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under the color of religion any man shall disturb the good
order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws
of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious
rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or
maintain or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any
place of worship or any ministry; nor shall any person be
deemed incompetent as a witness or juror who believes in the
existence of God, and that under his dispensation such person
will be held morally accountable for his acts and be rewarded
or punished therefor, either in this world or the world to come,
nor shall any person be deemed incompetent as a witness on
account af race or color.
Art. 37. That no other test or qualification ought to be
required on admission to any office of trust or profit than such
oath of office and qualification as may be prescribed by this
Constitution or by the laws of the State and a declaration of
belief in the Christian religion or in the existence of God
and in a future state of rewards and punishments.
Art. 38. That every gift, sale or devise of land, to any
minister, public teacher or preacher of the gospel, as such,
or to any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for
the support, use, or benefit of, or in trust for any minister,
public teacher or preacher of the gospel as such, or any re-
ligious sect, order or denomination, and every gift or sale of
goods or chattels to go in succession or to take place after the
death of the seller or donor, to or for such support, use or
benefit; and, also every devise of goods or chattels to, or
for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teach-
er or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect,
order or denomination without the prior or subsequent sanc-
tion of the Legislature, shall be void; except always, any
sale, gift, lease or devise of any quantity of land not exceed-
ing five acres, for a church, meeting-house or other house of
worship, or parsonage, or for burying ground, which shall
be improved, enjoyed or used only for such purpose; or such
sale, gift, lease or devise shall be void.
Art. 39. That the manner of administering an oath or
affirmation to any person ought to be such as those of the re-
ligious persuasion, profession or denomination of which he is
a member generally esteem the most effectual confirmation
by the attestation of the Divine Being.
Art. 40. That the liberty of the press ought to be inviol-
ably preserved; that every citizen of the State ought to be
allowed to speak, write and publish his sentiments on all
subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege.
Art. 41. That monopolies are odious, contrary to the spirit
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