If you have ever wondered what you would get if you were to combine the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, the Declaration of Rights (Stamp Act version), and the Virginia Declaration of Rights (and also updating them to reflect the fact of American independence), I think I have the answer:
I. We hold these Truths to be Self-Evident, that all men are created equal; that equals, by their nature, should be independent and free; that by this gift of equal creation, they are endowed by their Creator with rights both inherent and unalienable; that these rights, though often violated, and though sometimes deprecated by agreements or by pretense of right, may never be divested or extinguished; that these rights forbid intrusions on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that they include the rights of self-defense and of the lawful acquisition, continued possession, and enjoyment and protection of property; that the American people have never, nor could they ever have, ceded or renounced these rights.
II. That when English settlers founded what became our first states, they were, at that time, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural born subjects within the realm of England; that by such emigration they by no means forfeited, surrendered, or lost any of those rights, but that they were, and their descendants and descendants' peers are now are entitled to the exercise and enjoyment of all such of them, as their local and other circumstances, including American sovereignty and Independence, enable them to exercise and enjoy; that American citizens in every part of the United States are entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of natural born citizens.
III. That the foundation of English and American liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative council; and that when the people cannot be properly be represented in that council, they are entitled to make the arrangements they need in order to exercise that right by some other means, particularly with respect to legislation of all cases of taxation and internal polity.
IV. That it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen and Americans, that no taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent, given personally, or by their representatives; that all supplies to the government being free gifts of the people, it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the principles and spirit of our constitutions for any number of the people to grant to the government the property of anyone else.
V. That the members of the legislative and executive branches 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; 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.
VI. 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; 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 and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and that, whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
VII. 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; which, not being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge be hereditary.
VIII. That the people of the United States are entitled to the tradition of the common law, and more especially to the great and inestimable right of being tried by their peers of the vicinage, according to the course of that law; 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; 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 evidence 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 judgement of his peers.
IX. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
X. That general warrants, whereby any 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 offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
XI. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes, as existed at the time of English settlement of the American colonies; and which they have, by experience, respectively found to be applicable to their several local and other circumstances, and which they have supplemented with their own statutes and fundamental laws.
XII. That the people of the United States are likewise entitled to all the immunities and privileges that were granted and confirmed to them by royal charters and secured by the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the several declarations of rights asserted by the colonists, and the several states' constitutions and codes.
XIII. That they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the government; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal; that the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
XIII. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense 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 be governed by, the civil power; that the keeping of a Standing army in these states in times of peace is against law.
XIV. It is indispensably necessary to good government, and rendered essential by the English and American constitutions alike, that the constituent branches of the legislature be independent of each other; that, therefore, the exercise of legislative power in these states, by any council appointed during pleasure, is unconstitutional, dangerous, and destructive to the freedom of American legislation; that the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judicative; 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.
XV. That extending the jurisdiction of the courts of admiralty beyond their ancient limits, have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of Americans.
XVI. That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore, that no government separate from, or independent of, the governments of the several states or a duly constituted government of the United States, ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
XVII. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
XVIII. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed 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 and moral duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.
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