Re: Virginia Declaration of Rights
- From: Rumpelstiltskin <PleaseDoNotReplyByEmail@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 18:23:29 GMT
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 09:16:16 -0500, Garry James
<downyonder@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
June 12, 1776
*** Quote ***
1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and
have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state
of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their
posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means
of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining
happiness and safety.
2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the
people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all
times amenable to them.
3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common
benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community;
of all the various modes and forms of government that is best, which
is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety
and is most effectually secured against the danger of
maladministration; and that, whenever any government shall be found
inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community
hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform,
alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive
to the public weal.
4. That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or
separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in
consideration of public services; which, not being descendible,
neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge be
hereditary.
5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be
separate and distinct from the judicative; and, that the members of
the two first may be restrained from oppression by feeling and
participating the burthens of the people, they should, at fixed
periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from
which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by
frequent, certain, and regular elections in which all, or any part of
the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws
shall direct.
6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the
people in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having
sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment
to, the community have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or
deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent
or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to
which they have not, in like manner, assented, for the public good.
7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by
any authority without consent of the representatives of the people is
injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man hath a right
to demand the cause and nature of his accusation to be confronted with
the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to
a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage, without whose
unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty, nor can he be compelled
to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his
liberty except by the law of the land or the judgement of his peers.
9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive
fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
10. That general warrants, whereby any officer or messenger may be
commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact
committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose
offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are
grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
11. That in controversies respecting property and in suits between
man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and
ought to be held sacred.
12. That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of
liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
13. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the
people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a
free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided
as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should
be under strict subordination to, and be governed by, the civil power.
14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and
therefore, that no government separate from, or independent of, the
government of Virginia, ought to be erected or established within the
limits thereof.
15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be
preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice,
moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent
recurrence to fundamental principles.
16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the
manner of discharging it, can be directed by reason and conviction,
not by force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled
to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of
conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice
Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.
Adopted unanimously June 12, 1776
Virginia Convention of Delegates
drafted by Mr. George Mason
Sounds pretty radical to me. Bunch o' damned hippies.
Send 'em back to Russia. #13 sure sounds like the source
of the US second amendment, and doesn't even hint at
anything but a means of preserving order under control of
the state.
.
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