The privilege of free suffrage shall be supported by laws regulating elections, and prohibiting, under adequate penalties, all undue influence thereon from power, bribery, tumult, or other improper practice.

Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it, or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or his own confession in open court.

That the great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare—

1. That all freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights, and that no man or set of men are entitled to exclusive separate public emoluments or privileges but in consideration of public services.

2. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and therefore they have at alf times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish their form of government in such manner as they may think proper.

3. That all persons have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, and no person can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship or maintain any ministry against his consent. That no human authority can in any case whatever interfere with the rights of conscience, and that no preference shall ever be given to any religious establishment or mode of worship.

4. That the civil rights, privileges, or capacities of a citizen shall in nowise be diminished or enlarged on account of his religion.

5. That all elections shall be free and equal.

6. That the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.

7. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right.