laration of Independence, the following truths are declared to be self-evident: 1. That all men are created equal. 2. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. 3. That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 4. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. 5. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government; laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

2. Many of these self-evident truths have been incorporated into the declaration of rights in the several State constitutions. The first of these self-evident truths is given in the several State constitutions in six different forms, in all of which the language is slightly altered from that used in the Declaration of Independence. 1. "All men are born equally free and independent." This form is adopted by six States. 2. "All men are born free and equal." 3. "All men, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights." 4. "All men are by nature equally free and independent." 5. "All freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal." 6. "All freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights."

3. All these forms of expression differ from the original, and each is different from all the others; yet all convey, substantially, the same idea. The first great principle of republican government is that of native, inborn equality.

1. What follows the preamble in most of the State constitutions? What truths are declared in the Declaration of Independence to be selfevident? For what purpose are governments instituted among men? From what do governments derive their just powers? When any government becomes destructive of these ends, what is declared to be the right of the people?

2. Into what have many of these self-evident rights been incorporated? In how many forms is the first self-evident truth named in the Declara tion of Independence, given in the several State constitutions?

3. Does any of the six forms of expressions agree fully with the orig

All men, at all times, when they form a social compact, should be equally under the protection of the law, whether wise or simple, rich or poor.

4. The next self-evident truth, "That all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," has been incorporated into the declaration of rights in most of the States, in seven different forms, in all of which the language is slightly altered from that used in the Declaration of Independence.

5. In all cases hereafter, where the same idea is expressed in the several constitutions in forms of language slightly differing, we shall select that form which conveys most clearly the idea intended to be presented, and shall give but one form.

CHAPTER XIII.

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

1. THE freedom of religious worship is described in at least twenty-three different forms in the several constitutions. To give all these forms would occupy more space than the plan of this work will allow. We shall, therefore, give on each point that form of language which conveys most clearly the idea intended to be represented. The points set forth are as follows: 1. That among our

nal? What do all express? What should be the condition of all men when they form a social compact?

4. In how many forms has the self-evident truth, "that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights," been incorporated into the State constitutions?

5. In all cases hereafter, where the same idea is expressed in different forms, in the several constitutions, what form will be selected? Will more than one form be given?

1. In how many different forms, in the several constitutions, is the freedom of religious worship described? Are these forms given? What form of language is given on each point? Why are some natural rights

natural rights, some are in their very nature inalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. 2. That it is the right, as well as the duty, of all men in society, publicly and at stated times, to worship the Supreme Being, the great creator and preserver of the universe; and that this right is inalienable. 3. That each individual shall exercise this right according to the dictates of his own conscience. 4. That this liberty of conscience shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of society, or injure others in their civil and religious rights. 5. That no person can justly be deprived of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments or peculiar mode of religious worship. 6. That no authority can be assumed by, or vested in, any power whatever, to interfere with or in any manner control the rights of conscience in the free exercise of religious worship. 7. That God has created the mind free, and all attempts to influence it by temporal punishment or civil incapacities, tends to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness. 8. That no person shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, except in fulfilment of his own voluntary contract. 9. That it is the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the public worship of the Author of the Universe; and that piety and morality, on which the prosperity of communities depends, are thereby promoted. 10. That every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves quietly and as good citizens of the State, shall be equally under

inalienable? What is the right and duty of each individual in society, as to public worship? How is he to exercise this right? What will the liberty of conscience neither excuse nor justify? Of what can no person be deprived, on account of his religious sentiments and mode of worship? Can any power of government control or interfere with the rights of conscience in the exercise of religious worship? How has God created the human mind? What effect will attempts to influence it by temporal punishment or civil incapacities have? Should any person be compelled to support any religious worship? For what purpose is it the duty of all men to assemble together? What is thereby promoted? Who are equally under the protection of the law? Can any one sect be subordi

the protection of the law. 11. That no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another can ever be established by law. 12. That Congress can make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. 13. That no religious test shall be required as a qualification for office or public trust in the State.

CHAPTER XIV.

SOURCE OF POLITICAL POWER.

In describing the source of political power, the people of the several States have adopted eighteen different forms; and only four States agree precisely in any one form. The political principles set forth under this head in the several constitutions are as follows: 1. All political power is inherent in the people. 2. All governments are formed on their authority and instituted for their benefit. 3. The people of each State have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free and independent State. 4. The people of the State do now, and shall forever, exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right which is not, or may not hereafter be, by them delegated to the government of the United States. 5. The powers not delegated to the United States. by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

nated to another? What laws are Congress prohibited from making? What cannot be required as a test of qualification for office?

CH. 14. How many forms have been adopted in describing the source of political power? How many States give the same form? In whom is all political power inherent? Upon what authority are governments formed? For whose benefit? What right have the people of each State? What do they exercise and enjoy? What powers are reserved to the States? What are the officers of government? To whom accountable? For what purpose are governments instituted? Can government be hereditary? When may the people require their officers to return to private life? How may they fill their places? When have the people a right

6. All officers of government, vested with authority, whether legislative, executive, or judicial, are only the trustees and agents of the people; and are, at all times, accountable to them. 7. Governments are instituted for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of all the people; and not for the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or any class of men. 8. Government cannot be hereditary or transmissible to children, descendants, or relatives by blood. 9. The people have the right to cause their public officers to return to private life at such periods, and in such manner, as they shall establish by their frame of government; and to fill such vacant places by certain and regular elections and appointments. 10. Whenever the ends of government are perverted, or public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, or where their protection, safety, prosperity, or happiness require it, the people have the right to reform the old or establish a new government. 11. The doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind. 12. The basis of our political system being the right of the people to make and alter their constitution of government, the constitution which at any time exists, until changed by the explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sa credly obligatory upon all.

CHAPTER XV.

LIBERTY OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS.

THE liberty of speech and of the press is described in the several constitutions in eighteeen different forms. Six

to reform the old or establish a new government? What is declared in reference to the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression? What is the basis of our political system? What is sacredly obligatory upon all ?