CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 14. Treason against the State defined. 15. Excessive bail shall not be required nor cruel punishments inflicted. 16. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. 17. No person shall be imprisoned for debt. 18. The people have the right to assemble together peaceably for the common good. 19. No county, city, etc., shall loan its credit. 20. The State shall not appropriate money or donate land, etc. 21. This enumeration of rights and privileges not to impair other rights retained by the people. Section 7. 1. No divorce shall be granted by the Legislature. 2. Lotteries illegal. 3. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law. 4. Every law shall embrace but one object. 5. Every law of this State shall begin in the following style. 6. The fund for the support of free schools, etc. 7. No private or special law to be passed. 8. Private property taken for public use or just compensation. 9. No private, special or local bills shall be passed, unless. 10. Foreclosure of mortgages. 11. The Legislature shall not pass private, local or special laws in any of the following enumerated cases. 12. Property shall be assessed for taxes under general laws and by uniform rules. Section 8. 1. Members of the Legislature to take the following oath. 2. Oath of office. ARTICLE V. Executive. 1. The executive power shall be vested in the Governor. 2. Election of the same. 3. His term of office. 4. Requirements for Governor. 5. Remuneration of the same. 6. He shall be Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State. 7. Every bill to be signed by the Governor. 8. Those who may not hold the office of Governor. 9. The Governor may grant reprieves. 10. May grant pardons. 11. The Governor and all other civil officers under this State liable to impeachment. 12. In case of the absence of Governor, his duty shall devolve ARTICLE X. Schedule. 1. The common law and statute laws now in force, not repug nant to this Constitution, shall remain in force, etc. 2. In regard to officers now filling any office or appointment. 3. The present Governor, Chancellor and ordinary or Surrogate-General and Treasurer shall continue in office until successors are elected. 4. In case of vacancy in the office of Governor, how filled. 5. The vote of State canvassers to consist of whom. 6. The returns of the votes for Governor.-How disposed of. 7. The election of clerks and surrogates. 8. The elections for the year 1844. 9. Certain vacancies to be filled by the Governor. 10. Restrictions and pay of members of Legislature. 11. Clerks of counties shall be clerks of inferior Courts of Common Pleas, etc. 12. The Legislature shall pass all laws necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Constitution. PREAMBLE. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution: ARTICLE I. Rights and Privileges. 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain natural and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people, and they have the right at all times to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it. 3. No person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor, under any pretense whatever, to 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. 4. 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. 5. Every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. No law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact. 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the papers and things to be seized. 7. The right of a trial by jury shall remain inviolate; but the Legislature may authorize the trial of civil suits, when the matter in dispute does not exceed fifty dollars, by a jury of six men. 8. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be con |