and

by the freeholders of each city and county refpectively, that is to fay, two or more perfons may be chofen for each ward, township, or district, as the law fhall hereafter direct their names fhall be returned to the Prefident in Council, who fhall commiffionate one or more of them for each ward, township, or district fo returning, for seven years, removable for misconduct by the General Affembly. But if any city or county, ward, township, or district in this Commonwealth, fhall hereafter incline to change the manner of appointing their Jus tices of the Peace, as fettled in this article, the General Affembly may make laws to regulate the fame, agreeable to the delire of a majority of the freeholders of the city or county, ward, township, or district so applying. No Juftice of the Peace shall fit in the General Affembly, unless he first refign his commiffion; nor fhall he be allowed to take any fees, nor any falary or allowance, except fuch as the future legislature may grant.

XXXI, Sheriffs and Coroners fhall be elected annually in each city and county by the freemen; that is to fay, two perfons for each office, one of whom for each, is to be commif

fioned by the President in Council. No perfon fhall continue in the office of Sheriff more than three fucceffive years, or be capable of being again elected during four years afterwards. The election fhall be held at the fame time and place appointed for the election of Represen tatives and the Commiffioners and Affeffors, and other officers chofen by the people, fhall also be then and there elected, as has been usual heretofore, until altered or otherwise regulated by the future legislature of this State.

XXXII. All elections, whether by the people or in General Affembly, shall be by ballot, free and voluntary: and any elector who shall receive any gift or reward for his vote, in meat, drink, monies, or otherwife, fhall forfeit his right to elect for that time, and suffer fuch other penalty as future laws shall direct, And any person who shall directly or indirectly give, promife, or bestow any fuch rewards to be elected, shall be thereby rendered incapable to ferve for the ensuing year.

XXXIII. All fees, licence money, fines, and forfeitures heretofore granted or paid to the Governor, or his deputies, for the support of Government, fhall hereafter be paid in to the

public

public treasury, unless altered or abolished by the future legislature.

XXXIV. 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 city and county: the officers to be appointed by the General Affembly, removeable at their pleasure, and to be commisfioned by the Prefident in Council.

XXXV. The printing preffes fhall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the legislature, or any part of government,

XXXVI. As every freeman, to preserve his independence (if without a fufficient eftate), ought to have some profeffion, calling, trade or farm, whereby he may honeftly fubfift, there can be no neceffity for, nor use in establishing offices of profit; the ufual effects of which are dependence and fervility, unbecoming freemen, in the poffeffors and expectants; faction, contention, corruption, and diforder among the people. But if any man is called into public service, to the prejudice of his private affairs, he has a right to a reasonable compensation : and whenever an office, through increase of fees or otherwise, becomes fo profitable as to occafion many

many to apply for it, the profits ought to be leffened by the legislature.

XXXVII. The future legislature of this State shall regulate entails in fuch a manner as to prevent perpetuities.

XXXVIII. The penal laws as heretofore used, shall be reformed by the legislature of this State as foon as may be, and punishments made in some cases lefs fanguinary, and in general more proportionate to the crimes.

XXXIX. To deter more effectually from the commiffion of crimes, by continual visible punishment of long duration, and to make fanguinary punishments lefs neceffary, houses ought to be provided for punishing by hard labour, those who shall be convicted of crimes not capital; wherein the criminals fhall be employed for the benefit of the public, or for reparation of injuries done to private perfons and all perfons at proper times fhall be admitted to fee the prisoners at their labour.

XL. Every officer, whether judicial, executive, or military, in authority under this Commonwealth, shall take the following oath or affirmation of allegiance, and general oath of office, before he enter on the execution of his office:

The

The oath or affirmation of allegiance:

.. I do fwear (or affirm), that I will be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: and that I will not directly or indirectly do any act or thing prejudicial or injurious to the Conftitution or Government thereof, as eftablished by the Convention."

The oath or affirmation of office: "I do fwear (or affirm), that I will

faithfully execute the office of

of

for the

and will do equal right and justice to all men, to the best of my judgement

and abilities, according to law."

XLI. No public tax, custom, or contribution fhall be impofed upon, or paid by the people of this State, except by a law for that purpose: and before any law be made før raifing 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 obferved, taxes can never be burdens. XLII. Every foreigner of good character who comes to fettle in this State, having first

taken