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S3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, 2 without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this State to 3 all mankind; (') and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness 4 on account of his opinions on matters of religious belief; (2) but the liberty of 5 conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentious6 ness, or to justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State.(3)

(1). [The clause relating to incompetency of witnesses on account of religious belief, is not included in N. Y. Constitution of 1821.]

(2). Ind., 170; Ohio, 432; S. C., 488.

(3). Cal., 96; Ct., 107; Miss., 334; Nev., 379.
[A preamble giving reasons]. N. Y., (1777), 32.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

-Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. U. S., 18.

laws of the State, and a declaration of belief in the Christian religion, or in the existence of God, and in a future state of rewards and punishments. Md., 25.

-And whereas, the ministers of the gospel are, by
their profession, dedicated to the service of God, and
the cure of souls, and ought not to be diverted from
the great duties of their functions; therefore, no
minister of the gospel, or priest of any denomination
whatsoever, shall at any time hereafter under any
pretense or description whatever, be eligible to, or
capable of holding, any civil or military office or place
within this State. N. Y., (1777), 33, (1821,) 41.
--Therefore no minister of the gospel, or priest of any
denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in
either House of the Legislature. Tenn., 498; (similar
provision), La., 229; N. C., 425; Va., 536.
-No licensed minister of the Gospel shall be required
to perform military duty, work on roads, or serve on
juries in this State.
Tex., 514.

-That the civil rights, privileges or capacities of any citizen shall in no wise be diminished or enlarged on account of his religion. Ark., 84; Ky., 223. -The right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience shall never be infringed; nor shall any person be compelled to attend or support any form of worship; nor shall any control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience be permitted; nor any preference be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship. No religious test or property qualification shall be —That religion, or the duty which we owe to our required for any office of public trust, nor for any Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be vote at any election; nor shall any person be incomdirected only by reason and conviction, not by force petent to testify on account of religious belief. Kan., or violence; and, therefore, all men 187. are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other. Va., 532. -That no person within this State shall, upon any pretense whatever, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping God in the manner most agreeable to his own conscience; nor be hurt, molested or restrained in his religious profession, sentiments or persuasions, provided he does not disturb others in their religious worship. Ala., 72. -That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; and no man can, of right, be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to 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. Ark., 84; Ill., 165; Tenn., 490; Pa., 467: Tex., 506; Mo., 346. -But nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction. Ohio, 432; Neb., 371. -That no religion shall be established by law; that no preference shall be given by law to any religious sect, society, denomination, or mode of worship, that no one shall be compelled by law to attend any place of worship, nor to pay any tithes, taxes, or other rate, for building or repairing any place of worship, or for maintaining any minister or ministry; that no religious test shall be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under this State; and that the civil rights, privileges and capacities of any citizen shall not be in any manner affected by his religious principles. Ala., 72.

That no other test or qualification ought to be required on admission to any office of trust or profit than such oath of allegiance and fidelity to this State and the United States as may be prescribed by this Constitution, and such oath of office and qualification as may be prescribed by this Constitution, or by the

-No sectarian instruction shall be imparted or tolerated in any school or university that may be established under this Constitution. Nev., 391.

Therefore no minister of the gospel, or public preacher of any religious persuasion, whilst he continues in the exercise of his pastoral functions, shall be eligible to the office of Governor, LieutenantGovernor, or to a seat in the Senate or House of Representatives. S. C., 484; Tex., 509.

-The Legislature shall not diminish or enlarge the
civil or political rights, privileges and capacities of
any person on account of his opinion or belief con-
cerning matters of religion. Mich., 304.
-No man shall be compelled to frequent or support
any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever;
nor shall any man be enforced, restrained, molested
or burdened in his body or goods, or otherwise
suffer, on account of his religious belief; but all men
shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain,
their opinions in matters of religion, and the same
shall in no wise affect, diminish or enlarge their civil
capacities. And the Legislature shall not prescribe
any religious test whatever; or confer any peculiar
privileges or advantages on any sect or denomina-
tion; or pass any law requiring or authorizing any
religious society, or the people of any district within
this State, to levy on themselves or others, any tax
for the erection or repair of any house for public
worship, or for the support of any church or
ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to
select his religious instructor, and to make for his

support, such private contract as he shall please. Va., 537; W. Va., 547.

-The militia of this State shall, at all times hereafter, be armed and disciplined, and in readiness for service; but all such inhabitants of this State, of any religious denomination whatever, as from scruples of conscience, may be adverse to bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom by paying to the State an equivalent in money; and the Legislature shall provide by law for the collection of such equivalent, to be estimated according to the expense, in time and money, of an ordinary, able-bodied militia-man. N. Y., (1821), 41.

-Among the natural rights, some are in their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. One of this kind are rights of conscience. N. H., 398.

-No person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his opinions on matters of religious belief. Mich., 307.

-As the public worship of God, and instructions in piety, religion and morality, promote the happiness and prosperity of a people, and the security of a republican government, therefore the several religious societies of this Commonwealth, whether corporate or unincorporate, at any meeting legally warned and holden for that purpose, shall ever have the right to elect their pastors or religious teachers, to contract with them for their support, to raise money for erecting and repairing houses for public worship, for the maintenance of religious instruction, and for the payment of necessary expenses; and all persons belonging to any religious society shall be taken and held to be members, until they shall file with the clerk of such society a written notice declaring the dissolution of their membership, and thenceforth shall not be liable for any grant or contract which may be thereafter made or entered into by such society; and all religious sects and denominations, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good citizens of the Commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law. Mass., 296. -That there shall be no establishment of any one religious church or denomination in this State in preference to any other; neither shall any person, on any pretense whatsoever, be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his own faith or judgment, nor be obliged to pay for the purchase of any glebe, or the building of any house of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes right and has voluntarily and personally engaged to perform; but all persons shall be at liberty to exercise their own mode of worship: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt preachers of treasonable or seditious discourses from legal trial and punishment.. N. C., 425.

-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 control 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. Ky., 223. -Perfect freedom of religious sentiment, be and the same is hereby secured, and no inhabitant of this State, shall ever be molested in person or property, nor prohibited from holding any public office or trust on account of his religious opinion. Ga., 142. -That no person shall be molested for his opinions on any subject whatever, nor suffer any civil or political incapacity, or acquire any civil or political advantages, in consequence of such opinions, except in cases provided for in this Constitution. Miss. 334.

-All men shall be secured in the natural right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Ind., 170; Me., 239; Or., 447. -And no one shall be hurt, molested or restrained

in his person, liberty or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, nor for his religious professions or sentiments, provided he does not disturb the public peace, nor obstruct others in their religious worship;-and all persons demeaning themselves peaceably, as good members of the State, shall be equally under the protection of the laws, and no subordination nor preference, of any one sect or denomination to another, shall ever be established by law, nor shall any religious test be required as a qualification for any office or trust under this State; and all religious societies in this State, whether incorporate or unincorporate, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and contracting with them for their support and maintenance. Me., 239.

-No law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience. Ind., 170; Or., 447.

-Nor can any man, who is conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, be justly compelled thereto, if he will pay such equivalent. N. H., 399; (nearly similar), Ala., 74; Tex., 514; Ill., 163; Ind., 180; V., 522.

-The Legislature shall pass laws, exempting citizens belonging to any sect or denomination of religion the tenets of which are known to be opposed to the bearing of arms, from attending private and general musters. Tenn., 498.

That no person who acknowledges the being of God and a future state of rewards and punishments, shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth. Pa., 467. -No person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Christian religion, or the divine authority of the old or new Testament, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom or safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State. Ň. C., 430.

--

-No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil department of this State, nor be allowed his oath in any court. Ark., 93; [Tenn., 498].

No person who denies the being of a God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State. Miss., 342.

No contract of marriage, if otherwise duly made, shall be invalidated for want of conformity to the requirements of any religious sect. Cal., 104. -It being the duty of all men to worship the Supreme Being, the Great Creator and Preserver of the universe, and their right to render that worship in the mode most consistent with the dictates of their conscience, no person shall by law be compelled to join or support, or be classed with or associated to any congregation, church, or religious association. But every person now belonging to such congregation, church, or religious association, shall remain a member thereof until he shall have separated himself therefrom in the manner hereinafter provided. And each and every society or denomination of Christians in this State shall have and enjoy the same and equal powers, rights and privileges, and shall have power and authority to support and maintain the ministers or teachers of their respective denominations, and to build and repair houses for public worship by a tax on the members of any such society only, to be laid by a major vote of the legal voters assembled at any society meeting, warned and held according to law, or in any other manner. Ct., 112. --If any person shall choose to separate himself from the society or denomination of Christians to which he may belong, and shall leave a written notice thereof with the clerk of such society, he shall thereupon be no longer liable for any future expenses which may be incurred by said society. Ct., 112. --That all men have a natural and inalienable right

to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, [N. C., 722,] and that no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship in this State. Fl.,

124.

-The Legislature shall pass no law to prevent any person from worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience, or to compel any person to attend, erect or support any place of religious worship, or to pay tithes, taxes or other rates for the support of any minister of the Gospel or teacher of religion. Mich., 307. -Although it is the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the public worship of the Author of the Universe, and piety and morality, on which the prosperity of communities depends, are thereby promoted; yet no man shall, or ought to be compelled to attend any religious worship, to contribute to the erection or support of any place of worship, or to the maintenance of any ministry, against his own free will and consent, and no power shall or ought to be vested in or assumed by any magistrate, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship: nor shall a preference be given by law to any religious societies, denomination or modes of worship. Del., 116.

-The General Assembly shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, pay tithes, taxes, or other rates for building or repairing places of worship, or the maintenance of any minister or ministry. Iowa, 183.

-No religious test shall be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, under this State. Del., 116; Ill., 165; Ind., 170; Iowa, 183; Or., 447; Ohio, 432; N. J., 912; Neb., 371; Tex., 505; Tenn., 490; Wis., 560.

-That every gift, sale or devise of land, to any minister, public teacher or preacher of the Gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the Gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination, and every gift or sale of goods or chattels to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, to or for such support, use or benefit; and also, every devise of goods or chattels, to or for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teacher or preacher of the Gospel, as such; or any religious sect, order or denomination, without the prior or subsequent sanction of the Legislature, shall be void; except always any sale, gift, lease or devise of any quantity of land not exceeding five acres, for a church, meeeting-house or other house of worship, or parsonage, or for a burying-ground, which shall be improved, enjoyed or used only for such purpose, or such sale, gift, lease or devise shall be void. Md., 255.

-That every gift, sale, or devise of any land to any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the Gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order or denomination; or to, or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for, any minister, public teacher or preacher of the Gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination; and every gift or sale of goods or chattels to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, to or for the support, use or benefit; and also every devise of goods or chattels, to or for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teacher or preacher of the Gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination, shall be void; except any gift, sale or devise of land to a church, religious society or congregation, or to any person or persons in trust, for the use of a church, religious society or congregation, whether incorporated or not, for the uses and purposes, and within the limitations of the next preceding clause of this article. Mo., 347.

- No money shall be appropriated or drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious sect or 3

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society, theological or religious seminary, nor shall property belonging to the State be appropriated for any such purpose. Mich., 304. -No preference shall be given by law to any christian sect or mode of worship. Ct., 107. -No preference shall ever be given by law to any religious sect, or mode of worship. Miss., 334. -No preference shall be given by law to any creed, religious society, or mode of worship; no man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent. Ind., 170.

-The rights, privileges, immunities and estates of religious societies and corporate bodies shall remain as if the Constitution of this State had not been altered or amended. Pa., 466; Del., 125. ---No ordained clergyman or ordained preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of holding any civil office in the State, or of being a member of either branch of the Legislature while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral or clerical functions. Del., 125.

That no person shall be compelled to erect, support or attend any place of worship, or maintain any minister of the Gospel or teacher of religion; but whatever contracts any person may enter into for any such object ought, in law, to be binding and capable of enforcement, as other contracts. Mo., 347. -No money shall be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious or theological institution. Ind., 170; Or., 447.

-The Legislature may authorize the employment of a chaplain for the State prison; [Mich., 303], but no money shall be appropriated for the payment of any religious service, in either House of the Legislative Assembly. Or., 447.

If any person shall declare that he has conscientious scruples against taking an oath, or swearing in any form, the said oath may be changed into a solemn affirmation, and be made by him in that form. Mo., 350.

-The mode of administering any oath or affirmation shall be such as may be most consistent with, and binding upon the conscience of the person to whom such oath or affirmation may be administered. Ind. 170; Or., 447.

That the manner of administering an oath or affirmation to any person ought to be such as those of the religious persuasion, profession or denomination of which he is a member, generally esteem the most effectual confirmation by the attestation of the Divine Being. Md., 256.

The manner of administering an oath or affirmation shall be such as is most consistent with the conscience of the deponent, and shall be esteemed by the General Assembly the most solemn appeal to God. Ky., 220.

-No person, while he continues to exercise the functions of a clergyman, priest, or teacher of any religious persuasion, society or sect, nor while he holds or exercises any office of profit under this Commonwealth, or under the government of the United States, shall be eligible to the General Assembly, except attorneys-at-law, justices of the peace, and militia officers: Provided, That attorneys for the Commonwealth, who receive a fixed annual salary, shall be ineligible. Ky., 212. -No person shall be deprived of any of his rights, privileges, or capacities, or disqualified from the performance of any of his public or private duties, or rendered incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity, in consequence of his opinions on the subject of religion; and any party to any judicial proceeding shall have the right to use as a witness, or take testimony of, any other person not disqualified on account of interest, who may be cognizant of any fact material to the case; and parties to suits may be witnesses, as provided by law. Iowa, 183.

-That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought,

by any law, to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice, unless under the color of religion any man shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract to maintain, any place of worship or any ministry; nor shall any person be deemed incompetent as a witness or juror who believes in the existence of a God, and that under his dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor, either in this world or the world to come. Md., 255. -It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship. Mass., 280. -As the happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil Government, essentially depend upon piety, religion and morality; and as these cannot be generally diffused through a community, but by the institution of the public worship of God, and of public instructions in piety, religion and morality; Therefore, To promote their happiness, and to secure the good order and preservation of their Government, the people of this Commonwealth have a right to invest their Legislature with power to authorize and require, and the Legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily. Mass., 280.

-The right of every man to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience, shall never be infringed, nor shall any man be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent. Nor shall any control of, or interference with the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishments, or modes of worship. Nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of religious societies or religious or theological seminaries. Wis., 560; (nearly similar), Min., 320.

-And the people of this Commonwealth have also a right to, and do, invest their Legislature with authority to enjoin upon all the subjects an attendance upon the instructions of the public teachers aforesaid, at stated times and seasons, if there be any on whose instructions they can conscientiously and conveniently attend. Mass., 280.

Provided, notwithstanding, That the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance. Mass., 280.

-And all moneys, paid by the subject, to the support of public worship, and of the public teachers aforesaid shall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the support of the public teacher or teachers of his own religious sect or denomination, provided there be any on whose instructions he attends; otherwise it may be paid toward the support of the teacher or teachers of the parish or precinct in which the said moneys are raised. Mass., 280.

-And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the Commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or

denomination to another shall ever be established by law. Mass., 280.

That no religious corporation can be established in this State; except that by a general law, uniform throughout the State, any church, or religious society, or congregation, may become a body corporate, for the sole purpose of acquiring, holding, using, and disposing of so much land as may be required for a house of public worship, a chapel, a parsonage, and a burial ground, and managing the same, and contracting in relation to such land, and the buildings thereon, through a board of trustees, selected by themselves; but the quantity of land to be held by any such body corporate, in connection with a house of worship or a parsonage, shall not exceed five acres in the country, or one acre in a town or city. Mo., 347. -There shall be no establishment of one religious sect in preference to another; no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust; and no person shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right merely on account of his religious principles. N. J., 412.

-As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as a knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through a society by the institution of the public worship of the Deity, and of public instruction in morality and religion; therefore, to promote those important purposes, the people of this State have a right to empower, and do hereby fully empower the Legislature to authorize, from time to time, the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies within this State, to make adequate provisions, at their own expense, for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion, and morality. N. H., 399.

-The rights, privileges, immunities and estates of both civil and religious societies and of corporate bodies, shall remain as if the Constitution of this State had not been altered or amended. S. C., 488. -No religious test or amount of property shall ever be required as a qualification for any office of public trust under the State. No religious test or amount of property shall ever be required as a qualification of any voter at any election in this State; nor shall any person be rendered incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity in consequence of his opinion upon the subject of religion. Minn., 320.

That all men have a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings, as in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of God; and that no man ought to, or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any ministry, contrary to the dictates of his conscience; nor can any man be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen on account of his religious sentiments or peculiar mode of religious worship; and that no authority can, or ought to be vested in or assumed by any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with or in any manner control the rights of conscience in the free exercise of religious worship; nevertheless, every sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the Sabbath or Lord's day, and keep up some sort of religious worship which to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God. Vt. 521.

-But the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, nor to justify practices inconsistent with the good order, peace, or safety of the State, or with the rights of others. Mo. 346; S. C., 488.

-Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested or restrained in his person, liberty or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or of his religious profession, sentiments, or persuasion :

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$ 4. The privileges of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless 2 when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require its suspension(').

Provided, He doth not disturb the public peace, or disturb others in their religious worship. N. H., 398. Provided notwithstanding, That the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their own public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance. And no person, or any one particular religious sect or denomination shall ever be compelled to pay toward the support of the teacher or teachers of another persuasion, sect or denomination. N. H., 399.

-And every denomination of Christians demeaning themselves quietly, and as good subjects of the State, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law. -And nothing herein shall be understood to affect any former contracts made for the support of the ministry; but all such contracts shall remain and be in the same state as if this Constitution had not been made. N. H., 399.

-No person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor under any pretense whatever be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his faith and judgment; nor shall any person be obliged to pay tithes, taxes, or other rates for building or repairing any church or churches, place or places of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes to be right, or has deliberately and voluntarily engaged to perform. N. J., 412.

-Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free, and all attempts to influence it by temporal punishment; or burdens, or by civil incapacitations, tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness; and, whereas, a principal object of our venerated ancestors in their migration to this country and their settlement of this State, was, as they expressed it, to hold forth a lively experiment that a flourishing civil State may stand and be best maintained with full liberty in religious concernments; we, therefore declare that no man shall be compelled to frequent or to support any religious worship, place or ministry whatever, except in fulfillment of his own voluntary contract; nor enforced, restrained, molested or burdened in his body or goods; nor disqualified from holding any office; nor otherwise suffer on account of his religious belief; and that every man shall be free to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and to profess, and by argument to maintain, his opinion in matters of religion; and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect his civil capacity. R. I., 473.

-In order effectually to secure the religious and political freedom established by our venerated ancestors, and to preserve the same for our posterity, we do declare that the essential and unquestionable rights and principles hereinafter mentioned shall be established, maintained, and preserved, and shall be of paramount obligation in all legislative, judicial, and executive proceedings. R. I., 472.

-No charter of incorporation shall be granted to any church or religious denomination. Provision may be made by general laws for securing the title to church property, so that it shall be held and used for the purpose intended. W. Va., 557.

-The General Assembly shall not grant a charter of incorporation to any church or religious denomination, but may secure the title to church property to an extent to be limited by law. Va., 518.

-No person shall be rendered incompetent as a witness or juror in consequence of his opinions on matters of religion, nor be questioned in any court of justice touching his religious belief to affect the weight of his testimony. Or., 447.

-No person shall be rendered incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity in consequence of his opinions on the subject of religion. Wis., 560.

(1). U. S., 13; N. Y., (1821) 42; Ala. 73; Ark., 84; Cal., 96; Del., 117; Ga., 142; Ill., 166; Ind., 171; Kan., 197; La., 233; Mich., 304; Pa., 468; Mo., 347 ; Nev., 379; N. J., 412; Ohio, 432; Or., 448; S. C., 487; Tenn., 491; Tex., 508; W. Va., 546; Miss., 335.

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS--EX POST FACTO LAWS-EXEMPTION FROM SEIZURES AND SEARCHES.

-The writ of habeas corpus shall in no case be suspended. It shall be a writ, issuable of right; and the General Assembly shall make provision to render it a speedy and effectual remedy in all cases proper therefor. Vt., 529, -Retrospective laws are highly injurious, oppressive and unjust. No such laws, therefore, should be made, either for the decision of civil causes or the punishment of offenses. N. H., 400.

The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended or refused when application is made as required by law, unless in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it. Iowa, 184. -The privilege and benefit of the writ of habeas corpus shall be enjoyed in this Commonwealth, in the most free, easy, cheap, expeditious and ample manner; and shall not be suspended by the Legislature, except upon the most urgent and pressing occasions, and for a limited time, not exceeding twelve months. Mass., 293; N. H., 410.

-No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. U. S., 13; Ark., 84; Cal., 97; Iowa, 184; Me., 240; Min., 320; Neb., 371; Nev., 380; Miss., 335; Va., 537, nor vested rights be divested, unless for purposes of public utility, and for adequate compensation previously made. La., 234.

That no ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligations of contracts shall ever be made. Ala., 73; Ark., 84; Cal., 97; Fl., 129; Ill., 166; Ind., 171; Iowa, 184; Ky., 224; La., 233; Me., 240; Va., 537; R. I., 473; Tenn., 491; Mich., 304; Pa., 468; Miss., 335; Mo., 348; Nev., 380; Tex., 506; Or., 448; W. Va., 547; Wis., 560.

-That retrospective laws punishing acts committed before the existence of such laws, and by them only declared penal or criminal, are oppressive, unjust and incompatible with liberty; wherefore no ex post facto law shall ever be made. F., 129; N. C., 422; Md., 254; Tenn., 497.

-Ex post facto laws, laws impairing the obligation of contracts, and retroactive laws injuriously affecting any right of the citizen, are prohibited. Ga., 142. -Laws made to punish for actions done before the existence of such laws, and which have not been declared crimes by preceding laws, are unjust, oppressive and inconsistent with the fundamental principles of a free government. Mass., 282. -Writs of error shall never be prohibited by law. Wis., 561.

-The writ of error shall be a writ of right in all capital cases, and shall operate as a supersedeas to stay the execution of the sentence of death until the further order of the Supreme Court in the premises. Neb., 371.

-The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable seizures and searches, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons and things to

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