as any perfon of the fame age or description fhall be continued in flavery by the laws of this State. They fhall pafs laws to permit the owners of flaves to emancipate them, faving the rights of creditors, and preventing them from becoming a charge to any county in this Commonwealth. They fhall have full power to prevent flaves being brought into this State as merchandize. They hall have full power to prevent any flaves being brought into this State from a foreign country, and to prevent those from being brought into this State, who have been, fince the firtt day of January, one, thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, or may hereafter be imported into any of the United States from a foreign country. And they fhall have full power to pafs fuch laws as may be neceffary, to oblige the owners of flaves to treat them with humanity, to provide for them neceffary clothing and provifion, to abstain from all injuries extending to life or limb, and in cafe of their neglect or refufal to comply with the drections of fuch laws, to have fuch flave or flaves fold for the benefit of their owner or owners.

SECT. 2. In the profecution of flaves for felony, no inqueft by a grand jury fhall be neceffary, but the proceedings in fuch profecutions fhall be regulated by law: except that the General Affembly thall have no power to deprive them of the privilege of an impartial trial by a petit jury.

ARTICLE VIII.

The feat of government fhall continue in the town of Frankfort, until it fhall be removed by law: Provided however, that two-thirds of all the Members elected to each House of theGeneral Assembly, fhall concur in the paffage of fuch law.

ARTICLE IX.

Mode of revifing the Conflitution.

When experience hall point out the neceffity of amending this Conftitution, and when a majority of all the Members elected to each Houfe of the General Af fembly, hall within the first twenty days of their flared annual feffion, concur in paffing a law for taking the fenfe of the good people of this Commonwealth as to the

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neceffity and expediency of calling a Convention, it thall be the duty of the feveral Sheriffs, and other returning officers, at the next general election which fhall be held for Representatives, after the paffage of fuch law, to open a poll for, and make a return to the Secretary, for the time being, of the names of all thofe entitled to vote for Representatives who have voted for calling a convention and if thereupon it fall appear that a majority of all the citizens of this State entitled to vote for Reprefentatives, have voted for a Convention, the General Affembly shall direct that a similar poll shall be opened, and taken for the next year; and if thereupon it fhall appear, that a majority of all the citizens of this State entitled to vote for Reprefentatives, have voted for a convention, the General Affembly fhall at their next feffion call a Convention, to confit of as many Members as there fhall be in the Houfe of Reprefentatives, and no more; to be cholen in the fame manner and proportion, at the same places, and at the fame time that Reprefentatives are, by citizens entitled to vote for Reprefentatives; and to meet within three months after the faid election for the purpose of readopting, amending, or changing this Conftitution.But if it fhall appear by the vote of either year, as aforefaid, that a majority of all the citizens entitled to vote for Reprefentatives, did not vote for a convention, a Convention fhall not be called.

ARTICLE X.

That the general, great, and effential Principles of Liberty and free Government may be recognized and established,

WE DECLARE,

SECT. 1. That all freemen, when they form a focial compact, are equal; and that no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive, separate, public emoluments or privileges, from the community, but in confideration of public fervices.

SECT. 2. That all power is inherent in the People, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and inftituted for their peace, fafety, and happine's: For the advancement of these ends, they have at all. times an unalienable and indeafeasible right to alter,

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reform or abolish their government, in such manner as they may think proper.

SECT. 3. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; that no man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship,or to maintain any ministry against his consent; that no human authority ought, in any case whatever, to controul or interfere with the rights of conscience; and that no preference shall ever be given by law, to any religious societies or modes of worship.

SECT. 4. That the civil rights, privileges, or capacities of any citizen, shall in no wise be diminished or enlarged on account of his religion.

SECT. 5. That all elections shall be free and equal.

SECT. 6. That the ancient mode of trial by jury shall be held sacred, and the right thereof remain inviolate.

SECT. 7. That Printing Presses shall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the Legislature, or any branch of government; and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof.— The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

SECT. 8. In prosecutions for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers, or men in a public capacity, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have a right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the Court, as in other cases.

SECT. 9. That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions from unreasonable seizures and searches; and that no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or things, shall issue without describing them as nearly as may be, nor without probable cause supported by oath or affirmation.

SECT. 10. That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and counsel;

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to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to meet the witnesses face to face, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favour; and in prosecutions by indictment or information, a speedy public trial, by an impartial jury of the vicinage; that he cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor can he be deprived of his life, liberty, or property, without the judgment of his peers or the law of the land.

SECT. 11. That no person shall for any indictable offence be proceeded against criminally by information, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or the militia when in actual service, in time of war or public danger, by leave of the Court, for oppression or misdemeanor in office.

SECT. 12. No person shall for the same offence be twice put in jeopardy of his life or limb, nor shall any man's property be taken or applied to public use without the consent of his representatives, and without just com→ pensation being previously made to him.

SECT. 13. That all Courts shall be open, and every person for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have remedy by the due course of law; and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay.

SECT. 14. That no power of suspending laws shall be exercised, unless by the Legislature or its authority. SECT. 15. That excessive bail shall not be requir ed, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted.

SECT. 16. That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient securities, unless for capital offences, when the proof is evident, or presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

SECT. 17. That the person of a debtor, where there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be contin ued in prison after delivering up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

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SECT. 18. That no ex post facto law, nor any law impairing contracts, shall be made.

SECT.19. That no person shall be attainted of treason or felony by the Legislature.

SECT. 20. That no atttainder shall work corruption of blood, nor, except during the life of the offender, forfeiture of estate to the Commonwealth.

SECT. 21. That estates of such persons as shall destroy their own lives shall descend or vest as in case of natural death, and if any person shall be killed by casualty, there shall be no forfeiture by reason thereof.

SECT. 22. That the citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

SECT. 23. That the rights of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State, shall not be questioned.

SECT. 24. That no standing army shall in time of peace, be kept up without the consent of the Legislature, and the military shall in all cases, and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power.

SECT. 25. That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

SECT. 26. That the Legislature shall not grant any title of nobility or hereditary distinction, nor create any office, the appointment to which shall be for a longer term than during good behaviour.

SECT. 27. That emigration from the State shall not be prohibited.

SECT. 28. To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, wE DECLARE, that every thing in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government, and shall forever remain inviolate; and that all laws contrary thereto, or contrary to this Constitution shall be void.

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