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ARTICLE I.
Declaration of Rights.
That the
great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized
and established, we declare:
Section 1. That all freemen,
when they form a social compact, are equal; and have certain inherent and
indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and
liberty; of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property and reputation; and
of pursuing their own happiness.
Section 2. That all political
power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their
authority, and established for their benefit; and, therefore, they have, at all
times, an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter or abolish their form of
government, in such manner as they may deem expedient.
Section 3. That all men have
a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of their own conscience; and that no preference shall ever be given by
law to any religious establishment, or mode of worship in this State.
Section 4.
That all elections shall be free and equal; and that no property
qualification for eligibility to office, or for the right of suffrage, shall
ever be required in this State.
Section 5. That every citizen
may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being
responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and no law shall ever be passed to
curtail, abridge, or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press.
Section
6. That the right of trial by jury shall forever remain inviolate.
Section 7.
That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
possessions from unreasonable seizures and searches; and that no warrant to
search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without
describing the place to be searched, and the person or thing to be seized, as
nearly as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.
Section
8. That no freeman shall be taken, imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold,
liberties, or outlawed or exiled, or in any manner destroyed or deprived of his
life, liberty, or property, but by the law of the land.
Section 9. That all Courts
shall be open, and every person, for an injury done him, in his lands, goods,
person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law; and right and
justice administered without sale, denial, or delay.
Section 10. That in all
criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a right to be heard by himself or
counsel, or both; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor; and in all prosecutions by indictment or
presentment a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the County or
District, where the offense was committed; and shall not be compelled to give
evidence against himself.
Section 11. That all persons
shall be bailable, by sufficient securities, unless in capital offenses, where
the proof is evident, or the presumption is strong; and the privilege of habeas
corpus shall not be suspended, unless when, in case of rebellion or invasion,
the public safety may require it.
Section 12. That excessive
bail shall in no case be required; nor shall excessive fines be imposed; nor
shall cruel or unusual punishments be inflicted.
Section 13. That no person shall, for the same offense, be twice
put in jeopardy of life or limb.
Section 14. That private
property shall not be taken or applied to public use, unless just compensation
be made therefor.
Section 15. That in all prosecutions and indictments for libel,
the truth may be given in evidence; and if it shall appear to the jury that the
libel is true, and published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the
truth shall be a justification; and the jury shall be the judges of the law and
facts.
Section 16. That no person shall be put to answer any criminal
charge, but by presentment, indictment or impeachment.
Section 17. That no
conviction shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate.
Section
18. 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.
Section 19. That no law impairing the obligation of contracts
shall ever be passed.
Section 20. That the people have a right, in a peaceable manner,
to assemble together to consult for the common good; and to apply to those
invested with the powers of government, for redress of grievances, or other
proper purposes, by petition, address, or remonstrance.
Section 21. That the free
white men of this State shall have the right to keep and to bear arms, for their
common defense.
Section 22. That no soldier in time of peace, shall be quartered
in any house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war but in a
manner prescribed by law.
Section 23. That no standing
army shall be kept up without the consent of the Legislature: and the military
shall in all cases and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil
power.
Section 24. That perpetuities and monopolies are contrary to the
genius of a free State, and ought not to be allowed.
Section 25. That no
hereditary emoluments, privileges, or honors, shall ever be granted or conferred
in this State.
Section 26. That frequent recurrence to fundamental principles, is
absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty.
Section 27. That to guard
against transgressions upon the rights of the people, we declare that every
thing in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government, and
shall forever remain inviolate; and that all laws contrary thereto, or to the
following provisions, shall be void.
| NEW AND
NOTEWORTHY
ON FLORIDA MEMORY |
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| Bedell Collection 126 prints of Deaconess Harriet Bedell working among the Seminole Indians in South Florida from 1933 to 1960. |
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Pets with a Florida Flair From dogs and cats, to fawns, monkeys and macaws, Floridians have shared their lives with their animal friends. |
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Postcard Collection Over 6,300 picture postcards of Florida attractions, cities, and people, circa 1900s-1970s. |
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