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INCORPORATED.

PUBLISHERS, PRINTERS, BLANK
BOOK MANUFACTURERS.

Public Printers for the State of Kentucky,

445, 447, 449 W. Main St., Corner 5th,

LOUISVILLE, KY.

KENTUCKY REPORTS.

ORIGINAL EDITION.-100 VOLS. IN 100 BOOKS.

Uniform in Size and Binding.

Conform word for word, and page for page with

original volumes.

PRICE OF SET, 100 VOLS.,

$300.00 NET.

ODD VOLUMES.

We can now supply Odd Volumes at following prices: From Hughes to 14th Bush inclusive (serial numbers 1 to y) at $4.00 per vol. Vols. 78 to 100, at $2.00 and $2.50 each.

66

66

66

Barbour's Digest, Vols. 1, 2, $12.00. Carrol's Code, $6.00. 66 2, 4, $16.00. Bullitt's $6.00 Kentucky Statutes, $8.00.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

Commonwealth of Kentucky.

PREAMBLE.

We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution.1

BILL OF RIGHTS.

That the great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, WE DECLARE that:

SECTION 1. All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned:

First: The right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties.

Second: The right of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences.

Third: The right of seeking and pursuing their safety and happiness.

(1) See Miller, &c., v. Johnson, &c., 92 Ky., 589: Downs v. Commonwealth, Idem, 605; McClure v. Alexander, 15 R., 732.

Fourth: The right of freely communicating their thoughts and opinions.

Fifth: The right of acquiring and protecting property.

Sixth: The right of assembling together in a peaceable manner for their common good, and of applying to those invested with the power of government for redress of grievances or other proper purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.

SEC. 2. Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.

SEC. 3. All men, when they form a social compact, are equal; and no grant of exclusive, separate public emoluments or privileges shall be made to any man or set of men, except in consideration of public services; but no property shall be exempt from taxation except as provided in this Constitution; and every grant of a franchise, privilege or exemption, shall remain subject to revocation, alteration or amendment.

SEC. 4. All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety, happiness and the protection of property. For the advancement of these ends, they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may deem proper.

SEC. 5. No preference shall ever be given by law to any

(1) Sec. 3. Appropriation for State exhibit at World's Fair to be expended by Commissioners not in violation of this section. (Norman. Anditor, v. Kentucky. Board of Managers, 14 Ky. Law Reporter, 529.) Commonwealth v. Smith, 92 Ky., 38.

religious sect, society or denomination; nor to any particular creed, mode of worship or system of ecclesiastical polity: nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, to contribute to the erection or maintenance of any such place, or to the salary or support of any minister of religion; nor shall any man be compelled to send his child to any school to which he may be conscientiously opposed; and the civil rights, priviliges or capacities of no person shall be taken away, or in anywise diminished or enlarged, on account. of his belief or disbelief of any religious tenet, dogma or teaching. No human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience.

SEC. 6. All elections shall be free and equal.

SEC. 7. The ancient mode of trial by jury shall be held sacred, and the right thereof remain inviolate, subject to such modifications as may be authorized by this Constitution.

SEC. 8. Printing presses shall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of ne General Assembly or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. Every person may freely and fully speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

SEC. 9. In prosecutions for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers or men in a public capacity, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence; and in all indictments for libel the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.

Sec. 6. Elections. Hocker v. Pendleton, 100 Ky., 726. Purnell v. Mann. 20 Rep., 1146.

Sec. 7. The right of trial by jury can not be impaired or modified by legislative enactment. (O'Connor & McCulloch v. Henderson Bridge Co., 95 Ky., 633.) Transfer of Legal Issues. Carter v. Weisemburgh, 95 Ky., 135.

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