pact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in framing a Constitution of Government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation and a faithful execution of them, that every man may, at all times, find his security in them. We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Great Legiflator of the Universe, in affording us, in the course of his providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or furprize, of entering into an original, explicit, and folemn compact with each other; and of forming a new Constitution of Civil Government for ourselves and pofterity; and devoutly imploring his direction in so interesting a design, DO agree upon, ordain, and establish, the following DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, AND FRAME OF GOVERNMENT, as the CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH MASSACHUSETTS. D 3 OF PART INHABITANTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. I. ALL men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, poffeffing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their fafety and happiness. II. It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the Universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own confcience; or for his religious profeffion or fentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship. III. As the happiness of a people, and the good good order and preservation of civil government, essentially depend upon piety, religion, and morality; and as these cannot be generally diffused through a community, but by the institution of the public worship of God, and of public instructions in piety, religion and morality; therefore, to promote their happiness, and to secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this Commonwealth have a right to invest their legiflature with power to authorise and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorise and require the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provifion, at their own expence, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public Proteftant teachers of piety, religion, and morality, in all cafes where such provision shall not be made voluntarily. And the people of this Commonwealth have also a right to, and do, invest their legislature with authority to enjoin upon all the subjects, an attendance upon the instructions of the public teachers as aforesaid, at stated times and seasons, if there be any on whose instructions they D4 they can confcientiously and conveniently attend. Provided notwithstanding, that the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodiespolitic, or religious societies, shall, at all times, have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance. And all monies paid by the subject to the support of public worship, and of the public teachers aforesaid, shall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the support of the public teacher or teachers of his own religious sect or denomination, provided there be any on whose instructions he attends; otherwise it may be paid towards the support of the teacher or teachers of the parish or precinct in which the faid monies are raised. : And every denomination of Christians demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the Commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law: and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law. IV. The people of this Commonwealth have the fole and exclusive right of governing them selves as a Free, Sovereign, and Independent State; and do, and for ever hereafter shall, exercise and enjoy every power, jurifdiction, and right, which is not, or may not hereafter, be by them exprefly delegated to the United States of America, in Congress assembled. V. All power residing originally in the people, and being derived from them, the several magistrates and officers of government, vested with authority, whether legislative, executive, or judicial, are their substitutes and agents, and are at all times accountable to them. VI. No man, or corporation, or affociation of men, have any other title to obtain advantages, or particular and exclusive privileges, distinct from those of the community, than what arifes from the confideration of services rendered to the public; and this title being in nature neither hereditary nor transmissible to children, or descendants, or relations by blood, the idea of a man born a magistrate, lawgiver, or judge, is absurd and unnatural. VII. Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, profperity, and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honour, or private interest of |