Posted on 12/05/2009 8:51:04 AM PST by Loud Mime
Notice how this document bears similarities to our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.
A declaration of rights made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention; which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.
SECTION I. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
SEC. 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 to be hereditary.
SEC. 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens 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 wh ich all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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 twelve men 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 judgment of his peers.
SEC. 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
SEC. 10. That general warrants, whereby an 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
SEC. 13. That a well-regulated militia, or 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 governed by, the civil power.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only 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 toward each other.
Good read.
that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken...
Term limits were not unconsidered by the founders.
The Federal Constitution would assure people in the future states of general rights.
Great post. Great reminder.
Ping to those interesting in our history
I did not know that as a fact, but it makes good sense when you consider the character of the Articles of Confederation.
Thank You.
I found the lack of credit for Mason’s writings most interesting. He was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, yet opposed ratification because it did not have a bill of rights. He lost some important friendships because of that.
Madison opposed a bill of rights, yet ended up writing it. The end result carried many of the thoughts penned by Mason; his efforts were not recognized. Madison got it all.
It's a Yale site. I think you'll really enjoy it.
That highlighted portion is of interest to me. Patrick Henry complained at the ratification debate that this maxim was violated in the Constitution. Under the Constitution, we have an amendment process whereby we are supposed to reform or alter our government. But whereas the Virginia declaration of Rights declares the right of “the majority” to do so, the Constitution places far stricter requirements—2/3rds of both houses, 3/4ths of the state legislatures. He argued that in effect, a tiny majority was able to prevent changes or reforms to the system, and this, he believed, was an error.
The collectivist would read into that a government mandated health care system. Sad, no tragic, but true.
I’ve been there many times. Usually its a coin flip between Avalon and Constitution.org for the information. I do donate to C.org
That’s true. Madison was more the stenographer of the Bill of Rights than the author.
I have an odd question. Why did George Mason refuse to sign the Virginia constitution?
http://www.constitution.org/bcp/virg_dor.htm
George Mason (1725-92), one of Virginia’s wealthiest planters, a neighbor and friend of Washington, is best remembered for his part in drafting the Virginia constitution of 1776. In 1787 he was a leader in the Federal Convention. Refusing to sign the completed document, Mason, along with Patrick Henry and others, opposed its ratification in the Virginia Convention of 1788.]
That’s where Patrick Henry fell on his face. Majority rule always results in tyranny. Now we call it “mainstream thinking,” a phrase that the democrats use religously.
"That government is no more than a choice among evils, is acknowledged by the most intelligent among mankind, and has been a standing maxim for ages. "
Imagine how different the average person's thinking on government would be if this had been included in the Preamble to the Constitution, instead of all that nonsense about general welfare and domestic tranquility.
Then you disagree with the passage you highlighted from the VA declaration of rights? You DON'T believe a majority has a right to alter, reform or abolish their government?
You misread the sentence. He refused to sign the US Constitution. Why? Because it deserved to be rejected.
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