The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg, Va., 1776-06-14 00:00:00, page 5

'Mmm POSTSCRIPT ssct,
IN CONVLNTION
]UNE 12,
A DECLARATION qf RIGHTS made by
the rcpt'c/uutativw of the guml [n'op/c oj'Vir
g'mia, affimb/ed infi/ll ansilficu ()osizw/ztiou;
'wlric'b rig/msi (lo pcrmiu so men:, mzzl t/msir
postcrity, as [be [mj/sisis am! j/m,';zss/asis.ct,siz 0 "go
vcrnmcnt.
1. 11 AT all men arc by nature equally
free and independcnt, and have
certain inherent rights, of which, when
they enter into a state olss lbciety, they can
not, by any compact, deprivc or divcst their
Posterity; namely, the enjoynsilentnslisis and
liberty, with the means of acquiring and
possessing property, and pursuing and ob
taining happiness and [asecy.
2. That all power is vested in, and con
sequently derived from, the people; that
magistrates are their trustees and servants,
and at all times amennblc to them.
3. That gOVerment is, or ought to be,
instituted for the common benefit, protec
tion, and security, of the people, nation,
or community ; of all the various modes and
forms of government that is best, which is
is capable of producing the greatest degree
or happiness and safety, and is most effec
tually shcurcd against the danger of mal-ad
ministration; and that whenever any go
vernment shall be found inadequate or con
trary to these purposes, a majority of the
community hath an indubitable, unsialienn—
ble, and indescasible right, to resorm, alter,
or abohsh it, in silCh manner as shall be
judged most conducive to the publick weal.
4. That no man, or set of' men, arc
entitled to exclnsive on separate emoluments
or privileges from. the community, but in
considcmtion os publick services; which,
not being descendiblc, neither ought thc
oiliecs ot' magistrate, legisinmr, or judge,
to be hereditury.
5. That the ]egiflntive and executivc
powers of the state should be iepurute and
distinct From the judicativc; and that the
members of the two silst' may be rcshaincd
iiom opprcflion, by feeling rand pzuticipating
the burthens of the people, they should,
at fixed periods, be rcduced to .1 private
{lation, return into that body from which
they wele originally taken, and the vacan
cies be suppiicd by frequent, certain, and
regulm elections, in which all, or any part
of the former members, to be again eligi
ble, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
6. That elections os members to sene as
representatives of the people, in assembly,
ought to be free; and that all men, having
sufficient evidence of permancnc common
interest with, and attachment to, the com
muuity, have the right of siiffl'nge, and
cannot be taxed or deprived of their proper
ty for publick uses without their own con
sent, or that of their rcprescntntivcs so elect—
cd nor bound by any law to which the
have not, in like manner, assented, fox the
publick good.
7. That all power ossiispending laws, or
the execution of laws, by any authority
without consent of the leprescntutiv 05 Of the
people, is injurious to their rights, and ought:
not to be cxcrciscd.
8. That in all cnpital or criminn] pro
sccutions a man hath a right to demand the
cause and nature of his accusation, _to be