offices during good behavior; but for any reasonable cause, which shall not be sufficient ground of impeachment, the Governor may remove any of them on the address of two-thirds of each branch of the Legislature. The judges of the Supreme Court and the presidents of the several courts of common pleas, shall, at stated times, receive for their services, an adequate compensation, to be fixed by law, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office; but they shall receive no fees or perquisites of office, nor hold any other office of profit under this Commonwealth.

SECT. 3. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court shall extend over the State, and the judges thereof shall, by virture of their offices, be justices of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery in the several counties..

SECT. 4. Until it shall be otherwise directed by law the several courts of common pleas shall be established in the following manner: The Governor shall appoint in each county, not fewer than three nor more than four judges, who, during their continuance in office, shall reside in such county; the State shall be by law divided into circuits, none of of which shall include more than six nor fewer than three counties. A president shall be appointed of the courts in each circuit, who, during his continuance in office, shall reside therein. The president and judges, any two of whom shall be a quo-, shall compose the respective courts of common

rum,

pleas.

SECT. 5. The judges of the court of common pleas in each county shall, by virture of their offices, be justices of over and terminer and general jail de

livery for the trial of capital and other offenders therein; any two of the said judges, the president being one, shall be a quorum; but they shall not hold a court of oyer and terminer or jail delivery in any county when the judges of the Supreme Court, or any of them, shall be sitting in the same county. The party accused, as well as the Commonwealth may, under such regulations as shall be prescribed by law, remove the indictment and proceedings or a transcript thereof into the Supreme Court.

SECT. 6. The Supreme Court and the several courts of common pleas shall, beside the powers heretofore usually exercised by them, have the powers of a court of chancery so far as relates to the perpetuating of testimony, the obtaining of evidence from places not within the State, and the care of the persons and estates of those who are non compos mentis. And the Legislature shall vest in the said courts such other powers to grant relief in equity as shall be found necessary; and may, from time to time, enlarge or diminish those powers, or vest them in such other courts as they shall judge proper for the due administration of justice.

SECT. 7. The judges of the court of common pleas of each county, any two of whom shall be a quorum, shall compose the court of quarter sessions of the peace and orphans' court thereof; and the register of wills, together with the said judges, or any two of them, shall compose the register's court of each county.

SECT. 8. The judges of the courts of common pleas shall, within their respective counties, have the like powers with the judges of the Supreme

Court to issue writs of certiorara to the justices of the peace, and to cause their proceedings to be brought before them and the like right and justice to be done.

SECT. 9. The president of the court in each circuit within such circuit, and the judges of the courts of common pleas within their respective counties, shall be justices of the peace so far as relates to criminal matters.

SECT. 10. The Governor shall appoint a competent number of justices of the peace in such convenient districts in each county as are or shall be directed by law. They shall be commissioned during good behavior, but may be removed on conviction of misbehavior in office, or of any infamous crime, or on the address of both Houses of the Legislature.

SECT. 11. A register's office for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration, and an office for the recording of deeds shall be kept in each county.

SECT. 12. The style of all process shall be The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; all prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and conclude against the peace and dignity of the same.

ARTICLE VI.

SECT. 1. Sheriffs and coroners shall, at the times and places of election of Representatives, be chosen by the citizens of each county. Two persons shall be chosen for each office, one of whom, for each respectively, shall be appointed by the Governor. They shall hold their offices for three years if they shall so long behave themselves well, and

until a successor be duly qualified; but no person shall be twice chosen or appointed sheriff in any term of six years. Vacancies in either of the said offices shall be filled by a new appointment to be made by the Governor, to continue until the next general election and until a successor shall be chosen and qualified as aforesaid.

SECT. 2. The freemen of this Commonwealth shall be armed and disciplined for its defence; those who conscientiously scruple to bear arms, shall not be compelled to do so, but shall pay an equivalent for personal service. The militia officers shall be appointed in such manner and for such time as shall be directed by law.

SECT. 3. Prothonotaries, clerks of the peace and orphans' courts, recorders of deeds, registers of wills and sheriffs, shall keep their offices in the county town of the county in which they respectively shall be officers, unless when the Governor shall, for special reasons, dispense therewith for any term not exceeding five years after the county shall have been erected.

SECT. 4. All commissions shall be in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and be sealed with the State seal, and signed by the Governor.

SECT. 5. The State Treasurer shall be appointed annually by the joint vote of the members of both Houses. All other officers in the Treasury department, attorneys-at-law, election officers, officers relating to taxes, to the poor and highways, constables and other township officers shall be appointed in such manner as is or shall be directed by law.

ARTICLE VII.

SECT. 1. The Legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be, provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the State in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis.

SECT. 2. The arts and sciences shall be promoted in one or more seminaries of learning.

SECT. 3. The rights, privileges, immunities and estates of religious societies and corporate bodies shall remain as if the Constitution of this State had not been altered or amended.

ARTICLE VIII.

Members of the General Assembly and all offìcers, Executive and Judicial, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and to perform the duties of their respective offices with fidelity.

ARTICLE IX.

That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and unalterably established, WE DECLARE,

SECT. 1. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.

SECT. 2. That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness; for the advancement of those ends, they have, at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible