English Colonies as shall be willing to admit them thereunto, they behaving themselves peaceably among them; any act, clause or sentence, in any of the said Colonies provided, or that shall be provided, to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding. And lastly, we do, or us, our heirs and successors, ordain and grant unto the said Governor and Company and their successors by these presents that these our letters patent shall be firm, good, effectual and available in all things in the law, to all intents, contents, constructions and purposes whatsoever, according to our true intent and meaning hereinbefore declared; and shall be construed, reputed and adjudged in all cases most favorably on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof of the said Governor and Company, and their successors; although express mention of the true yearly value or certainty of the premises, or any of them, or of any other gifts or grants, by us, or by any of our progenitors or predecessors, heretofore made to the said Governor of the Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in the Narragansett Bay, New England, in America, in these presents is not made, or any statue, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation or restriction, heretofore had, made, enacted, ordained or provided, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. In witness, whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness ourself, at Westminister, the eighth day of July, in the fifteenth year of our reign. _By the King_: HOWARD. CONSTITUTION OF THE State of Rhode Island, AND Providence Plantations. ARTICLE I.--_Declaration of Rights._ SECTION 1. Right of the people to make and alter their Constitution. SEC. 2. Object of government--How laws should be made and burdens distributed. SEC. 3. Religious freedom secured. SEC. 4. Slavery prohibited. SEC. 5. Laws should provide remedies--Justice shall be free, complete, prompt. SEC. 6. Rights of search and seizure regulated. SEC. 7. Provisions concerning criminal proceedings. SEC. 8. Bail, fines and punishments. SEC. 9. Bail and _habeas corpus_. SEC. 10. Rights of the accused in criminal proceedings. SEC. 11. Debtors entitled to relief. SEC. 12. No _ex post facto_ law, &c., to be passed. SEC. 13. No man to criminate himself. SEC. 14. Presumption of innocence--Accused to be secured without severity. SEC. 15. Trial by jury. SEC. 16. Private property secured. SEC. 17. Rights of fishery. SEC. 18. Military subordinate--Martial law. SEC. 19. Of quartering soldiers. SEC. 20. Liberty of the press secured--Truth as a defence to libel. SEC. 21. Right of the people to assemble, and to petition.