8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, cannot be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion, or invasion, the public safety requires it. This is a writ by which a person confined or restrained of his liberty, can, in the cases prescribed by law, be brought before a proper court or officer -with the cause of his imprisonment; and if it is ascer tained that his imprisonment is unlawful, he must be forthwith discharged and set at liberty. Hence it becomes a great security for the personal liberty of the citizen.

9. The people are by law secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures; and warrants issue only upon probable cause, sup. ported by oath, in which are particularly described the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

10. In general, no person can be held to answer for a capital or infamous crime, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury; and upon trial the accused is allowed counsel, or he may appear and defend in person. A fair and impartial trial is secured to the accused; his guilt or innocence is put to the test, while every means of vindication is afforded him.

11. No person can be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb for the same offence, nor be compelled in a criminal case to testify against himself; and in all criminal cases the accused has a right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury; is entitled to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with witnesses against him, and to have process for witnesses in his favor.

12. No person can be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; and private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation.

13. Neither justice nor right should be sold to any person, nor denied, nor deferred; and writs and process ought to be granted freely and without delay to all persons requir ing them, on payment of the fees established by law.

14. No citizen is subject to be fined or amerced, without

reasonable cause, and such fine or amercement should be apportioned to the offence.

15. All elections ought to be free-and no person by force of arms, menacing, or otherwise, should presume to disturb or hinder any citizen in the free exercise of the right of suffrage.

16. It is the right of the citizen to petition the governor and legislature.

17. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right, and no law can be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech, or of the press.

18. In all prosecutions or indictments for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if the matter charged as libellous be true, and was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party is to be acquitted.

OF ELECTIONS.

General elections are held in every county in this State, on the first Monday of November in each year, and are continued by adjournment for three days in succession. These are held for the election of some or all of the following officers, to wit: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators, Members of Assembly, Sheriffs, Clerks of Counties, Coroners, Representatives in Congress, and electors of President. Special elections may be ordered to fill vacan. cies in elective offices.

How held and by whom. Elections are held by towns in all parts of the State, except in the cities of New York, Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Brooklyn, and some other cities, where they are held by wards.

The supervisor, assessors, and town clerk of each town, (where the elections are held by towns,) preside at and are inspectors of elections.

Qualifications of voters. To entitle a person to vote at elections, he must possess the following qualifications, viz: 1. He must be a citizen. 2. He must be of the age of twenty-one years. 3. He must have been an inhabitant of the State for one year next preceding the election, and for the last six months a resident of the county where he offers his vote. And 4. He must vote in the town or ward where he resides.

Persons of color, are not entitled to vote unless they have been citizens of the State for three years, and for one year next preceding the election, shall have been seized and possessed of a freehold estate of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars, over and above all debts and incumbrances charged thereon, and shall have been rated and paid a tax thereon.

A person who has been convicted of an infamous crime in this State, cannot vote at an election, unless he has been pardoned by the executive, and by the terms of the pardon restored to all the rights of a citizen.

Privileges of electors. No civil process can be served on an elector on any day during which an election is held.

The purity of elections. The excitement attending our elections was so great, the temptations to the use of improper means to influence voters so frequent, and the abuses of the elective franchise so numerous, that the legislature felt impelled by a sense of patriotism, to prohibit, under penalties, the pernicious practices which had gradually crept in upon us in the exercise of our free privileges.

It is now unlawful for any candidate for an elective office in this State, with an intent to promote his election, or for any other person with the like intent, to furnish or provide entertainment at the expense of such person, or candidate,

to any meeting of electors, previous to, or during the elec tion at which he is a candidate, or to pay for, procure, or engage to pay for such entertainment. It is likewise un. lawful to furnish any money or other property to any person for the purpose of being expended in procuring the attendance of voters at the polls. No person is allowed to contribute money for any other purpose, intended to promote the election of any particular person or ticket, except for defraying the expenses of printing, and the circulation of votes, handbills, and other papers, previous to an election.

All persons are prohibited from fraudulently, or deceitfully changing the vote of an elector, by which he is prevented from voting for the candidate he intended. Every offender against these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is punishable, by fine, not exceeding $250, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months.

The following provisions have been recently made by law, for preserving the purity of town meetings and elections-Any person who upon being challenged as unqualified to vote at any town meeting shall be guilty of wilful and corrupt false swearing, or affirming, in relation to his right to vote, shall be adjudged guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury.

Any person who shall wilfully and corruptly procure another to swear falsely at any such town meeting shall be deemed guilty of subornation of perjury, and shall suffer the punishment directed by law in case of wilful and corrupt perjury.

Any person who by bribery or menace, or any other cor. rupt means, shall attempt to influence any elector in giving his vote, or to deter him from giving the same, or disturb or hinder him in the exercise of his right of suffrage at any town meeting, shall be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or both.

Any person who shall fraudulently or deceitfully change the vote of any elector at a town meeting, so that he shall be prevented from voting for the candidate he intended, shall suffer the same punishment.

Any person who shall vote in any town in which he does not reside, or shall vote, or offer to vote in more than one town at any annual town meeting in the same year, shall be adjudged guilty of misdemeanor and be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. And any person, who at a general city or charter election shall vote or offer to vote in any ward in which he does not reside, or who shall vote, or offer to vote, more than once at the same election either in the same or any other ward, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished in the same manner.

Every person who shall procure, aid, assist, counsel, or advise another to give or offer his vote at any general town city or charter election, or to go into any town or ward for the purpose of giving his vote in such town or ward at any general town, city, or charter election, knowing that such person is not entitled to vote at such election, shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall be punished in the

same manner.

Any inhabitant of another State who shall vote or offer to vote at any general town, city, or charter election in this State, shall be adjudged guilty of felony, and be imprisoned in a State prison for a period not exceeding one year.

QUESTIONS ON THE PRECEDING.

How often are general elections held?

On what day?

How are they continued, and for what time?

Can you name the officers that are chosen at such elections?

How are these elections held?

Who are inspectors of elections?

Where are elections held by wards?