“ The general assembly, at its first session under this constitution, shall constitute a commission, to consist of three persons not members of the senate or house of representatives, whose duty it shall be to revise, reform, simplify, and abridge the rules of practice, pleading, and proceeding in the courts of record of this State, abolishing the forms of action known to the common law, and distinctions as to form between proceedings at law and in equity. ”

“ In any trial in any court, the accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person or by counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him; to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to procure the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the offence is alleged to have been committed; nor shall any person be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, or twice put in jeopardy for the same offence. ”

“ The general assembly shall not have power to pass retroactive laws, or laws impairing the obligation of contracts, but may, by general laws, authorize the courts to carry into effect, upon such terms as shall be just and equitable, the manifest intention of parties and officers, by curing omissions, defects, and errors in instruments and proceedings arising out of a want of conformity with the laws of this State. ”

“ The people have the right to assemble in a peaceable manner to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to petition the general assembly for the redress of grievances.
Sec. 4. The people have the right to bear arms for their defence and security; but standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.
Sec. 5. The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate, and extend to persons of every condition. ”

“ No person holding a lucrative office or appointment under the Constitution or laws of the United States, or of this State, shall be eligible to a seat in the general assembly; nor shall any person hold more than one lucrative office at the same time, except as in this constitution expressly permitted: Provided, That offices in the militia to which there is attached no annual salary, where the compensation does not exceed ninety dollars per annum, shall not be deemed lucrative. ”

“ There shall be no slavery in this State, and no involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime, whereof the parties shall have been duly convicted.
Sec. 7. All men nave a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or maintain any form of worship against his consent; and no preference shall be given by law to any religious society, nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. ”

“ The lieutenant-governor shall be president of the senate, but shall vote only when the senate is equally divided, and shall be entitled to the same pay as the speaker of the house of representatives, and in case of his death, resignation, impeachment, removal from office, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall choose a president pro tempore. ”

“ No person who may hereafter be collector or holder of public moneys shall be eligible to any office of trust or profit in the State until he shall have accounted for and paid into the proper treasury all sums for which he may be accountable. ”

“ No religious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of religious belief; but nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to dispense with oaths or affirmations. Religious morality and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the legislature to make suitable provisions for the protection of all religious denominations in the peaceable enjoyment of their modes of worship, and for the encouragement of schools and the means of instruction. ”

“ Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of such right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all prosecutions for libel the truth of the charge may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libellous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the accused shall be acquitted. ”

“ All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have a remedy by due course of law, and justice administered without denial or delay. ”

“ The compensation of the judges of the supreme court and the circuit courts shall not be increased or diminished during their term of office, and they shall receive no fees or perquisites, nor hold any office of profit and trust under the State other than a judicial office.
Sec. 17. The general assembly may at any time increase the number of the judges of the supreme court, may increase or diminish the number of the judicial circuits, or change the circuits, or may establish other courts by a law passed by two-thirds of the members elected to each house ”

“ The respective counties of the State shall provide in some suitable manner for those inhabitants who, by reason of age, infirmity, or other misfortune, may have claims upon the sympathy and aid of society, under provision to be made by the laws of the general assembly. ”

“ Except in cases of impeachment, and in cases arising in the Army or Navy, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, and in cases of petit larceny and other inferior offences, no person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless upon presentment or indictment of a grand jury. ”

“ In all cases where it shall be necessary to sell any of the lands granted by Congress, said sales shall not be made without one year’s notice, through publication in the county or counties where the lands lie, and an advertisement in two or more central newspapers of the State, and there shall be a valuation of said lands by disinterested persons, and no lands shall be sold at a less price than the valuation. ”

“ There shall be elected at the first election twenty-five senators and seventy-five representatives, and the number afterwards shall be regulated by law; and the general assembly shall, in all apportionments for members of the legislature, establish single representative and single senatorial districts. ”

“ The term corporations, as used in this article, shall be construed to include all associations and joint-stock companies having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships; and all corporations shall have the right to sue, and shall be subject to be sued, in all courts the same as natural persons. ”

“ All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offences, where the proof is evident or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishment inflicted. ”

“ The State shall not be a stockholder in any bank or banking institution.
Sec. 7. All banks shall be required to keep officers and proper offices, for the issue and redemption of their paper, at some convenient point within the State. ”