XIX.

Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions. All warrants, therefore, are contrary to this right, if the cause or foundation of them, be not previously suported by oath, or affirmation; and if the order in the warrant to a civil officer, to make search in suspected places, or to arrest one or more suspected persons, or to seize their property, be not accompanied with a special designation of the persons or objects of search, arrest, or seizure; And no warrant ought to be issued but in cases, and with the formalities prescribed by the laws.

XX.

In all controversies concerning property, and in all suits between two or more persons, except in cases in which it has been heretofore otherwise used and practised, the parties have a right to trial by jury; and this method of procedure shall be held sacred, unless in causes arising on the high seas, and such as relate to Mariners wages, the Legistature shall find it necessary hereafter to alter it.

ΧΧΙ.

In order to reap the fullest advantage of the inestimable privilege of the trial by JURY, great care ought to be taken that none but qualified persons should be capable of serving, and such ought to be fully compensated for their travel, time and attendance.

XXII.

The liberty of the Press is essential to the security of freedom in a State; it ought therefore to be inviolably preserved.

XXIII.

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 offences.

XXIV.

A well regulated militia is the proper, natural, and sure defence of a State.

XXV.

Standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised or kept up without the consent of the Legislature.

XXVI.

In all cases, and at all times, the military ought to be under strict subordination to, and governed by the civil power.

XXVII.

No soldier in time of peace shall be quarter'd in any house without the consent of the owner, and in time of war such quarters ought not to be made but by the civil magistrate in a manner ordained by the Legislature.

XXVIII.

No subsidy, charge, tax, impost or duty shall be established, fixed. laid, or levied, under any pretext whatsoever, without the consent of the people or their Representatives in the Legislature or authority derived from that body.

XXIX.

The power of suspending the laws, or the execution of them, ought never to be exercised but by the Legislature, or by authority derived therefrom, to be exercised in such particular cases only as the Legislature shall expressly provide for.

ΧΧΧ.

The freedom of deliberation, speech, and debate, in either House of the Legislature, is so essential to the rights of the people, that it cannot be the foundation of any action, complaint, or prosecution, in any other court or place whatsoever.

XXXI.

The Legislature ought frequently to assemble for the redress of grievances, for correcting, strengthening, and confirming the laws, and for making new ones, as the common good may require.

XXXII.

The people have a right in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble in order to consult upon the common good, give instructions to their Representatives; and to request of the Legislative-body, by way of petition or remonstrance, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer.

XXXIII.

No magistrate or court of law shall demand excessive bail or sureties, impose excessive fines, or inflict cruel or unusual punishments.

XXXIV.

No person can in any case be subjected to law-martial, or to any pains, or penalties by virtue of that law, except those persons employed in the army or navy, and except the militia in actual service, but by the authority of the Legislature.

XXXV.

It is essential to the preservation of the rights of every individual, his life, liberty property and character, that there be an impartial interpretation of the laws, and administration of Justice. It is the right of every citizen to be tried by Judges as impartial as the lot of humanity will admit. It is therefore not only the best policy but for the security of the rights of the people that the Judges of the Supreme (or Superior) Judicial Court should hold their offices so long as they behave well; and that they should have honorable Salaries, ascertained and established by standing laws.

XXXVI.

Economy being a most essential virtue in all States, more especially in a young one, no person ought to receive any stipend, or salary, but as an equivalent for actual services, and the Legislature ought to be exceeding cautious of granting pensions, especially for life.

XXXVII.

In the government of this state, the three essential powers thereof, to wit, the Legislative, Executive and Judicial, ought to be kept as separate from and independent of each other, as the nature of a free government will admit, or as is consistent with that chain of connection that binds the whole fabric of the Constitution in one indissoluble bond of union and amity.

XXXVIII.

A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and a constant adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, industry, frugality, and all the social virtues, are indispensably necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and good government; the people ought therefore, to have a particular regard to all those principles in the choice of their offi cers and representatives: And they have a right to require of their law givers and magistrates an exact and constant observance of them in the formation and execution of the laws necessary for the good administration of government.

PART II.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

The people inhabiting the territory formerly called the Province of New Hampshire, do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each other, to form themselves into a free, sovereign and independent Body-politic or State, by the Name of the STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THE GENERAL COURT.

The supreme legislative power within this State shall be vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, cach of which shall have a negative on the other.

The Senate and House shall assemble every year on the first Wednesday of June, and at such other times as they may judge necessary, and shall dissolve, and be dissolved, seven days next preceding the said first Wednesday of June, and shall be stiled the GENERAL COURT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

No bill or resolve of the Senate or House of Representatives, shall become a law, and have force, as such, until it shall have been laid before the Governor for his revisal: And if he, upon such revision, approve thereof, he shall signify his approbation by signing the same. But if he has any objection to the passing of such bill or resolve, he shall return the same, together with his objections thereto, in writing, to the Senate or House of Representatives, in whichsoever the same shall have originated; who shall enter the objections sent down by the Governor, at large, on their records, and procced to reconsider the said bill or resolve: But if upon such reconsideration, three quarters of said Senate or House of Representatives, shall notwithstanding the said objections, agree to pass the same, it shall, together with the objections, be sent to the other branch of the Legislature, where it shall be also reconsidered, and if approved by three quarters of the members present, it shall have the force of a law: But in all such cases, the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays; and the names of the persons voting for, or against, the said bill or resolve, shall be entered upon the public records of the State.

And in order to prevent unnecessary delays, if any bill or resolve shall not be returned by the Governor within eight days after it shall have been presented, the same shall have the force of law.

The General Court shall forever have full power and authority to erect and constitute Judicatories and courts of record, or other courts, to be holden in the name of the State, for the hearing, trying, and determining all manner of crimes, offences, pleas, processes, plaints, actions, causes, matters and things, whatsoever, arising, or happening within this State, or between or concerning persons inhabiting, or residing or brought within the same, whether the same be criminal or civil, or whether the crimes be capital, or not capital, and whether the said pleas be real, personal or mixt; and for the awarding and issuing Execution thereon: To which courts and judicatories are hereby given and granted full power and au

thority, from time to time, to administer oaths or affirmations for the better discovery of truth in any matter in controversy, or depending before them.

And farther, full power and authority are hereby given and granted to the said General Court, from time to time, to make, ordain, and establish, all manner of wholesome and reasonable orders, laws, statutes, ordinances, directions, and instructions, either with penalties or without; so as the same be not repugnant or contrary to this Constitution, as they may judge for the benefit and welfare of this State, and for the governing and ordering thereof, and of the subjects of the same, for the necessary support and defence of the government thereof; and to name and settle annually, or provide by fixed laws, for the naming and settling all civil officers within this State; such officers excepted, the election and appointment of whom, are hereafter in this form of government, otherwise provided for; and to set forth the several duties, powers and limits, of the several civil and military officers of this State, and the forms of such oaths or affirmations, as shall be respectively administered unto them for the execution of their several offices and places, so as the same be not repugnant or contrary to this Constitution; and also to impose fines, mulcts, imprisonments, and other punishments; and to impose and levy proportional and reasonable assessments, rates and taxes, upon all the inhabitants of, and residents within the said State; and upon all estates within the same; to be issued and disposed of by warrant under the hand of the Governor of this State for the time being, with the advice and consent of the Council, for the public service, in the necessary defence and support of the government of this State, and the protection and preservation of the subjects thereof, according to such acts as are or shall be in force within the same.

And while the public charge of government, or any part thereof, shall be assessed on polls and estates in the manner that has hitherto been practiced, in order that such assessments may be made with equality, there shall be a valuation of the estates within the State taken anew once in every five years at least, and as much oftener as the General Court shall order.

SENATE.

There shall be annually elected by the freeholders and other inhabitants of this State, qualified as in this Constitution is provided, twelve persons tɔ be Senators for the year ensuing their election; to be chosen in and by the inhabitants of the districts, into which this State may from time to time be divided by the General Court, for that purpose: And the Gen