Jerfey, I will not affent to any law, vote, or proceeding, which shall appear to me injurious to the public welfare of faid Colony, nor that fhall annul or repeal that part of the third section in the charter of this Colony, which establishes that the elections of members of the Legislative Council and Affembly shall be annual, nor that part of the twenty-second fection in faid charter, refpecting the trial by jury, nor that shall annul, repeal, or alter any part or parts of the eighteenth or nineteenth fections of the fame."

And any person, or perfons, who shall be elected as aforefaid, is hereby impowered to administer to the faid members the faid oath or afirmation.

Provided always, and it is the true intent and meaning of this Congress, that if a reconciliation between Great-Britain and thefe Colonies fhould take place, and the latter be taken again under the protection and government of the Crown of Britain, this charter fhall be null and void, otherwise to remain firm and inviolable. In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, New-Jersey, Burlington, July 2, 1776.

By order of Congress, SAM. TUCKER, Pref. Extract from the Minutes, W.PATERSON, Sec. PENN

PENNSYLVANIA.

THE

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,

AS ESTABLISHED BY THE GENERAL CONVEN. TION, ELECTED FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND HELD AT PHILADELPHIA, JULY 15, 1776, AND CONTINUED BY ADJOURNMENTS TO SEPTEMBER 28, 1776.

WH

HEREAS all government ought to be inftituted and fupported for the fecurity and protection of the community as fuch, and to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and the other bleffings which the Author of Existence has bestowed upon man; and whenever these great ends of government are not obtained, the people have a right, by common confent, to change it, and take fuch meafures as to them may appear neceffary to promote their fafety and happiness. And whereas the inhabitants of this Commonwealth have, in confideration

of protection only, heretofore acknowledged allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and the faid King has not only withdrawn that protection, but commenced, and ftill continues to carry on, with unabated vengeance, a most cruel and unjust war against them, employing therein not only the troops of Great Britain, but foreign mercenaries, favages, and flaves, for the avowed purpose of reducing them to a total and abject fubmiffion to the defpotic domination of the British Parliament, with many other acts of tyranny, (more fully fet forth in the Declaration of Congress) whereby all allegiance and fealty to the faid King and his fucceffors, are diffolved and at an end, and all power and authority derived from him ceased in these Colonies: And whereas it is abfolutely neceffary for the welfare and safety of the inhabitants of faid Colonies, that they be henceforth free and independent States, and that just, permanent, and proper forms of Government exift in every part of them, derived from and founded on the authority of the people only, agreeable to the directions of the Honourable American Congrefs: We, the Representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania, in General

Con

Convention, met for the exprefs purpose of framing fuch a Government, confeffing the goodness of the Great Governor of the Universe (who alone knows to what degree of earthly happiness mankind may attain, by perfecting the arts of Government) in permitting the people of this State, by common confent, and without violence, deliberately to form for themfelves fuch just rules as they fhall think best for governing their future focięty; and being fully convinced, that it is our indifpenfible duty to establish such original principles of government as will best promote the general happinefs of the people of this State, and their pofterity, and provide for future improvements, without partiality for, or prejudice against, any particular clafs, fect, or denomination of men whatever, do, by virtue of the authority vested in us by our conftituents, ordain, declare, and establish the following DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, and FRAME OF GOVERNMENT to be the CONSTITUTION of this Commonwealth, and to remain in force therein for ever, unaltered, except in fuch articles as fhall hereafter on experience be found to require improvement, and which shall by the fame authority of the people, fairly delegated

N 3

gated as this Frame of Government directs, be amended or improved for the more effectual obtaining and securing the great end and defign of all government, herein before mentioned.

CHA P. I..

A

DECLARATION

OF THE

RIG HT S

OF THE

INHABITANTS of the STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.

I. THAT all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, poffeffing, and protecting property, and purfuing and obtaining happiness and fafety.

II. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own confciences and understanding: and that no man ought,

or