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CONSTITUTION OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.    611

necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and good government.
The people ought, therefore, to have a particular regard to all those
principles in the choice of their officers and representatives; and they
have a right to require of their law-givers and magistrates an exact and
constant observance of them in the formation and execution of the laws
necessary for the good administration of government.

PART SECOND.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

1. The people inhabiting the territory formerly called the Province
of New-Hampshire, do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each
other to form themselves into a free, sovereign and independent body
politic, or State, by the name of The State of New-Hamfshire.

GENERAL COURT.

2. The supreme legislative power within the State shall be vested in.
the Senate and House of Representatives, each of which shall have a
negative on the other.

3. Tlxe Senate and House shall assemble every year, on the first Wed-
nesday of June, and at such other times as they may judge necessary, and
shall dissolve and be dissolved seven days next preceding the said
first Wednesday of June, and shall be styled The General Court of
New-Hampshire.

4. The General Court shall forever have full power and authority to
erect and constitute judicatories and courts of record, or other courts, to
he holden in the name of the State, for the hearing, trying and determin-
ing all manner of crimes, offenses, pleas, processes, plaints, actions,
causes, matters and things whatsoever, arising or happening within this
State, or between or concerning persons inhabiting, or residing, or
brought within the same, whether the same be criminal or civil, or
whether the crimes be capital or not capital, and whether the said pleas
he real, persona], or mixed, and for the awarding and issuing execution
thereon. To which courts and judicatories are hereby given and granted
full power and authority, from time to time, to administer oaths or af-
firmations for the better discovery of truth in any matter in controversy,
or depending before them.

5. And farther, full power and authority are hereby given and grant-
ed to the said General Court, from time to time, to make, ordain and
establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable orders, laws, statutes,
ordinances, directions, and instructions, either with penalties or without,
so as the same he not repugnant or contrary to this Constitution, as they
may judge for the benefit and welfare of this State, and for the governing
and ordering thereof, and of the subjects of the same, for the necessary
support and defense of the government thereof, and to name and settle
annually, or provide by fixed laws, for the naming and settling of all
civil officers within this State; such officers excepted, the election and
appointment of whom are hereafter in this form of government othei'-
wise provided for; and to set forth the several duties, powers and lim-
its of the several civil and military officers of this State, and the forms
of such oaths or affirmations as shall be respectively administered unto
them for the execution of their several offices and places, so as the same
he not repugnant or contrary to this Constitution; and also to impose
fines, mulcts, imprisonments, and other punishments; and to impose and
levy proportional and reasonable assessments, rates and taxes upon all
the inhabitants of, and residents within the said State; and upon all es-
tates within the same; to be issued and disposed of by warrant under
the hand of the Governor of this State for the time being, with the ad-
vice and consent of the Council, for the public service, in the neeessa-