and desire when You write You will recommend us heartily to him;" which the Governor promised to do, and then took his leave of them.

The Commissioners of Virginia gave Canassatego a Scarlet Camblet Coat, and took their leave of them in form, and at the same time delivered their Passes to them, according to their Request.

The Commissioners of Maryland presented Gachradodow with a Broad Gold-laced Hat, and took their leave of them in the same manner.

No. 8.

THE CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA—1776.

WHEREAS all Government ought to be instituted and supported for the Security and Protection of the Community as such, and to enable the Individuals, who compose it, to enjoy their natural Rights and the other Blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed upon Man; and, whenever these great Ends of Government are not obtained, the people have a Right, by common Consent, to change it and take such Measures as to them may appear necessary to promote their Safety and Happiness. And WHEREAS the Inhabitants of this Commonwealth have, in Consideration of Protection only, heretofore acknowledged Allegiance to the King of Great Britain; and the said King has not only withdrawn that Protection, but commenced and still continues to carry on, with unabated Vengeance, a most cruel and unjust War against them, employing therein not only the Troops of Great Britain, but foreign Mercenaries, Savages and Slaves, for the avowed Purpose of reducing them to a total and abject submission to the despotic Domination of the British Parliament, with many other Acts of Tyranny (more fully set forth in the Declaration of Congress) whereby all Allegiance and Fealty to the said King, and his Successors, are dissolved and at an End, and all Power and Authority derived from him ceased in these Colonies. And whereas it is absolutely necessary for the Welfare and Safety of the Inhabitants of said Colonies, that they be henceforth free and independent States, and that just, permanent and proper Forms of Government exist in every part of them derived from, and founded on the Authority of the People only, agreeable to the Direction of the honorable American Congress.

WE, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FREEMEN OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN GENERAL CONVENTION MET, for the express Purpose of framing such a Government, confessing the Goodness of the great Governor of the Universe, (who alone knows to what Degree of earthly Happiness Mankind may attain, by perfecting the Arts of Government) in permitting the People of this State, by common Consent, and without Violence, deliberately to form for themselves such just Rules as they shall think best for governing their future Society; and being fully convinced that it is our indispensable Duty to establish such original Principles of Government as will best promote the general Happiness of the People of this State and their Posterity, and provide for future Improvements, without

Partiality for or Prejudice against any particular Class, Sect or Denomination of Men whatsoever, DO, by Virtue of the Authority vested in us by our Constituents, ORDAIN, DECLARE and ESTABLISH the following Declaration of Rights and Frame of Government, to be the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and to remain in Force therein forever, unaltered, except in such Articles as shall hereafter, on Experience, be found to require Improvement, and which shall, by the same Authority of the People fairly delegated, as this Frame of Government directs, be amended or improved for the more effectual obtaining and securing the great End and Design of all Government herein before mentioned.

CHAPTER I.

A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SECTION THE FIRST.

That all Men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalineable Rights, amongst which are the enjoy ing and defending Life and Liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.

SECTION THE SECOND.

That all Men have a natural and unalienable Right to worship Almighty God according to the Dictates of their own Consciences and Understandings: And that no Man ought or of Right can be compelled to attend any religious Worship, or erect or support any Place of Worship, or maintain any Ministry, contrary to, or against his own free Will and Consent: Nor can any Man, who acknowledges the Being of a GOD, be justly deprived or abridged of any civil Right as a Citizen, on Account of his religious Sentiments, or peculiar Mode of religious Worship: And that no Authority can or ought to be vested in, or assumed by, any Power whatever, that shall in any Case interfere with, or in any Manner controul the Right of Conscience, in the free Exercise of religious Worship.

SECTION THE THIRD.

That the People of this State have the sole exclusive and inherent Right of governing and regulating the internal Police of the same.

SECTION THE FOURTH.

That all Power being originally inherent in, and consequently derived from the People; therefore all Officers of Government, whether legislative or executive, are their Trustees and Servants, and at all times accountable to them.

SECTION THE FIFTH.

That Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common Benefit, Protection and Security of the People, Nation or Community; and not for the particular Emolument or Advantage of any single Man, Family or Set of Men who are a Part only of that Community, And that the Community hath an indubitable, unalienable and indefeasible Right to reform, alter or abolish Government in such Manner as shall be by that Community judged most conducive to the public Weal.

SECTION THE SIXTH.

That those who are employed in the legislative and executive Business of the State, may be restrained from oppression, the People have a Right at such Periods as they may think proper, to reduce their public Officers to a private Station, and supply the Vacancies by certain and regular Elections.

SECTION THE SEVENTH.

That all Elections ought to be free; and that all free Men having a sufficient evident common Interest with, and Attachment to the Community, have a Right to elect Officers, or be elected into Office.

SECTION THE EIGHTH.

That every Member of Society hath a right to be protected in the Enjoyment of Life, Liberty and Property, and therefore is bound to contribute his Proportion towards the Expense of that Protection, and yield his personal Service, when necessary, or an Equivalent thereto.

But no Part of a man's Property can be justly taken from him, or applied to public Uses, without his own Consent, or that of his legal Representatives: Nor can any Man who is conscientiously scrupulous of bearing Arms, be justly compelled thereto, if he will pay such Equivalent: Nor are the People bound by any Laws, but such as they have in like Manner assented to, for their common Good.

SECTION THE NINTH.

That in all Prosecutions for criminal Offences, a Man hath a right to be heard by himself, and his Counsel, to demand the Cause and Nature of his Accusation, to be confronted with the Witnesses, to call for Evidence in his Favour, and a speedy public Trial, by an impartial Jury of the Country, without the unanimous Consent of which Jury he cannot be found guilty: nor can he be compelled to give Evidence against himself: nor can any Man be justly deprived of his Liberty, except by the Laws of the Land, or the Judgment of his Peers.

SECTION THE TENTH.

That the People have a Right to hold themselves, their Houses, Papers

and Possessions free from Search or Seizure; and therefore, Warrants without Oaths or Affirmations first made affording a sufficient Foundation for them, and Whereby any Officer or Messenger may be commanded or required to search suspected Places, or to seize any Person or Persons, his or their Property, not particularly described, are contrary to that Right, and ought not to be granted.

SECTION THE ELEVENTH.

That in Controversies respecting Property, and in Suits between Man and Man, the parties have a Right to Trial by Jury, which ought to be held sacred.

SECTION THE TWELFTH.

That the People have a Right to Freedom of Speech, and of writing, and publishing their Sentiments; therefore the Freedom of the Press ought not to be restrained.

SECTION THE THIRTEENTH.

That the People have a Right to bear Arms for the Defence of themselves and the State; and as Standing Armies, in the Time of Peace, are dangerous to Liberty, they ought not to be kept up: And that the Military should be kept under strict Subordination to, and Governed by the Civil Power.

SECTION THE FOURTEENTH.

That a frequent Recurrence to fundamental Principles, and a firm Adherence to Justice, Moderation, Temperance, Industry and Frugality, are absolutely necessary to preserve the Blessings of Liberty, and keep a Government free: The People ought therefore to pay Particular Attention to these Points in the Choice of Officers and Representatives, and have a Right to exact a due and constant Regard to them, from their Legislators and Magistrates in the making and executing such Laws as are necessary for the good Government of the State.

SECTION THE FIFTEENTH.

That all men have a natural inherent Right to emigrate from one State to another that will receive them, or to form a new State in vacant Countries, or in such Countries as they can purchase, whenever they think that thereby they may promote their own Happiness.

SECTION THE SIXTEENTH.

That the People have a Right to assemble together, to consult for their common Good, to instruct their Representatives, and to apply to the Legislature for Redress of Grievances, by Address, Petition or Remonstrance.