means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

2. 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.

3. 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, aud is most effectually secured against the danger of mal-administration; and that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.

4. That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or priviliges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which not being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.

5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; 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.

6. 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.

7. That all power for suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any anthority, without the consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exercised.

8. 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 evidences 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 judgment of his peers.

9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

10. That general warrants, whereby an 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 offence is not particulaly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive, and ought not to be granted.

11. 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.

12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic govern

ments.

13. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defence 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 governed by the civil power.

14. 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.

15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, mode

ration, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only 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 praotice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.

The 11th section of the 3d article of the constitution of 1830, secures perfect religious freedom in more explicit terms than the bill of rights; but whether it was in the constitution of 1776, or not, I am not able to state.

It is as follows, viz:

law

11. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not in any case be suspended. The legislature shall not pass any bill of attainder; or any ex post facto law; or any law impairing the obligation of contracts; or any law, whereby private property shall be taken for public uses, without just compensation; or any abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever; nor shall any man be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, or otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in no wise affect, diminish, or enlarge their civil capacities. And the legislature shall not prescribe any religious test whatever; nor confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any one sect or denomination; nor pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people within any district within this commonwealth, to levy on themselves or others any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to select his religious instructor, and make for his support such private contract as he shall please. SEC. 8.

CONSTITUTIONS OF NEW JERSEY AND MARYLAND.

The first constitution of New Jersey was adopted by the provin cial congress, or constitutional convention by which it was made, July 2d, 1776. It contained no formal bill of rights, but the fol

lowing provisions and sections, to secure the religious rights and liberties of the people, viz:

18. That no person shall ever within this colony be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor under any pretence whatsoever, be compelled to attend any place of worship, contrary to his own faith and judgment; nor shall any person within this colony, ever be obliged to pay tithes, taxes, or any other rates, for the purpose of building or repairing any church or churches, place or places of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes to be right, or has deliberately and voluntarily engaged himself to perform.

19. That there shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this province in preference to another; and that no protestant inhabitant of this colony shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right, merely on account of his religious principles; but that all persons, professing a belief in the faith of any protestant sect, who shall demean themselves peacebly under the government as hereby established, shall be capable of being elected into any office of profit or trust, or being a member of either branch of the legislature, and shall fully and freely enjoy every privilege and im munity enjoyed by others of their fellow subjects.

The constitution concludes as follows, viz:

Provided always, and it is the true intent and meaning of this congress, that if a reconciliation between Great Britain and these colonies should take place, and the latter be again taken under the protection and government of the crown of Great Britain, this charter shall be null and void, otherwise to remaiu firm and inviolable.

The first constitution of Maryland was adopted in the summer of 1776, withont any formal bill of rights; but to secure the state against official corruption and ecclesiastical influence, the following article was inserted in it, viz:

38. That no senator, delegate of the assembly, or member of the council, if he shall qualify as such, shall hold or execute any office of profit, or receive the profits of any office exercised by any other person, during the time for which he shall be elected; nor shall any governor be capable of holding any other office of profit

in this state, while he acts as such; and no person, holding a place of profit, or receiving any part of the profits thereof, or receiving the profits arising on any agency, for the supply of clothing or provisions for the army or navy, or holding any office under the United States, or any of them—or minister, or preacher of the gospel of any denomination or any person employed in the regular land service, or marine, of this or the United States, shall have a seat in the general assembly, or in the council of this state. SEC. 9. BILL OF RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA.

The constitution of North Carolina seems to have been deliberately formed, by a convention of one hundred and sixty-eight delgates, representing thirty-four counties, and seven towns or corporations. The convention met at Halifax, November 12th, and adopted a bill of rights, December 17th, and a constitution, December 18th, 1776; which, with some amendments, still continues in force.

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DECLARATION OF RIGHTS MADE BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Sec. 1. That all political power is vested in and derived from the people only.

Sec. 2. That the people of this state ought to have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof.

Sec. 3. 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.

Sec. 4. That the legislative, executive, and supreme judicial powers of government, ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other.

Sec. 5. 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.

Sec. 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives in general assembly, ought to be free.