ansacted there, by such of the

1

as aforesaid, no nd, or Ireland, be naturalized parents), shall of either house st, either civil s, or hereditaothers in trust

nder the king,

e of serving as

resaid, judges' their salaries f both houses

be pleadable hright of the ll ascend the t of the same nisters ought e said Lords her humbly securing the ople thereof, ce, may be py and with poral, and confirmed

1765 1

AFTER the passage of the Stamp Act Massachusetts House of Representatives James Otis, sent a circular letter to the ot ing that a congress be held in New Yor general and united, dutiful, loyal, and hu of their condition to his Majesty and to th implore relief." The Congress met the ne from nine colonies being present. The f of Rights and Grievances, which had be Dickinson, a delegate from Pennsylvani formed the first utterance of any consider can opinion on the issues which were s colonists from their mother country.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE STAMP ACT ( The members of this congress, sincerely dev est sentiments of affection and duty to his government, inviolably attached to the p ment of the Protestant succession, and pressed by a sense of the present and im the British colonies on this continent; maturely as time will permit, the circums esteem it our indispensable duty to make tions of our humble opinions, respecting th and liberties of the colonists, and of the g they labor by reason of several late acts o I. That his Majesty's subjects in these allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain that jects born within the realm, and all due subor body, the Parliament of Great Britain.

1 The Writings of John Dickinson, vol. i, pp. 183-1 Philadelphia, 1895 (Memoirs of the Historical Society o

and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no ta upon them but with their own consent, given pers their respresentatives.

IV. That the people of these colonies are not, a local circumstances cannot be, represented in the Hous in Great Britain.

V. That the only representatives of the people of are the persons chosen therein by themselves; and that have been or can be constitutionally imposed on them respective legislatures.

VI. That all supplies to the Crown being free gifts it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the principles the British constitution for the people of Great Brita his Majesty the property of the co onies.

VII. That trials by jury are the inherent and inva every British subject in these colonies.

VIII. That the late act of Parliament, entitled, granting certain stamp duties and other duties in th onies and plantations in America," etc., by imposing inhabitants of these colonies, and the sad act and acts, by extending the jurisdiction of the courts of adm its ancient limits, have a tendency to subvert t liberties of the colonists.

IX. That the duties imposed by several late acts from the peculiar circumstances of these colonies, will burdensome and grievous, and, from the scarcity of s ment of them absolutely impracticable.

X. That [as] the profits of the trade of these color center in Great Britain, to pay for the manufactures v obliged to take from thence, they eventually contribut to all supplies granted there to the Crown.

XI. That the restrictions imposed by several lat liament, on the trade of these colonies, will render th purchase the manufactures of Great Britain.

XII. That the increase, prosperity, and happi colonies depend on the full and free enjoyment of th

A CONVENTION which met at Williamsburg in not only framed a complete constitution for Virgi adopted a separate Declaration (or Bill) of Right George Mason. The document should be comp one side, with the British Bill of Rights and Act o and, on the other side, with the Declaration of I and the first ten amendments to the Constitution States. Nowhere else, perhaps, can be found an exposition of the American theory of governmer

VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS, 1776

A Declaration of Rights made by the representative people of Virginia, assembled in full and free con rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as foundation of government.

I. That all men are by nature equally free and and have certain inherent rights, of which, when the state of society, they cannot, by any compact, dep their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and lib means of acquiring and possessing property, and pur taining happiness and safety.

II. That all power is vested in, and consequently the people; that magistrates are their trustees and at all times amenable to them.

III. That government is, or ought to be, institute mon benefit, protection, and security of the people, munity; of all the various modes and forms of gover best which is capable of producing the greatest degre and safety, and is most effectually secured against maladministration; and that, when any government

1 B. P. Poore, The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial C Organic Laws of the United States, part ii, pp. 1908-1909. Second ington, 1878.

n May, 1776, inia, but also

cs, drafted by pared, on the of Settlement, Independence

of the United so admirable

nt.

-s of the good vention, which the basis and

independent, y enter into a rive or divest erty, with the suing and ob

derived from, servants, and

for the comtion, or comment, that is

of happiness be danger of tall be found

ym and Other Wash

conducive to the public weal.

IV. That no man, or set of men, are ent separate emoluments or privileges from the cor sideration of public services; which, not being ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or ju

V. That the legislative and executive powe be separate and distinct from the judiciary; ‹ the two first may be restrained from oppression, ipating [in] the burdens of the people, they sho be reduced to a private station, return into tl they were originally taken, and the vacancies be certain, and regular elections, in which all, or ar members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as

VI. That elections of members to serve the people, in assembly, ought to be free; and sufficient evidence of permanent common inter ment to, the community, have the right of suf taxed or deprived of their property for publi own consent, or that of their representatives s by any law to which they have not in like ma: public good.

VII. That all power of suspending laws, or by any authority, without consent of the represe is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be ez VIII. That in all capital or criminal prose right to demand the cause and nature of his a fronted with the accusers and witnesses, to ca favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial j his vicinage, without whose unanimous consen guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evid that no man be deprived of his liberty, except I or the judgment of his peers.

IX. That excessive bail ought not to be re fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishme X. That general warrants, whereby an may be commanded to search suspected places a fact committed, or to seize any person or p