Show WYOMING STATE CONSTITUTION Introduced in Constitutional Convention Convention Con- Con Convention Wyoming September 23 1889 and ordered printed PREAMBLE We the People of the State of Wyoming grateful to God for our civil political and religious liberties and desiring to secure them unto ourselves and perpetuate them to our children do ordain and establish establish lish this Constitution DECLARATION OF RIGHTS BIGHTS Article 1 y SECTION 1 1 All power is inherent inherent in the people and all free governments govern govern- governments ments are fou founded on their author author- authority authority ity and instituted for their peace safety and happiness for the ad- ad of these en s at all times limes an inalienable and indefeasible indefeasible in- in defeasible right to alter reform or abolish the government in such manner as they ma maT may T think proper Sec 2 In their inherent right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness happiness happi- happi happiness ness all members of the human race are equal Sec 3 Since Bince equality in the en- en enJoyment enjoyment en enjoyment of natural and ci civil viI rights is only made sure through political equality the laws of this State af- af affecting af footing the political rights and privileges of its citizens shall be without distinction of f race color sex or any circumstance or condi condi- condition condition condition tion whatsoever other than indi indi- individual individual individual vidual incompetency or unworthiness unworthiness ness ness duly ascertained by a court of competent jurisdiction j Sec 4 The right of the people to he secure in their persons houses pa papers rs and effects against unreasonable unreasonable unreason- unreason able searches and seizures shall not I be violated and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause sup sup- supported supported supported ported by affidavit particularly describing the place to searched be-searched or the person or thing to be seized Sec 5 No person shall be im- im imprisoned imprisoned im imprisoned for debt u unless uless upon refusal to deliver up his estate for the bene bene- benefit benefit benefit fit of his hia creditors in such manner as shall be prescribed by law or incases in incases incases cases of tort or where there is strong presumption of fraud Sec 6 No person shall be taken or imprisoned or of his freehold liberties or privileges or outlawed or exiled or in any man man- manner manner manner ner destroyed or deprived ved of his hiB life liberty Ii berty or property but by th the judgment of his bis peers or the law aw of the land Sec 7 Absolute power over the live lives liberty and property of freemen exists now nowhere here in a republic re- re republic re republic public rot not even in the largest ma ma- maJority majority majority Sec 8 All courts shall be open and every person for any injury done to person reputation or prop prop- property property property erty shall have justice administered without sale denial or delay Suits may be brought against the State in such Buch manner and in such courts as the legislature may by law direct See Sec 9 The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate in criminal d j f jj j cases but a jury in civil cases ill in i all ally y courts or in criminal cases cages in courts Y not of r record ord may consist of less F than twelve men as may be pre pre- prescribed prescribed r j scribed by law Hereafter a grand grandi i jury shall shaH consist of twelve nine of whom concurring may find findan findan an indictment but the legislature ro romay may change regulate or abolish the grand jury system Sec 10 In all aH criminal prosecutions prosecutions the accused shall shaH have the right ht to defend in person or by bJ cou counsel to demand the nature and tr cause of the accusation to have a copy thereof of to meet the witnesses opposed face to face to have com com- compulsory compulsory r processes served for obtain obtain- obtaining obtaining I ing desired witnesses and to a speedy trio trial 1 by hy an i impartial j jury u ry of r the county or district in which the f o offense is alleged to have been com com- committed committed f R Sec 11 No person shall be com com- compelled com compelled f to testify against himself in int t any criminal case nor shall shaH any person be twice put i In jeopardy for forthe forthe the same offense If the the jury dis- dis disagree dis disagree agree ree or if the judgment arrested be-arrested be i after verdict or if the judgment be r reversed for or error in law the ac- ac accused accused ac accused shall not be deemed to have havet t been in jeopardy detained de- Sec 12 No person shall shaH be de- de detained de detained i as a witness in any criminal 4 prosecution longer than may he be f necessary to take his testimony or deposition nor be confined in any r room where criminals are imprisoned imprisoned p i Sec 13 Until otherwise provided f by law no person shall for a felony he proceeded against criminally otherwise than by Indictment ex- ex except except ex in cases arising in the land or orin naval forces or In the militia when in actual service in ti time me of war or public danger Sec 14 All persons shall be bail ball r able by sufficient sureties unless for capital offenses when the proof Is evident or the presumption great Excessive bail shall not be j y nor excessive fines imposed nor norto y to shall shaH cruel or unusual punishment be inflicted Sec 15 The penal code shall shan be 11 framed on the humane principles of reformation and prevention and b not of vindictive justice Sec 16 No person arrested and aud confined in iIi jail shall be treated with unnecessary rigor The erection of safe and comfortable prisons and In- In inspection in inspection of prisons and the humane treatment of f prisoners ers sha shall be pro pro- provided pro provided vided for j i Sec 17 The privilege of the 21 jV writ of ot habeas corpus shall shaH not be beir r i-r suspended unless when in case of oft t rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it I r Sec 18 The free exercise and en- en enI enjoyment en enjoyment I of religious profession and worship without discrimination or ort t preference shall shaH be forever guaran guaranteed p teed in this State and no person I- I shall shaH be rendered incompetent to hold any office of trust or profit or orto 1 to serve as a witness or Juror juro on ac- ac account ac account count of his belief in God or the existence existence non of God nor because of his opinion on any matter of re- re religious religious re religious belief whatever but the liber Uber- liberty liberty ty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so BO construed as aa to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify f r I L z t i i L t fi 1 tices inconsistent with the peace or gr I safety of the State Sec 19 No money of the State shall ever be given or appropriated to any sectarian or religious society soddy or institution Sec 20 Every person may freely speak write and publish on aU all subjects being responsible for forthe forthe forthe the abuse Of o that right and in all ail trials for libel both civil and crimi crimi- criminal criminal criminal nal the truth when published with good intent and justifiable ends shall be a sufficient defense the jury have the ri right ht to determine the facts and the law under direction direction direction tion of the court Sec See 21 21 The right of petition and of the people peaceably to assemble to consult tor for the common good and to make known their opinions shall never be denied or abridged Sec Rec 22 The rights of labor shall have just protection through laws calculated to secure to the laborer proper rewards for his service nd to promote the industrial welfare of the State Sec 23 3 The right of the citizens to 0 opportunities ni ties for education should have practical al recognition The Legislature shall suitably encourage means and agencies calculated to advance the sciences and the liberal arts SEC 24 The right of ef citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State shall not be denied SEC 25 The military shall ever be in strict subordination to the civil power No 0 soldier in time of peace shall shaH be quartered in any house without consent of the owner nor in time of war except I in n the manner prescribed by law Jaw SEC 26 Treason against the State shall shaH consist only in levying war against it or in adhering to its enemies or in iii giving them aid and comfort No person shall be con con- convicted convicted con convicted of treason unless on the testimony testimony testimony mony of two witnesses to the same overt ac act or on un confession in open court nor nor shall any person be at- at attainted attainted at attainted tainted of treason by the legislature Sec 27 Elections shall e be open free and equal and no power civil or military shall at any time inter inter- i interfere interfere fere to prevent an untrammelled ex exercise ex- ex exercise of the right of suffrage Sec 28 No tax shall be imposed imposed- without without the consent of the people or their authorized representatives All AU taxation shall shaH be equal and uniform on property it shall shaH bead be ad valorem Sec See 29 No distinction shall ever be made by law between resident aliens and citizens as to the I sion slon sion taxation enjoyment or descent of property lles Sec 30 and lies are contrary to the g genius mius of a afree afree afree free state and shall shaH not be allowed Corporations being creatures of the state endowed for the public good with a portion of its sovereign powers power must be subject to its con con- control control control Sec 31 31 Water being essential to toi i industrial of limited amount and and easy of from Its natural channels its control must be in the State which in providing I for its use shall shaH equally guard all 1111 I the various interests Involved Bee Sec 32 32 Private vate pro property shall shaH not be betaken taken for private use unless by 6 L Lc c i consent conent of the owner except ft f fox fo vate ways of necessity an and e drains flumes or di ehe MT er across the lauds lands of others for ag tural tura mining milling domes domestic i or sanitary purposes nor in n any an WAW M wIthout dup due du compensation See Sec 33 Private property not be taken or damaged for p pu lie or private u use e without just eo co j Sec 34 All laws Jaws of a gene genei BB Jal ture shall shaH ha have e a uniform o 0 open Hl Sec 35 No No ex post facto w MM any law impairing the obliga of 01 o contracts shall rhall ever be made J Sec 36 36 The enumeration F in inthis i this this constitution of certain shall not be construed to impair or disparage others ret 3 by the people t Sec 37 The state of W WF F is an inseparable part of the can U Union and the Constitution C the U United States StateR is the tho th sa s salaw sup M law Jaw of the land laud Th The labors of the A convention have been ma Ugh lightened by the efficient i j i- i Chairman Judge M 1 C B BHe I He is certainly a dip 4 t superior ability and h has s 09 enviable viable place in the hearts 5 he- he people of the Territory His Hie slona on every point have beet bee yond reproach Honest ands andu an t in in every way he hail l respect of every member On OR floor floor He is able seeing far earnest So far fal no one has f The work of making St necessarily necessarily a glow siow one I 1 is the the Jin work of a legislative bait baU w win in the errors of previous 1 legi l g anare are corrected but it is one on a o start study deep study deep and in Q one that must stand the test o i ione one that will settle the aw to whether the people were right te their choice of delegates who M given the power of marking oai Mft a line of policy to be follower followed bj tt future inhabitants Wyoming MN Utah is rich in mineral we I Hb Its grazing lands are Coal Coal oil plumbago In kindred substances abound ta faux a almost unlimited degree anti and is no reason why Wyoming not soon shine brightly in the constellation of states I I In my last letter I me some of the members of the ep pa Lion tion No praises were given out out sufficient grounds committee arcs artt ar head headed b by considerate and co o men who have taken themselves the arduous task of of Ing a State constitution ion 1 k Governor Ex-Governor Baxter ie to Uin u uin u uin in his efforts Ex-Delegate Ex Downey is ia th competent adviser that be J e the time he won won his wa w wa ay 1 hearts of the people of Wy- Wy when a mere boy although J to be present C D Clark dark of Uinta Cp a a valuable member and aud A ek j adviser er t s tN sN N Baldwin and Mark Ht 19 their work well weB They loud loud but earnest a W E Chaplin is ie Yo i a yo I t- t i y b promise He was virtually virtually virtually- ailed on on Wyoming soil his coming here when he was but three three Y 7 rs or age C W Holden is a useful member mem- mem her ber The same may be said of I We lm Butler Richards and Moore The judiciary committee is made lip hP Campbell of legal minds mi La Lawyers Camp Camp- Cam p- p bell Preston Elliott Smith and Heists Kr Scott and Harvey the McGill Te Morris and Foote ate are doing good work in boundaries Burdick Bardick Sutherland Irvine and Holden are untiring in their duties an the tee agricultural and irrigation J A Johnston is the efficient chairman of this committee commit commit- committee tee of whom I spoke in a previous letter Jet irrigation The Senate committee on tion Uon visited the halls and gave gRove some valuable suggestions which are be- be be 1112 earnestly considered The com com- early admission of f predict an ij- ij Wy Wyoming ming as a State a-State tate All AU members of the convention are working with the greatest of energy y and it is quite t t that M the labors will wiH be concluded by the W 1st of October L CHEYENNE Wyo Sept 20 1889 |