FORM OF RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS, 29 MAY 1790

his papers or his property, without information upon oath, or affirmation
of sufficient cause, are grievous and oppressive, and that all general
warrants (or such in which the place or person suspected, are not par-
ticularly designated,) are dangerous, and ought not to be granted.
15th. That the people have a right peaceably to assemble together,
to consult for their common good, or to instruct their representatives,
and that every person has a right to petition or apply to the legislature
for redress of grievances.
16th. That the people have a right to freedom of speech and of
writing, and publishing their sentiments, that freedom of the press is
one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and ought not to be violated.
17th. That the people have a right to keep and bear arms, that a well
regulated militia, including the body of the people capable of bearing
arms, is the proper, natural and safe defence of a free state; that the
militia shall not be subject to martial law except in time of war, rebel-
lion or insurrection; that standing armies in time of peace are danger-
ous to liberty, and ought not to be kept up, except in cases of necessity,
and that at all times the military should be under strict subordination
to the civil power; that in time of peace no soldier ought to be quar-
tered in any house, without the consent of the owner, and in time of
war, only by the civil magistrate, in such manner as the law directs.
18th. That any person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, ought
to be exempted, upon payment of an equivalent, to employ another to
bear arms in his stead.
UNDER THESE IMPRESSIONS, and declaring, that the rights aforesaid
cannot be abridged or violated, and that the explanations aforesaid,
are consistant with the said constitution, and in confidence that the
amendments hereafter mentioned, will receive an early and mature
consideration, and conformably to the fifth article of said constitution,
speedily become a part thereof. WE the said delegates, in the name,
and in the behalf of the PEOPLE of the STATE OF RHODE-ISLAND AND
PROVIDENCE-PLANTATIONS, do by these Presents, assent to and ratify
the said CONSTITUTION. In full confidence nevertheless, that until the
amendments hereafter proposed and undermentioned shall be agreed
to and ratified, pursuant to the aforesaid fifth article, the militia of this
state will not be continued in service out of this State for a longer term
than six weeks, without the consent of the legislature thereof; That the
Congress will not make or alter any regulation in this State, respecting
the times, places and manner of holding elections for senators or rep-
resentatives, unless the legislature of this state shall neglect, or refuse
to make laws or regulations for the purpose, or from any circumstance
be incapable of making the same; and that in those cases, such power

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