The Second Continental Congress appoints a 13-member committee (one Delegate from each colony) to draft a proposal for “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.”  The chair of the committee is John Dickinson, of the colony of Pennsylvania.

       [restored 7/23/2021]

       The fifth Virginia Convention promulgates the Declaration of Rights; Articles I, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV and XVI of which state:

• “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.
• “That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people … .
• “[W]hen any government shall be found inadequate … a majority of the community has an … inalienable … right to … abolish it … .
• “That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judicative. …
• “That … all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have the right of suffrage. … [Ownership of property was intended as a qualification for suffrage—to prevent economic leveling legislation.]
• “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. 
• “That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has 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 favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty … .
• “That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 
• “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. 
• “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. 
• “That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments. 
• “That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense 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. 
• “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.
• “That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.” [emphasis added]

       [updated 11/9/2024]