ADOPTED NOVEMBER 6, 1894. PREAMBLE. We the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this Constitution. 4. Habeas corpus. 5. Excessive bail and fines. 6. Bill of rights. 7. Compensation for taking private property; private roads; drainage of agricultural lands; excess condemnation. 8. Freedom of speech and press; criminal proscutions for libel. 9. Right to assemble and petition; divorces; lotteries, pool-selling and gambling, laws to prevent. 10. Escheats. 11. Feudal tenures abolished, 12. Allodial tenures. 13. Leases of agricultural lands. 14. Fines and quarter-sales abolished. 15. Purchase of lands from Indians. 16. Common law and acts of the colonial and state legislatures. 17. Grants of land made by the king of Great Britain since 1775; prior grants. 18. Damages for injuries causing death. 19. Workmen's compensation. 1. Persons not to be disfranchised. No member of this State shall be disfranchised, or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless by the law of the land, or the judgment of his peers. Const. 1846, art. I, § 1. § 2. Trial by jury. The trial by jury in all cases in which it has been heretofore used shall remain inviolate forever; but a jury trial may be waived by the parties in all civil cases in the manner to be prescribed by law. Const. 1846, art. 1, § 2. 3. Freedom of worship; religious liberty. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this State to all mankind; and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his opinions on matters of religious belief; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State. Const. 1846, art. 1, § 3. 4. Habeas corpus. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require its suspension. Const. 1846, art. I, § 4. |