Declaration of rights

Massachusetts The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defence [sic]. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it. (Declaration of Rights, Part I, Article XVII)... 

The best evidence that bear arms was primarily used to refer to military situations comes from Aymette v. State, 2 Humph., Tenn. 154 (1840), a prosecution for carrying a concealed bowie knife. The Supreme Court of Tennessee, in construing section 26 of its declaration of rights, providing that the free white men of this State have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defence, stated ... 

A comprehensive declaration of rights would be a useful instrument for the human race to have, but perhaps, even among those nations which hate tyranny most you would not find a single one which you could persuade to adopt [that declaration] in its entirety, habit having accustomed man so much to his chains. 

The first declaration of rights really worthy of the name is the Virginia declaration, signed on i June 1776, and the author of that declaration... 

But none of these declarations of rights can be seen as being... 

So, for example, the appointment of judges and juries other than by election by those subject to the court s jurisdiction, the establishment of any permanent tribunal by its own members, by a particular group of citizens, by a senior magistrate, etc., must be proscribed in a declaration of rights. 

The more extensive and the more comprehensive a declaration of rights is, the greater will be its clarity and precision, and the nation, which has recognised it and approved it in principle on the basis of conviction, will be all the more reassured that it is protected from tyranny, for any tyranny openly attacking one of those rights would be confronted by general opposition. 

Another advantage of a declaration of rights is the assurance of public order. A nation armed with this shield ceases to find all innovations troubling has no longer any pretext to be offended by those that are useful will not allow itself to be deceived so easily by the defenders of abuses it is desirable to destroy and will no longer be tricked into accepting... 

But opposition from the defenders of royalty and abuse soon required the adoption of harsh measures necessitated by circumstances now, the counter-revolutionaries thought they could embarrass their enemies by citing those same principles of natural justice with which they had themselves been so often assailed endless invocations of the Declaration of Rights could be heard from those who had found it to be absurd and dangerous when first proposed. 

On the 15th of May, 1776, the convention of Virginia instructed their delegates in Congress to propose to that body to declare the colonies independent of G. Britain, and appointed a committee to prepare a declaration of rights and plan of government. 

English Declaration of Rights of 1689, xv English history, importance of for Ameriouis, 283-4 English language, 582-90 Epicurianism TJ identifies self as Epicurian, 313—16, 435 syllabus of doctrines, 315—16 Eppes, John Wayles, 598 equality, principle of, 31 Essex Junto, 47, 432, 463 etiquette, rules of, for White House, 30-... 

Venice, as republic, 326-7 Virginia Declaration of Rights, xv, 147 Virginia House of Burgesses, xiv Virginia state constitution, 171-2, 321-4 defects of, 324-35 TJ s proposal, 338-49 Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, xvii, xxi, 26, 250, 390-2... 

It has been said, in answer to this objection, that such declarations of rights, however requisite they might be in the constitutions of the states, are not necessary in the general constitution, because, in the former case, every thing which is not reserved is given, but in the latter the reverse of... 

The state constitutions and bills of rights are reprinted in FSC. Quotations in the paragraphs following are from the Declarations of Rights of Maryland and North Carolina, respectively. 

The power to make treaties, is vested in the president, by and with the advice and consent of two thirds of the Senate. I do not find any limitation, or restriction, to the exercise of this power. The most important article in any constitution may therefore be repealed, even without a legislative act. Ought not a government, vested with such extensive and indefinite authority, to have been restricted by a declaration of rights It certainly ought. 

Death of Aphra Behn. Crown offered to William and Mary. Declaration of Rights. Toleration Act. John Locke s first Letter Concerning Toleration (a second and third follow in 1690 and 1692.), Two Treatises on Government (dated 1690). Posthumous publication of Bunyan s Last Sermon and The Acceptable Sacrifice. 

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