not to be raised or kept up, without the consent of the legislature.

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

"No soldier, in time of peace, shall be quartered 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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"The legislature shall assemble for the redress of public grievances, and for making such laws as the public good may require.

"The people have a right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble and consult upon the public 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.

"No magistrate or court of law shall demand excessive

bail or sureties, impose excessive fines, or inflict cruel or unusual punishments.

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

"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 judicial court should hold their offices so long as they behave well; subject, however, to such limitations, on account of age, as may be provided by the constitution of the state; and that they should have honourable salaries, ascertained and established by standing laws.

"Economy being a most essential virtue in all states, especially in a young one, no pension shall be granted but in consideration of actual services; and such pensions ought to be granted with great caution by the legislature, and never for more than one year at a time.

"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 connexion that binds the whole fabric of the constitution in one indissoluble bond of unity and amity.

"A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the constitution, and a constant adherence to justice,

Inoderation, 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 officers and representatives; and they have a right to require of their lawgivers and magistrates an exact and constant observance of them in the formation and execution of the laws necessary for the good administration of the government."

§ 83. The legislative power of this state is vested by the constitution in a Senate and House of Representatives, each having a negative on the other; and are styled "The General Court of New Hampshire." This court has full power and authority to erect and constitute all courts, to hear, try and determine all causes, whether civil or criminal, of whatever kind soever; and also, to make, ordain, and establish, all manner of wholesome and reasonable orders, laws, statutes, ordinances, directions, and instructions, with or without penalties, not repugnant to the constitution, as they may judge for the benefit and welfare of the state, and for the governing and ordering thereof, and of the citizens of the same, for the necessary support and defence of the government of the state; and to name and settle annually, or provide by fixed laws, the naming and settling of all civil officers within the state; such officers excepted whose election or appointment is otherwise provided for; and to prescribe the duties, powers, and limits, to all the civil and military officers; and also to impose and levy fines, duties, imposts, taxes, and assessments, upon the inhabitants of the state for the support of

government.

The Senate consists of twelve members, elected annually: it is the first branch of the legislature. The Senate has full power to elect its own officers, judge of the returns and election of its members, to hear and try all

impeachments against the officers of the state, to issue summons, and compel the attendance of witnesses, with all the powers necessary to a court of trials.

All

The House of Representatives is composed of members annually elected, and is founded upon principles of equality; elected according to the number of ratable votes in each town. This branch of the legislature is the grand inquest of the state, and all impeachments originate with them, but are tried by the senate. money bills must originate in the house of representatives; but the senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills. A majority constitutes a quorum; but when less than two-thirds of the house of representatives elected shall be present, the assent of two-thirds of those members is necessary to render their acts and proceedings valid. They have power to choose their own officers, and are the judges of the elections and qualifications of their members; and to punish their members for contempt, or a breach of the peace.

The journal of the proceedings, and all the public acts of both houses must be printed immediately after every adjournment or prorogation. Every bill and resolve which shall have passed both houses must, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor; and, if he approves it, he must sign it; and the same course of proceeding is required in case of his disapproval, as under the constitution of Massachusetts, before cited.

§ 84. The constitution of Vermont contains the following declaration of rights:

"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; therefore, no male person, born in this country, or brought from over sea, ought to be holden by law to

serve any person as a servant, slave, or apprentice, after he arrives to the age of twenty-one years; nor female, in like manner, after she arrives to the age of eighteen years, unless they are bound by their own consent, after they arrive to such age, or bound by the law for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like.

"That private property ought to be subservient to public uses when necessity requires it; nevertheless, when any person's property is taken for the use of the public, the owner ought to receive an equivalent in money.

"That all men have a natural and unalienable 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 minister, 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.

66

Every person within this state ought to find a certain remedy, by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, property, or character: he ought to obtain right and justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it; completely,