I THE OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE. do swear (or affirm) that I will for the faithfully execute the office of of and I will do equal right and justice to all men to the best of my judgment and abilities according to law. SECT. 41. No public tax, custom or contribution shall be imposed upon or paid by the people of this State, except by a law for that purpose; and before any law be made for raising it, the purpose for which any tax is to be raised, ought to appear clearly to the Legislature to be of more service to the community than the money would be, if not collected, which being well observed, taxes can never be burthens. SECT. 42. Every foreigner of good character who comes to settle in this State, having first taken an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the same, may purchase, or by other just means acquire, hold and transfer land or other real estate, and after one year's residence, shall be deemed a free denizen thereof, and entitled 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' residence. SECT. 43. The inhabitants of this State shall have 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. SECT. 44. A school or schools shall be established in each county by the Legislature for the convenient instruction of youth, with such salaries to the masters paid by the public as may enable them to instruct youth at low prices; and all useful learning shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one or more universities. SECT. 45. Laws for the encouragement of virtue and prevention of vice and immortallity, shall be made and constantly kept in force, and provision shall be made for their due execution; and all religious societies 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 Constitution of this State. SECT. 46. The declaration of rights is hereby declared to be a part of the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and ought never to be violated on any pretence whatever. SECT. 47. In order that the freedom of this Commonwealth may be preserved inviolate forever, there shall be chosen, 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 second Tuesday in October, in every seventh year thereafter, two persons in each city and county of this State, to be called THE COUNCIL OF CENSORS, who shall meet together on the second Monday of November next ensuing their election; the majority of whom shall be a quorum in every case, except as to calling a Convention, in which two-thirds of the whole number elected shall agree, and whose duty it shall be to inquire whether the Constitution has been preserved inviolate in every part; and whether the legislative and executive branches of government have performed their duty as guardians of the people, or assumed to themselves or exercised other or greater powers than they are entitled to by the Constitution; they are also to inquire whether the public taxes have been justly laid and collected in all parts of this Commonwealth, in what manner the public moneys have been disposed of, and whether the laws have been duly executed; for these purposes they shall have power to send for persons, papers and records; they shall have authority to pass public censures, to order impeachments, and to recommend to the Legislature the repealing such laws as appear to them to have been enacted contrary to the principles of the Constitution. These powers they shall continue to have for and during the space of one year from the day of their election and no longer. The said council of censors shall also have power to call a Convention, to meet within two years after their sitting if there appear to them an absolute necessity of amending any article of the Constitution which may be defective, explaining such as may be thought not clearly expressed, and of adding such as are necessary for the preservation of the rights and happiness of the people; but the articles to be amended and the amendments proposed, and such articles as are proposed to be added or abolished, shall be promulgated at least six months before the day appointed for the election of such Convention for the previous consideration of the people, that they may have an opportunity of instructing their delegates on the subject. |