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108 lines
5.8 KiB
Plaintext
108 lines
5.8 KiB
Plaintext
THE VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
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I That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have
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certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of
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society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their pos-
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terity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of
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acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happi-
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ness and safety.
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II That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the
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people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all
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times amenable to them.
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III That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit,
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protection, and security of the people, nation or community; of all
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the various modes and forms of government that is best, which is
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capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and
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is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration;
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and that, whenever any government shall be found inadequate or
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contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an
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indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or
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abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the
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public weal.
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IV That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate
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emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of
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public services; which, not being descendible, neither ought the
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offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge be hereditary.
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V That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be
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separate and distinct from the judicative; and, that the members of
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the two first may be restrained from oppression by feeling and
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participating the burthens of the people, they should, at fixed
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periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from
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which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by
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frequent, certain, and regular elections in which all, or any part of
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the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws
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shall direct.
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VI That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people in
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assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient
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evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the
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community have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived
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of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of
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their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they
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have not, in like manner, assented, for the public good.
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VII That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any
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authority without consent of the representatives of the people is
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injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
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VIII That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man hath a right to
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demand the cause and nature of his accusation to be confronted with
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the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to
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a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage, without whose
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unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty, nor can he be compelled
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to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his
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liberty except by the law of the land or the judgement of his peers.
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IX That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines
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imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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X That general warrants, whereby any officer or messenger may be
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commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact
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committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose
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offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are
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grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
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XI That in controversies respecting property and in suits between man and
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man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to
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be held sacred.
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XII That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of
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liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
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XIII That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people,
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trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free
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state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as
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dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should be
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under strict subordination to, and be governed by, the civil power.
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XIV That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore,
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that no government separate from, or independent of, the government of
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Virginia, ought to be erected or established within the limits
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thereof.
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XV That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved
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to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temper-
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ance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental
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principles.
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XVI That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner
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of discharging it, can be directed by reason and conviction, not by
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force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled to the
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free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience;
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and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian for-
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bearance, love, and charity towards each other.
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Adopted unanimously June 12, 1776
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Virginia Convention of Delegates
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drafted by Mr. George Mason
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------------------------------------
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Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300)
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