directly or indirectly, give, promise or bestow, any such reward to be elected, shall thereby be rendered incapable, for two years, to serve in the office for which he was elected, and be subject to such other punishment as shall be directed by law. SEC. 3. No new county shall be established by the general assembly, which shall reduce the county or counties, or either of them, from which it shall be taken, to less contents than four hundred square miles; nor shall any county be laid off, of less contents. Every new county, as to the right of suffrage and representation, shall be considered as a part of the county or counties from which it was taken, until entitled by numbers to the right of representation.

SEC. 4. Chillicothe shall be the seat of government until the year one thousand eight hundred and eight. No money shall be raised until the year one thousand eight hundred and nine, by the legislature of this state, for the purpose of erecting public buildings for the accommodation of the legislature.

SEC. 5. That after the year one thousand eight hundred and six, whenever two thirds of the general assembly shall think it necessary to amend or change this constitution, they shall recommend to the electors, at the next election for members to the general assembly, to vote for or against a convention; and if it shall appear that a majority of the citizens of the state, voting for representatives have voted for a convention, the general assembly shall, at their next session, call a convention, to consist of as many members as there be in the general assembly; to be chosen in the same manner at the same place, and by the same electors that choose the general assembly; who shall meet within three months after the said election, for the purpose of revising, amending or changing the constitution. But no alteration of this constitution shall ever take place, so as to introduce slavery or involuntary servitude into this state. SEC. 6. That the limits and boundaries of this state be ascertained, it is declared, that they are as hereafter mentioned; that it is to say: bounded on the east by the Pennsylvania line, on the south by the Ohio river to the mouth of the Great Miami river, on the west by the line drawn due north from the

mouth of the Great Miami aforesaid, and on the north by an east and west line drawn through the southern extreme of Lake Michigan, running east after intersecting the due north line aforesaid, from the mouth of the Great Miami until it shall intersect Lake Erie on the territorial line, and thence with the same through Lake Erie to the Pennsylvania line aforesaid: Provided always, And it is hereby fully understood and declared by this convention that if the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan should extend so far south that a line drawn due east from it should not intersect Lake Erie, or if it should intersect the said Lake Erie, east of the mouth of the Miami river of the Lake, then and in that case, with the assent of the congress of the United States, the northern boundary of this state shall be established, by and extend to, a direct line running from a southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Miami Bay, after intersecting the due north line from the mouth of the Great Miami river as aforesaid, thence northeast to the territorial line, and by the said territorial line, to the Pennsylvania line.

ARTICLE VIII.

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

SEC. 1. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights; amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety; and every free republican government, being founded on their sole authority, and organized for the great purpose of protecting their rights and liberties, and securing their independence; to effect these ends, they have at all times a complete power to alter, reform or abolish their government, whenever they may deem it necessary.

SEC. 2. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary

servitude in this state, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shill have been duly convicted; nor shall any male person arrived at the age of twenty-one years, or female person arrived at the age of eighteen years, be held to serve any person as a servant under the pretence of indenture or otherwise, unless such person shall enter into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on condition of a bona fide consideration, received or to be received, for their service, except as before excepted. Nor shall any indenture of any negro or, mulatto hereafter made and executed out of the state, or if made in the state where the term of service exceeds one year, be of the least validity, except those given in the case of apprenticeships.

SEC. 3. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God, according to the dictates of conscience; that no human authority can in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; that no man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent; and that no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious society or mode of worship, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification to any office of trust or profit. But religion, morality and knowledge, being essentially nccessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of instruction shall forever be encour aged by legislative provision, not inconsistent with the rights of conscience.

SEC. 4. Private property ought and shall ever be held inviolate, but always subservient to the public welfare, provided a compensation in money be made to the owner.

SEC. 5. That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from unwarrantable searches and seizures; and that general warrants whereby an officer may be commanded to search suspected places, without probable evidence of the fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, whose offences, are not particularly de

scribed, and without oath or affirmation, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be granted.

SEC. 6. That the printing presses shall be open and free to every citizen who wishes to examine the proceedings of any branch of government, or the conduct of any public officer; and no law shall ever restrain the right thereof. Every citizen has a right to speak, write or print, upon any subject, as he thinks proper, being liable for the abuse of that liberty. In prosecution for any publication respecting the official conduct of men in a public capacity, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may al ways be given in evidence; and in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.

SEC. 7. That all courts shall be open; and every person, for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputa tion, shall have remedy by the due course of law, and right and justice administered without denial or delay.

SFC. 8. That the right of trial by jury shall be inviolate. SEC. 9. That no power of suspending laws shall be exercised unless by the legislature.

SEE. 10. That no person arrested or confined in jail, shall be treated with unnecessary rigor, or be put to answer any criminal charge, but by presentment, indictment or impeach

ment.

SEC. 11. That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him; and to have a copy thereof to meet the witnesses face to face: to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and in prosecutions by indictment or presentment, a speedy public trial, by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the offence shall have been committed; and shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor shall he be twice put in jeopardy for the same offence.

SEC. 12. That all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, where the proof is evi

dent or the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

SEC. 13. Excessive bail shall not be required; excessive fines shall not be imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.

SEC. 14. All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offence. No wise legislature will affix the same punishment to the crime of theft, forgery, and the like, which they do to murder and treason. When the same undistinguished severity is exerted against all offences, the people are led to forget the real distinction in the crimes themselves, and to commit the most flagrant, with as little compunction as they do the slightest offences. For the same reasons, a multitude of sanguinary laws are both impolitic and unjust: the true design of all punishments being to reform, not to exterminate, mankind.

SEC. 15. The person of a debtor, where there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison, after delivering up his estate for the benefit of his creditor or creditors, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

SEC. 16. No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the validity of contracts, shall ever be made; and no conviction shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate.

SEC. 17. That no person shall be liable to be transported out of this state, for any offence committed within the state. SEC. 18. That a frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of civil government, is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty.

SEC. 19. That the people have a right to assemble together, in a peacable manner, to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to the legislature for a redress of grievances.

SEC. 20. That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state: and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall