We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for Preamble. our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the constitution of the State of Nebraska: ARTICLE I.-BILL OF RIGHTS. people. SECTION 1. All persons are by nature free and Rights of independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights, and the protection of property, governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. hibited. SEC. 2. There shall be neither slavery nor in- Slavery provoluntary servitude in this state, otherwise than for punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. SEC. 3. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. (1 Neb., 37, 2-Neb., 403; 6 Neb., 42, 54, 71; 7 Neb., 278; -Neb., 114.) Religious free-.SEC. 4. All persons have a natural and indefeasble right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship against his consent, and no preference shall be given by law to any religious sociey, nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No religious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the legislature to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction. Freedom of speech and the press. Trial by jury. SEC. 5. Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense. SEC. 6. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the legislature may authorize trial by a jury of a less number than twelve men, in courts inferior to the district court. (3 Neb., 94; 5 Neb., 148, 458; 13 Neb., 451.) |