206 
sionally or by representation, in the 
choice of which he has concurred. 
That the end of all civil societies 
ought to be to assure to men the 
peaceable enjoyment of their na- 
tural rights. 
That therefore the natural li- 
berty of being able to do every 
thing, which does not hurt the 
rights of others, ought never to 
suffer any infringement, except 
when the end of civil society re- 
quires it. 
That such bounds to natural 
liberty cannot be imposed, burt by 
the people or their representa- 
tives. 
That consequently no person can 
be obliged to cede, or sacrifice any 
part of his particular property to 
the general commonwealth, unless 
this shall be expressly regulated by 
the will of the people, or their re- 
presentatives, and according to a 
previous indemnity. 
That the law is the free and so- 
Iemnexpression of the general will ; 
that it is equal for all, either to 
punish or to reward. 
That no person can be accused, 
arrested, of put in prison, but in 
such case and according to such 
formalities as shall be previously 
fixed by the law itself. 
That in case it shall be judged 
necessary to hold any person pri- 
soner, no one ought to be treated 
more rigarously than is absolutely 
necessary for confining his person. 
That all men being equal, all are 
eligible to all posts or employments, 
without any other motives of pre- 
ference than those of virtue and of 
capacity. ut 
That evety one has the right to 
concur in requiring, ftom -each 
functionary of public administra. 
‘: 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
tion, an account and’ justificaticft 
of his conduct. 
That there never can be laid the 
smallest restri¢tion on the right of 
each citizen, to represent, that 
which is his interest, to those in 
whom the public authority is en- 
trusted. 
That the sovereignty resides in 
the entire people, and that ‘there- 
fore no portion of the people can 
arrogate it to themselves. 
That the people have at alf times 
a right tochange their form of go- 
vernment, to corre¢tit, or to choose 
another. . 
That such are the principles upon 
which we have believed it to be 
our duty to found our a¢tions and 
our proceedings ; and being desi- 
rous of applying them to the order 
of things, which had heretofore 
taken place, we forthwith disco- 
vered that the form cf government, 
which was confirmed in 1787 by 
means of the invasion of the Prus~ 
sian army, and consequently by 
force only, was in every respect 
contrary thereto. 
That the persons who heretofore 
composed the assembly of the selfs 
named States of Holland and West 
Friesland, were never elected by 
their fellow-citizens to be represen 
tatives, and that therefore this go- 
vernment could not exist, as being 
absolutely contrary to the rights of 
man and of a citizen: that we also 
presently perceived that all here- 
ditary dignities, such as that of 
hereditary stadtholder, captain ge 
neral and admiral of this province, 
and of the equestrian order, as 
well as all hereditary nobility, are 
repugnant to the rights of man, 
and that they ought to be held 
and. declared abolished, as they are 
declared 
