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CONSTITUTION OF GEORGIA (1777).

We, therefore, the representatives of the people, from whom all power originates, and for whose benefit all government is intended, by virtue of the power delegated to us, do ordain and declare, and it is hereby ordained and declared, that the following rules and regulations be adopted for the future government of this State:

CONSTITUTION OF MASSACHUSETTS (March 2, 1780).

The aim of the constitution, maintenance and administration of government is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it and so secure to the individuals who compose it their natural rights and the blessings of life. Government is instituted for the common good, for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people and not for the profit, honor and private interest of any one man, family or class of

men.

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 the substitutes and agents, and are at all times accountable to them.

CONSTITUTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (Oct. 31, 1783).

Nor are the inhabitants of this State controllable by any other laws than those to which they or their representative body have given their consent.

Among the natural rights some are in their very nature inalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. Of this kind are the rights of conscience.

All men are born equally free and independent; therefore, all government of right originates from the people, is founded on the consent and instituted for the general good. All men have certain natural, essential and inherent rights among which are life, liberty, the acquisition and possession of property.

CONSTITUTION OF DELAWARE (1792).

We, the people, hereby ordain and establish this constitution of government for the State of Delaware.

Through divine goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and, in general, of attaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these rights are essential to their welfare, for the due exercise thereof, power is inherent in them; and, therefore, all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their happiness; and they may, for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time, alter their constitution of government. CONSTITUTION OF ALABAMA (1809).

The people have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their form of government in such manner as they may think expedient.

CONSTITUTION OF INDIANA (1816).

That the general, great, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and unalterably established, we declare: that all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights; among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty, and of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of these ends they have at all times an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter or reform their government in such manner as they may deem proper.

CONSTITUTION OF IOWA (1846).

All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain unalienable rights; among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.

All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people,

and they have the right, at all times, to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it.

CONSTITUTION OF CALIFORNIA (1849).

All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.

All political power is inherent to the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people; and they have the right to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it.

CONSTITUTION OF INDIANA (1851).

We declare that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that all power is inherent in the people; and that all free governments are, and of right ought to be, founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and well-being. For the advancement of these ends, the people have, at all times, an indefeasible right to alter and reform their govern

ment.

CONSTITUTION OF KANSAS (1855).

All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety.

All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their equal protection and benefit; and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the same whenever they may deem it necessary; and no special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the general assembly.

CONSTITUTION OF ILLINOIS (1870).

All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty,

and pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights and the protection of property, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

CONSTITUTION OF ARKANSAS (1874).

All political power is inherent in the people, and government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit; and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the same in such manner as they may think proper.

All men are created equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; amongst which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property and reputation; and of pursuing their own happiness. To secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

CONSTITUTION OF COLORADO (1876).

In order to assert our rights, acknowledge our duties, and proclaim the principles upon which our government is founded, we declare

That all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government, of right, originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.

That the people of this State have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves, as a free, sovereign, and independent State, and to alter and abolish their constitution and form of government whenever they may deem it necessary to their safety and happiness, provided such change be not repugnant to the Constitution. of the United States.

That all persons have certain natural, essential, and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.

GROUP TWO: "THE RIGHTS OF MAN"

"NATURAL LAW," "A STATE OF NATURE," "NATURAL RIGHTS"

The conditions of early American life caused a number of highly intelligent men to take from European philosophers, to circulate among great masses of their countrymen and to succeed in having written into many of the most important national documents, ideas or expressions of ideas which appeared to them to be the ideal abstractions upon which any free nation should be founded.

These ideas were largely related to what were called "Natural Law" and "Natural Rights.'

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Various expressions of these thoughts are here assembled. They were thoughts which unquestionably developed from some fundamental human aspiration common to men of all races and times.

The expression they were given seemed fitting and proper to men whose minds had not been influenced by the theory of evolution or by the facts which modern political, sociological and anthropological research have disclosed.

The development of modern science has, however, rendered the expression of these ideas open to such grave criticism that a tendency has developed to dismiss the ideas altogether from realistic consideration and to regard them as only of historical importance.

The application of the expression of some of these ideas to various phases of human life which the theorists and propagandists advocating them had not foreseen has, moreover, resulted in social and political conditions within America obviously almost antithetically opposed to the social and political conditions which many of these theorists and propagandists sought to bring into being.

Many of the most vital national impulses of this country are associated with these phrases. It is conceivable that careful reconsideration of the underlying thought and aspiration expressed by them may possibly result in such recasting as to permit these impulses to be freed and again to stimulate and

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