States to the district court of the United States for the district of Kansas, or to the supreme court of the State of Kansas, as the nature of such appeal or writ of error may require; and each of those courts shall be the successor of the supreme court of Kansas Territory as to all such cases, with full power to hear and determine the same, and to award mesne or final process therein.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Judge of the district court for the district of Kansas shall hold two regular terms of said court annually at the seat of government of the said State, to commence on the second Mondays of April and October in each

year.

Approved 29th January, 1861.

ASSENT OF STATE TO PROPOSITIONS OF CONGRESS.

CHAPTER 6, LAWS OF 1862.

JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF KANSAS,
ACCEPTING THE TERMS IMPOSED BY CONGRESS UPON THE ADMIS-
SION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS INTO THE UNION.

Be it resolved by the legislature of the State of Kansas, That the propositions contained in the act of congress, entitled "An Act for the admission of Kansas into the Union," are hereby accepted, ratified, and confirmed, and shall remain irrevocable, without the consent of the United States. And it is hereby ordained, that this State shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil within the same by the United States, or with any regulations congress may find necessary for securing the title to said soil, to bona fide purchasers thereof; and no tax shall be imposed on lands belonging to the United States.

Approved January 20, 1862.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE

OF KANSAS.

ADOPTED AT WYANDOTTE, JULY 29, 1859. RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE, OCTOBER 4, 1859. WENT INTO OPERATION, JANUARY 29, 1861.

WITH ALL AMENDMENTS ADOPTED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1899.

PREAMBLE.-BOUNDARIES.

WE, the PEOPLE OF KANSAS, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the full enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, with the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri, where the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude crosses the same; thence running west on said parallel to the twenty-fifth meridian of longitude west from Washington; thence north on said meridian to the fortieth parallel of north latitude; thence east on said parallel to the western boundary of the State of Missouri; thence south, with the western boundary of said State, to the place of beginning.

BILL OF RIGHTS.

SECTION 1. All men are possessed of equal and inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and are instituted for their equal protection and benefit. No special privileges

or immunities shall ever be granted by the legislature, which may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the same body; and this power shall be exercised by no other tribunal or agency.

SEC. 3. The people have the right to assemble in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to petition the Government, or any department thereof, for the redress of grievances.

SEC. 4. The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be tolerated, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.

SEC. 5. The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate.

SEC. 6. There shall be no slavery in this State; and no involuntary servitude, except for the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

SEC. 7. The right to worship God, according to the dictates of conscience, shall never be infringed; nor shall any person be compelled to attend or support any form of worship; nor shall any control of, or interference with the rights of conscience be permitted, nor any preference be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship. No religious test or property qualification shall be required for any office of public trust, nor for any vote at any election; nor shall any person be incompetent to testify on account of religious belief.

SEC. 8. The right to the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless the public safety requires it in case of invasion or rebellion.

SEC. 9. All persons shall be bailable, by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, where proof is evident or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishment inflicted.

SEC. 10. In all prosecutions, the accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person, or by counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to meet the witness face to face, and to have compulsory process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the offense is alleged to have been committed. No person shall be a witness against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.

SEC. 11. The liberty of the press shall be inviolate; and all persons may freely speak, write, or publish their sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of such right; and in all civil or criminal actions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear that the alleged libelous

matter was published for justifiable ends, the accused party shall be acquitted.

SEC. 12. No person shall be transported from the State for any offense committed within the same; and no conviction in the State shall work a corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.

SEC. 13. Treason shall consist only in levying war against the State, adhering to its enemies, or giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the evidence of two witnesses to the overt act, or confession in open court.

SEC. 14. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the occupant; nor in time of war, except as prescribed by law.

SEC. 15. The right of the people to be secure in their persons and property against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall be inviolate; and no warrant shall issue but on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or property to be seized.

SEC. 16. No person shall be imprisoned for debt except in cases of fraud.

SEC. 17. No distinction shall ever be made between citizens of the State of Kansas and the citizens of other States and Territories of the United States in reference to the purchase, enjoyment or descent of property. The rights of aliens in reference to the purchase, enjoyment or descent of property may be regulated by

SEC. 18. All persons, for injuries suffered in person, reputation or property, shall have remedy by due course of law, and justice administered without delay.

SEC. 19. No hereditary emoluments, honors or privileges, shall ever be granted or conferred by the State.

SEC. 20. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others retained by the people; and all powers not herein delegated remain with the people.

ARTICLE 1.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

SECTION 1. The executive department shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney-General and Superintendent of Public Instruction; who shall be chosen by the electors of the State at the time and place

of voting for members of the legislature, and shall hold their offices for the term of two years from the second Monday of January next after their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

SEC. 2. Until otherwise provided by law, an abstract of the returns of every election for the officers named in the foregoing section shall be sealed up and transmitted by the clerks of the boards of canvassers of the several counties to the Secretary of State, who, with the Lieutenant-Governor and Attorney-General shall constitute a board of State canvassers, whose duty it shall be to meet at the State capital on the second Tuesday of December succeeding each election for State officers, and canvass the vote for such officers and proclaim the result; but in case any two or more have an equal and the highest number of votes, the legislature shall, by joint ballot, choose one of said persons so having an equal and the highest number of votes for said office.

OF THE GOVERNOR.

SEC. 3. The supreme executive power of the State shall be vested in a Governor, who shall see that the laws are faithfully executed.

SEC. 4. He may require information in writing from the officers of the executive department upon any subject relating to their respective duties.

SEC. 5. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the legislature by proclamation, and shall at the commencement of every session communicate in writing such information as he may possess in reference to the condition of the State, and recommend such measures as he may deem expedient.

SEC. 6. In case of disagreement between the two houses in respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn the legislature to such time as he may think proper, not beyond its regular meeting.

SEC. 7. The pardoning power shall be vested in the Governor under regulations and restrictions prescribed by law.

SEC. 8. There shall be a seal of the State, which shall be kept by the Governor, and used by him officially, and which shall be the great seal of Kansas.

SEC. 9. All commissions shall be issued in the name of the State of Kansas, signed by the Governor, countersigned by the Secretary of State, and sealed with the great seal.