CONSTITUTION OF 1776. 91 



Partiality for or Prejudice against any particular Class, Sect or Denomi- 

 nation of Men whatsoever, do, by Virtue of the Authority vested in us 

 by our Constituents, ordaix, declare and establish the following 

 Declaration of Rights and Frame of Government, to be the Constitution 

 of this Commonwealth, and to remain in Force therein forever, unaltered, 

 except in such Articles as shall hereafter, on Experience, be found to 

 require Improvement, and which shall, by the same Authority of the 

 People fairly delegated, as this Frame of Government directs, be amended 

 or improved for the more effectual obtaining and securing the great 

 End and Design of all Government herein before mentioned. 



CHAPTER I. 



A Declaration of the Eights of the Inhabitants of the Common- 

 wealth OR State of Pennsylvania. 



SECTION the first. 



That all Men are born equally free and independent, and have certain 

 natural, inherent and unalineable Rights, amongst which are the enjoy- 

 ing and defending Life and Liberty, acquiring, possessing and protect- 

 ing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety. 



SECTION THE SECOND. 



That all Men have a natural and unalienable Right to worship Al- 

 mighty God according to the Dictates of their own Consciences and Un- 

 derstandings : And that no Man ought or of Right can be compelled to 

 attend any religious Worship, or erect or support any Place of Worship, 

 or maintain any Ministry, contrary to, or against his own free Will and 

 Consent : Nor can any Man, who acknowledges the Being of a God, be 

 justly deprived or abridged of any civil Right as a Citizen, on Account 

 of his religious Sentiments, or peculiar Mode of religious Worship: And 

 that no Authority can or ought to be vested in, or assumed by, any 

 Power whatever, that shall in any Case interfere with, or in any Manner 

 controul the Right of Conscience, in the free Exercise of religious Wor- 

 ship. 



SECTION THE THIRD. 



That the People of this State have the sole exclusive and inherent 

 Right of governing and regulating the internal Police of the same. 



SECTION THE FOURTH. 



That all Power being originally inherent in, and consequently derived 

 from the People; therefore all Officers of Government, whether legisla- 

 tive or executive, are their Trustees and Servants, and at all times ac- 

 countable to them. 



