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| Jefferson |
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| Mason |
Whilst
the Committee of Five were ensconced in their room, the Sate of Virginia at its
Fifth Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia finalised its own Declaration of
Rights on the 12th June 1776. The
document was mainly the work of George Mason. Its content reflects much of the
thinking that abounded amongst the various delegates to the varying State
Conventions and Continental Conventions that were taking place all over the
Colonies in the 1770’s. A quick read shows a strong similarity of purpose by
the various authors of the documents pouring out of these conventions.
Whilst
Masson’s first sentence reads:
Article 1- That all
men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent
rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any
compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and
liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and
obtaining happiness and safety.
Jefferson’s
turn of phrase, however, is more succinct and flows more trippingly off the
tongue.
We hold these
truths to be self-evident, 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.
Mason goes on: 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.
Jefferson writes: That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Here is the rest of the Virginia Document:
A
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the Representatives of the good people of
VIRGINIA, assembled in full and free Convention; which rights do pertain to
them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of Government.
I.
That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain
inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they
cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the
enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing
property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
II.
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.
III.
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.
IV.
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.
V.
That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and
distinct from the judicative; and, that the members of the two first may be
restrained from oppression by feeling and participating the burthens of the
people, they 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.
VI.
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.
VII
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.
VIII
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 favour, 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 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.
XII
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 defence 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.
XIV
That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore, that no
government separate from, or independent of, the government of Virginia, ought
to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
XV
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.
XVI
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
duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each
other.
Adopted
unanimously 12th June 1776 Virginia
Convention of Delegates drafted by Mr. George Mason
In keeping with the theme of writing for
freedom, a very young girl was given a diary on her thirteenth birthday, the 12th June 1942. She chronicled her life
over the next two years up until the 1st August 1944. Her diary was
eventually published in 1950. Anne Frank would have been 83 years old today.
She wrote on Wednesday the 5th
April 1944:
I finally realized that I must do my
schoolwork to keep from being ignorant, to get on in life, to become a
journalist, because that’s what I want! I know I can write ..., but it remains
to be seen whether I really have talent ...
And if I don’t have the talent to write
books or newspaper articles, I can always write for myself. But I want to
achieve more than that. I can’t imagine living like Mother, Mrs. van Daan and
all the women who go about their work and are then forgotten. I need to have
something besides a husband and children to devote myself to! ...
I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to
all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my
death! And that’s why I’m so grateful to God for having given me this gift,
which I can use to develop myself and to express all that’s inside me!
When I write I can shake off all my cares.
My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that’s a big question,
will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist
or a writer?
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