public treasury, unless altered or abolished by the future legislature.

XXXIV. A Regifter's office for the probate of wills, and granting letters of administration, and an office for the recording of deeds, fhall be kept in each city and county: the officers to be appointed by the General Affembly, removeable at their pleasure, and to be commiffioned by the Prefident in Council.

XXXV. The printing preffes fhall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the legislature, or any part of government.

XXXVI. As every freeman, to preserve his independence (if without a fufficient eftate), ought to have some profeffion, calling, trade or farm, whereby he may honestly subfist, there can be no neceffity for, nor use in establishing offices of profit; the ufual effects of which are dependence and fervility, unbecoming freemen, in the poffeffors and expectants; faction, contention, corruption, and diforder among the people, But if any man is called into public fervice, to the prejudice of his private affairs, he has a right to a reasonable compensation: and whenever an office, through increase of fees or otherwife, becomes fo profitable as to occafion

many

many to apply for it, the profits ought to be leffened by the legislature.

XXXVII. The future legiflature of this State fhall regulate entails in fuch a manner as to prevent perpetuities.

XXXVIII. The penal laws as heretofore used, shall be reformed by the legislature of this State as foon as may be, and punishments made in some cases lefs fanguinary, and in general more proportionate to the crimes.

XXXIX. To deter more effectually from the commiffion of crimes, by continual visible punishment of long duration, and to make sanguinary punishments lefs neceffary, houses ought to be provided for punishing by hard labour, those who shall be convicted of crimes not capital; wherein the criminals shall be employed for the benefit of the public, or for reparation of injuries done to private perfons and all perfons at proper times fhall be admitted to fee the prisoners at their labour.

XL. Every officer, whether judicial, executive, or military, in authority under this Commonwealth, shall take the following oath or affirmation of allegiance, and general oath of office, before he enter on the execution of his office:

The

The oath or affirmation of allegiance:

<< I do fwear (or affirm), that I will be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: and that I will not di rectly or indirectly do any act or thing prejudicial or injurious to the Constitution or Government thereof, as eftablished by the Convention."

The oath or affirmation of office:

" I

do fwear (or affirm), that I will

faithfully execute the office of

of.

for the

and will do equal right and justice to all men, to the best of my judgement

and abilities, according to law."

XLI. No public tax, cuftom, or contribu tion fhall be impofed upon, or paid by the people of this State, except by a law for that purpose: and before any law be made for rai→ fing it, the purpose for which any tax is to be raised ought to appear clearly to the legislature to be of more fervice to the community than the money would be, if not collected; which being well obferved, taxes can never be burdens. XLII. Every foreigner of good character who comes to fettle in this State, having first

taken

taken an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the fame, may purchase, or by other just means acquire, hold, and transfer land or other real estate; and after one year's refidence fhall be deemed a free denizen thereof, and intitled to all the rights of a natural-born subject of this State, except that he shall not be capable of being elected a Representative until after two years refidence.

XLIII. The inhabitants of this State fhall haye liberty to fowl and hunt in seasonable times on the lands they hold, and on all other lands therein not inclosed; and in like manner to fish in all boatable waters, and others, not private property.

XLIV. A school or fchools fhall be established in each county by the legislature for the convenient inftruction of youth, with fuch falaries to the masters, paid by the public, as may enable them to inftruct youth at low prices: and allufeful learning shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one or more univerfities.

XLV. Laws for the encouragement of virtue, and prevention of vice and immorality,

fhall

shall be made and conftantly kept in force, and provifion fhall be made for their due execution and all religious focieties or bodies of men heretofore united or incorporated for the advancement of religion and learning, or for other pious and charitable purposes, shall be encouraged and protected in the enjoyment of the privileges, immunities and estates which they were accustomed to enjoy, or could of right have enjoyed, under the laws and former Conftitution of this State.

XLVI. The Declaration of Rights is hereby declared to be a part of the Conftitution of this Commonwealth, and ought never to be violated on any pretence whatever.

XLVII. In order that the freedom of this

Commonwealth may be preferved inviolate for ever, there fhall be chofen by ballot by the freemen in each city and county respectively, on the second Tuesday in October, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and on the fecond Tuesday in October in every feventh year thereafter, two perfons in each city and county of this State, to be called, THE COUNCIL OF CENSORS; who hall meet together on the fecond Monday of November, next enfuing

P