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ARTICLE VII.-- SLAVERY.
SECTION 1.
The right of property is before and higher than any constitutional
sanction, and the right of the owner of a slave to such slave and
its increase is the same and as inviolable as the right of the owner
of any property whatever.
SECTION 2.
The Legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation
of slaves without the consent of the owners, or without paying the
owners previous to their emancipation a full equivalent in money for
the slaves so emancipated. They shall have no power to prevent
immigrants to the State from bringing with them such persons as are
deemed slaves by the laws of any one of the United States or Territories,
so long as any person of the same age or description shall be continued
in slavery by the laws of this State: Provided, That such person or slave
be the bona fide property of such immigrants: And provided, also, That
laws may be passed to prohibit the introduction into this State of
slaves who have committed high crimes in other States or Territories.
They shall have power to pass laws to permit the owners of slaves to
emancipate them, saving the rights of creditors, and preventing them
from becoming a public charge. They shall have power to pass laws to
permit the owners of slaves to treat them with humanity, to provide for
them necessary food and clothing, to abstain from all injuries to them
extending to life or limb; and, in case of their neglect or refusal to
comply with the direction of such laws, to have such slave sold for the
benefit of the owner or owners.
SECTION 3.
In the prosecution of slaves for crimes of higher grade than petit
larceny, the Legislature shall have no power to deprive them of an
impartial trial by petit jury.
SECTION 4.
Any person who shall maliciously dismember, or deprive a slave of life,
shall suffer such punishment as would be inflicted in case the like
offense had been committed on a free white person, and on the like
proof, except in case of insurrection of such slave.
To read more about the Lecompton Constitution and the candlebox
incident, visit the Kansas State Historical Society by clicking here.
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