THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION, 135 



Sect. XI. That all courts shall be open, and every man for an injury 

 done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have remedy by 

 the due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, 

 denial or delay. Suits may be brought against the commonwealth in 

 such manner, in such courts and in such cases, as the legislature may by 

 law direct. 



Sect. XII. That no power of suspending laws shall be exercised un- 

 less by the legislature or its authority. 



Sect. XIII. That excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive 

 fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted. 



Sect, XIV. That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties 

 unless for capital oflences, when the proof is evident or presumption 

 great ; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be sus- 

 pended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety 

 may require it. 



Sect. XY, That no commission of oyer and terminer or jail delivery 

 shall be issued. 



Sect, XYI, That the person of a debtor, where there is not strong 

 presumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison after delivering up 

 his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner as shall be pre- 

 scribed by law. 



Sect, XYII. That no ex post facto law, nor any law impairing con- 

 tracts, shall be made. 



Sect, XYIII, That no person shall be attainted of treason or felony by 

 the legislature. 



Sect, XIX, That no attainder shall work corrugation of blood, nor, 

 except during the life of the offender, forfeiture of estate to the common- 

 wealth ; that the estates of such persons as shall destroy their own lives, 

 shall descend or vest as in case of natural death; and if any person shall 

 be killed by casuality, there shall be no forfeiture by reason thereof. 



Sect, XX, That the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to 

 assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested 

 with the powers of government, for redress of grievances, or other proper 

 purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance. 



Sect, XXI, That the right of the citizens to bear arms, in defence of 

 themselves and the State, shall not be questioned. 



Sect. XXII, That no standing army shall, in time of peace, be kept 

 up without the consent of the legislature; and the military shall, in all 

 cases and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power. 



Sect. XXIII. That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in 

 any house, without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, l)ut in 

 a manner to be prescribed by law. 



Sect. XXIY. That the legislature shall not grant any title of nobility 



