fund of the county, and becomes a part of the semi-annuat apportionment for the support of schools. Bail is not usually accepted from persons charged with having committed capital crimes, when the proof is evident or the presumption great. A capital offense is one to which the death penalty may be attached.

Habeas Corpus.-Section thirteen secures to all the right to a writ of habeas corpus, when application is made according to law. This right can be suspended and the writ refused, only in case of rebellion or invasion, or when the public safety may require it. The writ of habeas corpus has been called "The great writ of personal liberty."

It is issued by the judge of the court having jurisdiction of the crime, and cannot be refused when proper application is made by the accused under oath, unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it. This writ had its origin in England in the "Magna Charta" of King John, granted in the year 1215. Our forefathers esteemed this to be one of their grandest privileges, and it has always been recognized as an inherent right of all citizens of the United States.

Military. The fourteenth section places the military subordinate to the civil power. It declares that no standing army shall be kept up in the state, in time of peace, and, in time of war, that no appropriation for a standing army shall be for a longer period than two years. The next section forbids the quartering of troops in any house, is time of peace, without the consent of its owner, and, in time of war, except in the manner prescribed by law.

Treason.-Section sixteen defines treason against the state to consist in levying war against it, adhering to its en.

emies, or giving them aid and comfort. This is virtually the definition given of treason in the constitution of the United States. It is also provided, that no person shall be convicted of treason except upon the evidence of two witnesses to the same act, or upon confession in open court.

Excessive Bail.-Section seventeen provides that any bail required shall not be excessive; that is, beyond the nature of the crime for which it is taken. The imposing of excessive fines, and the infliction of cruel and unusual punishments are expressly forbidden.

Property Condemned.-The next section declares that private property shall not be taken for the use of the public without just compensation to the owner. The damages resulting from the appropriation of private property for public purposes, shall be assessed by a jury, but no benefit that the owner of the property would receive from the improvements for which it is taken, can be considered in rendering the decision for damages. Every one is enti tled to the use of his property to the exclusion of all other private citizens, but sometimes it becomes necessary to sacrifice private rights for the public weal.

Imprisonment for Debt.-Imprisonment for debt, in any civil process, exeept in case of fraud, is forbidden by the nineteenth section, and no person can be imprisoned for a military fine, in time of peace. So long as the English common law was in operation in this country, imprisonment for debt was common, but now it is usually forbidder by constitution or statute in all the states. If the action of the debtor is such that it is reasonable to suppose that he intends to avoid the payment of his debts by concealing his

property, or removing it from the state, the provisions of this section will not apply. In Scotland, at the present time, a person may be imprisoned for a debt of forty dollars or more. Whittier's poem, "The Prisoner for Debt,” graphically portrays the condition of persons confined for debt

Right to Assemble.-Section twenty insures to the -people some of their dearest rights, among which is that of assembling to counsel for the common good. The ropemakers of Boston held such meetings to devise means for resisting the British soldiery. The modern word caucus is said to be a corruption of caulkers, a term often applied to rope-makers. The right of making known their opinions to their representatives, and that of petitioning for a redress of grievances, are also guaranteed.

Bill of Attainder.-The language of the twenty-first section is as follows: "No bill of attainder, ex-post-facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, shall ever be passed." A bill of attainder is a legislative act inflicting the penalty of death, without trial, upon persons supposed to be guilty of high crimes. In former times, the parliament of Great Britain passed laws of this kind, often for the purpose of reaching persons in high places who could not be gotten rid of by ordinary process of law.

Ex-Post-Facto Law.-An ex-post-facto law is one. that is passed after the commission of an act by which the act may be punished as a crime. It would seem that the prohibition of ex-post-facto laws would make the latter part of this section unnecessary. Ex-post-facto laws apply to criminal and penal statutes, but not to those that affect. property only. Hence, we may say that this part of the

section prohibits ex-post-facto laws in the interests of contracts.

Rights of Aliens.-Section twenty-two grants to all foreigners residing in the state, the same rights in respect to the possession, enjoyment, and descent of property, as native-born citizens.

Slavery. The twenty-third section prohibits slavery, and declares that there shall be no involuntary servitude in Iowa, except for the punishment of crime.

Lease of Farm Lands.-The twenty-fourth section limits leases of agricultural lands from which rent or service of any kind is reserved, to a period not exceeding twenty years.

Rights Reserved.-The twenty-fifth section is a fitting one with which to close this Bill of Rights. Its language is, "The enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others, retained by the people." Liberty, civil and religious, is insured to all within the borders of the state, and, as if this were not enough, any other privileges that may be enjoyed, are reserved to the people. Surely our government rests on a foundation broad and deep.

CHAPTER XIII.

ARTICLE II.-RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.

Right to Vote.-The constitution of every free govern ment designates those persons who have the right to vote. With us, all political power is inherent in the people. This power is sometimes called the elective franchise, and it consists in the right to vote for public officers and measures proposed for the common good. It is customary in the United States to restrict this right to male citizens, at least twentyone years of age Persons under that age are thought to be too young to know how to vote properly upon questions of public importance, but, at best, the rule is an arbitrary one. Some standard must be adopted, and perhaps the one in use is as good as any that could be devised.

Qualifications of Voters.-The lowest, or minimum, age at which persons may vote is the same in all the states, but aside from that there is no uniformity. Few of the states agree in all points relating to the qualifications of voters. Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho allow women to vote at all elections, and several other states give them the right to vote on school and municipal matters. All of the states bordering on Iowa, except Minnesota and Illinois, allow aliens who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, to vote at all elections, provided they have the qualifications as to age, sex, residence, etc., as provided by the state constitution.