CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. PREAMBLE. We, the people of the Territory of Kansas, by our delegates in convention assembled at Topeka, on the 23d day of October, A. D. 1855, and of the independence of the United States the eightieth year, having the right of admission into the Union as one of the United States of America, consistent with the federal constitution, and by virtue of the treaty of cession by France to the United States of the province of Louisiana, in order to secure to ourselves and our posterity the enjoyment of all the rights of life, liberty, and property, and the free pursuit of happiness, do mutually agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the name and style of the State of Kansas, bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri, where . the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude crosses the same ; thence west on said parallel to the eastern boundary of New Mexico ; thence north on said boundary to latitude thirty-eight; thence following said boundary westward to the east boundary of the Territory of Utah, on the summit of the Rocky mountains ; thence northward on said summit to the fortieth parallel of latitude ; thence east on said parallel to the western boundary of the State of Missouri ; thence south with the western boundary of said State to the place of beginning ; and do ordain and establish the following Constitution and Bill of Rights for the government thereof. ARTICLE I. Bill of Rights. Section 1. All men are, by nature, free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights ; among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty ; acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety. Sec. 2. All political power is inherent in the people ; government is instituted for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the same whenever they may deem it necessary ; and no special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the general assembly.
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