                             CONSTITUTION
                                OF THE
                           STATE OF VERMONT

   A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE STATE OF VERMONT

   Article 1st. That all men are born equally free and independent,  and have 
certain  natural,  inherent,  and unalienable rights,  amongst which are  the 
enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting 
property,  and  pursuing  and obtaining happiness and  safety;  therefore  no 
person born in this country, or brought from over sea,  ought to be holden by 
law, to serve any person as a servant, slave or apprentice,  after he arrives 
to the age of twenty-one years, unless he is bound by his own consent,  after 
he  arrives to such age,  or bound by law for the payment of debts,  damages, 
fines, costs, or the like.

   Article 2nd.  That private property ought to be subservient to public uses 
when necessity requires it,  nevertheless,  whenever any person's property is 
taken for the use of the public,  the owner ought to receive an equivalent in 
money.

   Article 3rd. That all men have a natural and unalienable right, to worship 
Almighty  God,  according  to  the  dictates of  their  own  consciences  and 
understandings,  as  in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of  God: 
and  that  no  man  ought to,  or of right can be  compelled  to  attend  any 
religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship,  or maintain any 
minister,  contrary  to  the dictates of his conscience,  nor can any man  be 
justly  deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen,  on account  of 
his religious sentiments, or peculia[r]  mode of religious worship;  and that 
no  authority  can,  or  ought to be vested in,  or  assumed  by,  any  power 
whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the 
rights   of   conscience,   in  the  free  exercise  of  religious   worship. 
Nevertheless,  every  sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the 
Sabbath or Lord's day,  and keep up some sort of religious worship,  which to 
them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God.

   Article  4th.  Every  person  within this state ought to  find  a  certain 
remedy,  by having recourse to the laws,  for all injuries or wrongs which he 
may  receive in his person,  property or character;  he ought to obtain right 
and justice, freely, and without being obliged to purchase it; completely and 
without any denial; promptly and without delay; conformably to the laws.

   Article  5th That the people of this state by their legal representatives, 
have the sole, inherent,  and exclusive right of governing and regulating the 
internal police of the same.

   Article   6th.    That   all  power  being  originally  inherent  in   and 
co[n]sequently   derived  from  the  people,   therefore,   all  officers  of 
government,  whether  legislative  or  executive,   are  their  trustees  and 
servants; and at all times, in a legal way, accountable to them.

   Article 7th. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common 
benefit, protection, and security of the people,  nation,  or community,  and 
not for the particular emolument or advantage of any single man,  family,  or 
set  of men,  who are a part only of that community;  and that the  community 
hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right,  to reform or alter 
government,  in  such a manner as shall be,  by that community,  judged  most 
conducive to the public weal.

   Article  8th.  That all elections ought to be free and without corruption, 
and that all freemen, having a sufficient, evident, common interest with, and 
attachment to the community,  have a right to elect officers,  and be elected 
into office, agreeably to the regulations made in this constitution.

   Article 9th.  That every member of society hath a right to be protected in 
the  enjoyment  of life,  liberty,  and property,  and therefore is bound  to 
contribute  his proportion towards the expense of that protection,  and yield 
his personal service, when necessary,  or an equivalent thereto,  but no part 
of  any person's property can be justly taken from him,  or applied to public 
uses,  without  his  own consent,  or that of the Representative Body of  the 
freemen,  nor  can any man who is conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, 
be  justly  compelled thereto,  if he will pay such equivalent;  nor are  the 
people bound by any law but such as they have in like manner assented to, for 
their  common good:  and previous to any law being made to raise a  tax,  the 
purpose  for  which  it  is  to be raised ought  to  appear  evident  to  the 
Legislature to be of more service to community than the money would be if not 
collected.

   Article  10th.  That in all prosecutions for criminal offenses,  a  person 
hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel;  to demand the cause and 
nature  of his accusation;  to be confronted with the witnesses;  to call for 
evidence in his favor,  and a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the 
country;  without  the  unanimous consent of which jury,  he cannot be  found 
guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; nor can any 
person be justly deprived of his liberty, except by the laws of the land,  or 
the judgement of his peers; provided, nevertheless,  in criminal prosecutions 
for  offenses not punishable by death,  the accused,  with the consent of the 
prosecuting  officer  entered of record,  may in open court or by  a  writing 
signed  by him and filed with the court,  waive his right to a jury trial and 
submit the issue of his guilt to the determination and judgement of the court 
without a jury.

   Article  11th.  That  the people have a right to  hold  themselves,  their 
houses, papers, and possessions,  free from search or seizure;  and therefore 
warrants,  without  oath  or  affirmation first  made,  affording  sufficient 
foundation for them, and whereby any officer or messenger may be commanded or 
required to search suspected places, or to seize any person or persons,  his, 
her  or  their property,  not particularly described,  are contrary  to  that 
right, and ought not to be granted.

   Article 12th. That when any issue in fact,  proper for the cognizance of a 
jury is joined in a court of law,  the parties have a right to trial by jury, 
which ought to be held as sacred.

   Article  13th.  That the people have a right to freedom of speech,  and of 
writing  and  publishing  their sentiments,  concerning the  transactions  of 
government,  and  therefore  the  freedom  of  the  press  ought  not  to  be 
restrained.

   Article  14th.  The freedom of deliberation,  speech,  and debate,  in the 
Legislature,  is so essential to the rights of the people,  that it cannot be 
the foundation of any accusation or prosecution, action or complaint,  in any 
other court or place whatsoever.

   Article  15th.  The  power of suspending laws,  or the execution of  laws, 
ought  never to be exercised but by the Legislature,  or by authority derived 
from it, to be exercised in such particular cases,  as this Constitution,  or 
the Legislature shall provide for.

   Article 16th. That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of 
themselves  and  the  State -  and as standing armies in time  of  peace  are 
dangerous  to liberty,  they ought not to be kept up;  and that the  military 
should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power.

   Article 17th. That no person in this state can in any case be subjected to 
law martial,  or to any penalties or pains by virtue of that law except those 
employed in the army, and in the militia in actual service.

   Article  18th.  That frequent recurrence to fundamental principles,  and a 
firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance,  industry,  and frugality, 
are  absolutely  necessary  to preserve the blessings of  liberty,  and  keep 
government free; the people ought, therefore,  to pay particular attention to 
these  points,  in  the choice of officers and representatives,  and  have  a 
right, in a legal way, to exact a due and constant regard to them, from their 
Legislators  and  magistrates,  in  making  and executing such  laws  as  are 
necessary for the good government of the State.

   Article  19th.  That  all  people  have a natural and  inherent  right  to 
emigrate from one state to another that will receive them.

   Article 20th. That the people have a right to assemble together to consult 
for their common good -  to instruct their Representatives -  and to apply to 
the  Legislature  for  redress  of  grievances,   by  address,   petition  or 
remonstrance.

   Article 21st. That no person shall be liable to be transported out of this 
state for trial for any offense committed within the same.
