Liberia ^ 



hereby solemnly associate and constitute ourselves a free, 

 sovereign, and independent State, by the name of the Republic 

 of Liberia, and do ordain and establish this Constitution for 

 the government of the same. 



Section i. All men are born equally free and independent 

 and have certain natural, inherent, and inalienable rights, 

 among which are the rights of enjoying and defending life 

 and liberty, of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, 

 and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness. 



Section 2. AH power is inherent in the people ; all free 

 governments are instituted by their authority and for their 

 benefit, and they have a right to alter and reform the same 

 when their safety and happiness require it. 



Section 3. All men have a natural and inalienable right 

 to worship God according to the dictates of their own con- 

 sciences, without obstruction or molestation from others : all 

 persons demeaning themselves peaceably, and not obstructing 

 others in their religious worship are entitled to the protection 

 of the law in the free exercise of their own religion, and no 

 sect of Christians shall have exclusive privileges or preference 

 over any other sect, but all shall be alike tolerated, and no 

 religious test whatever shall be required as a qualification for 

 civil office or the exercise of any civil right. 



Section 4. There shall be no slavery within this republic ; 

 nor shall any person resident therein deal in slaves either within 

 or without this republic. 



Section 5. The people have a right at all times, in an 

 orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble and consult upon 

 the common good, to instruct their representatives, and to 

 petition the Government or any public functionaries for the 

 redress of grievances. 



Section 6, Every person injured shall have remedy 



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