108 lines
5.8 KiB
Plaintext
108 lines
5.8 KiB
Plaintext
THE VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
|
|
|
|
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 pos-
|
|
terity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of
|
|
acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happi-
|
|
ness and safety.
|
|
|
|
II 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.
|
|
|
|
III 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.
|
|
|
|
IV 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.
|
|
|
|
V 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.
|
|
|
|
VI 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.
|
|
|
|
VII 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.
|
|
|
|
VIII 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.
|
|
|
|
IX That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines
|
|
imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
|
|
|
|
X 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.
|
|
|
|
XI 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.
|
|
|
|
XII That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of
|
|
liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
|
|
|
|
XIII 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.
|
|
|
|
XIV 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.
|
|
|
|
XV That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved
|
|
to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temper-
|
|
ance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental
|
|
principles.
|
|
|
|
XVI 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 for-
|
|
bearance, love, and charity towards each other.
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Adopted unanimously June 12, 1776
|
|
Virginia Convention of Delegates
|
|
drafted by Mr. George Mason
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300)
|
|
|