mal-administration, corruption, or other means, by which the fafety of the State may be endangered, fhall be impeachable by the House of Delegates; fuch impeachment to be profecuted by the Attorney-general, or fuch other perfon or perfons as the Houfe may appoint, in the General Court, according to the laws of the land. If found guilty, he or they shall be either for ever difabled to hold any office under Government, or be removed from fuch office pro tempore, or fubjected to fuch pains or penalties as the law fhall direct.

If all or any of the Judges of the General Court should (on good grounds to be judged of by the House of Delegates) be accused of any of the crimes or offences abovementioned, such House of Delegates may in like manner impeach the Judge or Judges fo accused, to be profecuted in the Court of Appeals ; and he or they, if found guilty, shall be punished in the fame manner as prefcribed in the preceding clause.

Commiffions and grants fhall run, In the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and bear test by the Governor, with the Seal of the Commonwealth annexed. Writs fhall run in the

fame

fame manner, and bear teft by the Clerks of the feveral courts. Indictments fhall conclude, Against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.

A Treasurer shall be appointed annually, by joint ballot of both Houses.

All efcheats, penalties, and forfeitures, heretofore going to the King, shall go to the Commonwealth, fave only fuch as the legislature may abolish, or otherwise provide for.

The territories contained within the charters erecting the colonies of Maryland, Pennsylvania, North and South-Carolina, are hereby ceded, released, and forever confirmed to the people of these Colonies respectively, with all the rights of property, jurifdiction, and government, and all other rights whatsoever, which might at any time heretofore have been claimed by Virginia, except the free navigation and use of the rivers Potomaque and Pokomoke, with the property of the Virginia fhores and strands bordering on either of the faid rivers, and all improvements which have been or shall be made. thereon. The western and northern extent of Virginia fhall in all other refpects ftand as fixed by the charter of King James I. in the year

one thousand fix hundred and nine, and by the public treaty of peace between the Courts of Britain and France, in the year one thousand feven hundred and fixty-three; unless, by act of this legislature, one or more governments be established westward of the Allegheny mountains. And no purchases of lands fhall be made of the Indian natives but on behalf of the public, by authority of the General Assembly.

NORTH

NORTH CAROLIN A.

THE

CONSTITUTION,

O R

FORM OF GOVERNMENT,

AGREED TO AND RESOLVED UPON BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF NORTH-CAROLINA, ELECTED AND CHOSEN FOR THAT PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AT HALIFAX, DEC. 18, 1776.

A

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, &c.

I. THA

'HAT all political power is vested in and derived from the people only.

II. That the people of this State ought to have the fole and exclufive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof.

III. That no man, or fet of men are entitled to exclufive or feparate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in confideration of public fervices.

IV. That the legislative, executive, and supreme judicial powers of government ought to be for ever separate and diftin& from each

other.

V. That all powers of fufpending 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.

VI. That elections of Members to ferve as Representatives in General Affembly ought to be free.

VII. That in all criminal profecutions every man has a right to be informed of the accufation against him, and to confront the accufers and witneffes with other teftimony, and fhall not be compelled to give evidence against himself.

VIII. That no freeman fhall be put to anfwer any criminal charge but by indictment, prefentment, or impeachment.

IX. That no freeman fhall be convicted of any crime, but by the unanimous verdict of a jury of good and lawful men, in open court as heretofore used.

X. That