The Birth of Washington's Constitutional Rights
A historic publication of the 1889 Washington State Constitution, establishing the foundational rights and governance that define the state's civic character.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
We, the people of the state of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution. All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. The legislature is prohibited from enacting any private or special laws, including for the changing of names, the laying out of highways, or the granting of corporate privileges. The labor of convicts shall not be let out by contract to any person, company or corporation. The ownership of lands by aliens, other than those who in good faith have declared their intention to become citizens, is prohibited.
“All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
The 1889 Constitution remains the primary legal bedrock of Washington State. Its provisions, such as the prohibition on convict labor contracts and the limitations on state debt, continue to influence modern legislative battles and legal interpretations in Olympia today.
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