Page 8 - EIC INTER - Abril 2014

8 | Abril de 2014 | Inter. EIC Magazine
words

Virginia declaration of rights

in this section we highlight those words, sentences, texts or poems that someone

would have given strength to carry on. Today we present the Virginia declaration

of rights, written by George Mason.

he Virginia Declaration any authority, without consent governments.
Tof Rights is a document of the representatives of the
drafted in 1776 to proclaim people, is injurious to their rights section 13
the inherent rights of and ought not to be exercised. That a well-regulated militia,
men, including the right to composed of the body of the
rebel against "inadequate" section 8 people, trained to arms, is the
government. That in all capital or criminal proper, natural, and safe defense
prosecutions a man has a right to of a free state; that standing
school demand the cause and nature of armies, in time of peace, should
A declaration of rights made by his accusation, to be confronted be avoided as dangerous to
the representatives of the good with the accusers and witnesses, liberty; and that in all cases the
people of Virginia, assembled in to call for evidence in his favor, military should be under strict
full and free convention which and to a speedy trial by an subordination to, and governed
rights do pertain to them and impartial jury of twelve men by, the civil power.
their posterity, as the basis and of his vicinage, without whose
foundation of government . unanimous consent he cannot section 14
be found guilty; nor can he be That the people have a right
section 1 compelled to give evidence to uniform government; and,
That all men are by nature against himself; that no man be therefore, that no government
equally free and independent deprived of his liberty except separate from or independent of
and have certain inherent rights, by the law of the land or the the government of Virginia ought
of which, when they enter into judgment of his peers. to be erected or established
a state of society, they cannot, within the limits thereof.
by any compact, deprive or section 9
divest their posterity; namely, That excessive bail ought not to section 15
the enjoyment of life and liberty, community has an indubitable, from which they were originally be required, nor excessive fines That no free government, or
with the means of acquiring inalienable, and indefeasible taken, and the vacancies be imposed, nor cruel and unusual the blessings of liberty, can be
and possessing property, right to reform, alter, or abolish supplied by frequent, certain, punishments inflicted. preserved to any people but
and pursuing and obtaining it, in such manner as shall be and regular elections, in which by a firm adherence to justice,
happiness and safety. judged most conducive to the all, or any part, of the former section 10 moderation, temperance,
public weal. members, to be again eligible, or That general warrants, whereby frugality, and virtue and
section 2 ineligible, as the laws shall direct. an officer or messenger may be by frequent recurrence to
That all power is vested in, and section 4 commanded to search suspected fundamental principles.
consequently derived from, the That no man, or set of men, is section 6 places without evidence of a
people; that magistrates are entitled to exclusive or separate That elections of members to fact committed, or to seize any section 16
their trustees and servants and emoluments or privileges serve as representatives of the person or persons not named, or That religion, or the duty which
at all times amenable to them. from the community, but in people, in assembly ought to whose offense is not particularly we owe to our Creator, and
consideration of public services; be free; and that all men, having described and supported by the manner of discharging it,
section 3 which, nor being descendible, sufficient evidence of permanent evidence, are grievous and can be directed only by reason
That government is, or ought neither ought the offices of common interest with, and oppressive and ought not to be and conviction, not by force or
to be, instituted for the magistrate, legislator, or judge to attachment to, the community, granted. violence; and therefore all men
common benefit, protection, be hereditary. have the right of suffrage and are equally entitled to the free
and security of the people, cannot be taxed or deprived of section 11 exercise of religion, according to
nation, or community; of all the section 5 their property for public uses That in controversies respecting the dictates of conscience; and
various modes and forms of That the legislative and executive without their own consent or property, and in suits between that it is the mutual duty of all to
government, that is best which powers of the state should be that of their representatives so man and man, the ancient trial practise Christian forbearance,
is capable of producing the separate and distinct from the elected, nor bound by any law by jury is preferable to any other love, and charity toward each
greatest degree of happiness judiciary; and that the members to which they have not, in like and ought to be held sacred. other.
and safety and is most effectually of the two first may be restrained manner, assented for the public
secured against the danger of from oppression, by feeling and good. section 12
maladministration. And that, participating the burdens of the That the freedom of the press Written by George Mason,
when any government shall be people, they should, at fixed section 7 is one of the great bulwarks and adopted by the Virginia
found inadequate or contrary to periods, be reduced to a private That all power of suspending of liberty, and can never be constitutional convention on
these purposes, a majority of the station, return into that body laws, or the execution of laws, by restrained but by despotic June 12, 1776.