OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA;

ALSO

LAWS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF SAID COMMONWEALTH,

PASSED AT THE

SESSION OF 1874,

IN TIIE NINETY-EIGHTH YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE,

TOGETHER WITH

1 Proclamation by the Governor, declaring that he has filed certain

Bills in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth,

uitli his objections thereto; also a List of Charters of

Corporations organized under general cor-

poration act of April 29th, 1874, and

AN APPENDIX.

BY AUTHORITY.

HARRISBURG:

BENJAMIN SINGERLY, STATE PRINTER,

1874.

CONSTITUTION

OF TILE

COMMONWEALTII OF PENNSYLVANIA.

propie. Thir

PREAMBLE. We, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Alinighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and bumbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

ARTICLE I.

Declaration of Rights.
That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free
government may be recognized and unalterably established, WE DE-
CLARE THAT

SECTION 1. All men are born equally free and independent, and quality and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those rights of men. of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.

SECTION 2. All power is inherent in the people, and all free gov- Politica! powors ernments are founded on their authority and instituted for their luhet the peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends richtior form they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, govornment. reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper.

SECTION 3. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to wor- Natural righ's oi ship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consci-conscience and mnices; no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect or support ship. any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent; no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious establislıments or modes of worship:

SECTION 4. No person who acknowledges the being of a God and Re'iglonsolajons a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his not to city

for holdin; office. religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any otlice or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.

SECTION 5. Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, Freedoin ur eicocivil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free ex- tlons. ercise of the right of suffrage.

SECTION 6. Trial by jury shall be as heretofore, and the right Trial by jury. thereof remain inviolate.

SECTION 7. The printing press shall be free to every person who Freedom of the may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or press. any branch of government, and no law shall ever be inaule to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and pinions 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. No conviction shall be bad in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official con

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