in consequence of such opinions, except in cases provided for in this constitution.

"Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects; being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

"No law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech, or of the press.

"In all prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence; 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 party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts.

"That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, from unreasonable seizures and searches; and that no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing the place to be searched, and the person or thing to be seized, as nearly as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

"That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a right to be heard by himself or counsel, or both; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted by the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and in all prosecutions by indictment or information, a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the county where the offence was committed: that he cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself; nor can he be deprived of his life, liberty, or property, but by due course of law.

"No person shall be accused, arrested or detained, except in cases ascertained by law, and according to the form which the same has prescribed; and no person

shall be punished but in virtue of a law established and promulgated prior to the offence, and legally applied.

"That no person shall, for any indictable offence, be proceeded against criminally by information, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service, or by leave of the court, for misdemeanor in office.

"No person shall, for the same offence, be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall any person's property be taken or applied to public use without the consent of the legislature, and without just compensation being first made therefor.

"That all courts shall be open, and every person for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law; and right and justice administered without sale, denial, or delay.

"That no power of suspending laws shall be exercised except by the legislature, or its authority.

"That excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted.

"That all prisoners shall before conviction be bailable by sufficient securities, except for capital offences, where the proof is evident, or the presumption great: and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless, when in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

"That the person of a debtor, when there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be detained in prison, after delivering up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

"No conviction for any offence shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate: The legislature shall pass no bill of attainder, ex post facto law, nor law impairing the obligation of contracts.

"No property qualification for eligibility to office, or

for the right of suffrage, shall ever be required by law in this state.

"That the estates of suicides shall descend or vest as in cases of natural death; and if any person shall be killed by casualty, there shall be no forfeiture by reason thereof.

"That the citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those vested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by petition, address, or remonstrance.

Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defence of himself and of the state.

"No standing army shall be kept up without the consent of the legislature; and the military shall, in all cases, and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power.

"That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, but in manner to be prescribed by law.

"That no hereditary emoluments, privileges, or honors shall ever be granted or conferred in this state.

แ "Emigration from this state shall not be prohibited, nor shall any free white citizen of this state ever be exiled under any pretence whatever.

"The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.

"No person shall be debarred from prosecuting or defending any civil cause for or against him or herself before any tribunal in this state, by him or herself, or counsel or both.

"No person shall ever be appointed or elected to any office in this state for life or during good behavior; but the tenure of all offices shall be for some limited period of time, if the person appointed or elected thereto shall so long behave well."

§ 108. The legislative department of Mississippi is

vested in two branches, a Senate and House of Representatives, styled "The Legislature of the State of Mississippi ;" and the style of the laws is, "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi."

The representatives are elected biennially by qualified electors of their respective counties, and are privileged from arrest, except in cases of treason, felony, or breach of the peace. They consist of not less than thirty-six nor more than one hundred.

The SENATORS are chosen by qualified electors for four years, consisting of never less than one-fourth nor more than one-half of the whole number of representatives.

Each house elects its own officers, judges of the election and qualification of its members, determines its own rule of proceedings, and punishes and expels its members for disorderly behavior.

Bills may originate in either house, and be amended, altered, or refused by the other, and all bills passed by both houses must be signed by the speaker and president of the respective houses before becoming laws. But all revenue bills must originate in the house of representatives, but the senate may alter, amend, or reject them. The house of representatives have the sole power of impeachment, to be tried by the senate.

A majority of each house constitutes a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day.

Every bill, order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of both houses shall be necessary, except on questions of adjournment, must be presented to and signed by the governor or be returned by him with his objections within six days, Sundays excepted, after presented to him, unless prevented by the adjournment of the legislature. It inay, however, upon reconsideration, be passed by a vote of two-thirds of each house, notwithstanding such objections. If a return of a bill with

objections within the time prescribed is prevented by an adjournment of the legislature it becomes a law.

The constitution also contains the following restrictions upon legislative power.

"No law of a general nature, unless otherwise provided for, shall be enforced until sixty days after the passage thereof.

"No law shall ever be passed to raise a loan of money upon the credit of the state, or to pledge the faith of the state for the payment or redemption of any loan or debt, unless such law be proposed in the senate or house of representatives, and be agreed to by a majority of the members of each house, and entered on their journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and be referred to the next succeeding legislature, and published for three months previous to the next regular election, in three newspapers of the state; and unless a majority of cach branch of the legislature, so elected, after such publication, shall agree to, and pass such law; and in such case the yeas and nays shall be taken, and entered on the journals of each house: Provided, that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent the legislature from negotiating a further loan of one and a half million of dollars, and vesting the same in stock reserved to the state by the charter of the Planters' Bank of the state of Mississippi.

"Divorces from the bonds of matrimony shall not be granted, but in cases provided for by law, by suit in chancery."

"The legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves without the consent of their owners, unless where the slave shall have rendered to the state some distinguished service; in which case the owner shall be paid a full equivalent for the slave so emancipated. They shall have no power to prevent emigrants to this state from bringing with them such