Protection

See Assault; Defense, 1. "Nor shall any State.. deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'" "^ By ' ' equal protection of the laws " is meant equal security to every one in his private rights — in his right to life, to liberty, to 1 Peek V. Gurney, L. R., 6 Eng. & Ir. Ap. 377 (187.3); Simons v. Vulcan Oil, &c.

Co., 61 Pa. 202 (1869).

2 State V. Stoyell, 54 Me. 27 (1866), Appleton, C. J. s State V. Rice, 66 Iowa, 431 (1881). • Springer v. State, 16 Tex. Ap. 593 (1881), Willson, J., = [Carpenter v. People, 8 Barb. 610 (1850), Welles, P. J. » Commouwealth v. Cook, 12 Mete. 07 (1846). Dewey, J.; Fahnestock v. State, 102 Ind. 163-63 (1885), cases. property, and to the pursuit of happiness. It implies not only that the means which the laws afford for such security shall be equally accessible to him, but that no one shall be subject to any greater burdens or charges than such as are imposed upon all others under like circumstances. i See Citizen, page 184. The inhibition qiloted was designed to prevent any person or class of persons from being singled out as a special subject for discriminating and hostile legislation. Under the designation " person " a private corporation is included." Legislation which applies to particular bodies or associations, imposing upon them additional liabilities, is not forbidden, if all persons brought under its influence are treated alike under the same conditions. ^