XI. Search Warrant And Indictment

The Home Protected Against Unlawful Search And Seizure—Grand Jury Indictment Required

Following the provision that we last discussed that no soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war except in a manner prescribed by law, we find the Constitution making a most positive provision guarding the sacredness of the home, the sacredness of the person, and the things belonging to each person. In the olden days the people had to submit to the most brutal conduct. A man might think some one had stolen his ring or his watch. Suspecting a neighbor, and being the stronger, or assembling his friends, or some officers, he might enter the neighbor's home, search all through the house among papers, in the desks, and in every trunk and other place where personal belongings were kept, might search the person himself, his pockets, and clothing.

Of course you can easily understand that the people who were thus abused would resent such actions. In England the people in early days had protested and had secured some guaranties from the king against these outrages, but the first absolute written guaranty of the full rights of the people was when the following provision was inserted in our Constitution:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”[60]