the constitution was formed are set forth. The government which had been formed under the Articles of Confederation did not secure perfect union, insure domestic tranquillity, fully provide for the common defence and promote the general welfare. This preamble is as follows: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

5. In the preambles of most of the constitutions of the thirteen States, which were formerly colonies of Great Britain, the causes which impelled the colony to throw off that government, and assume a new government, are set forth. In the preamble of the constitution of Virginia, it was declared that George III. had endeavored to pervert the government into a detestable and insupportable tyranny. Twenty-two specific charges are then made. It was further declared, that by these several acts of misrule, the government of this country, as before exercised under the crown of Great Britain, was totally dissolved. That having maturely considered the premises, and in compliance with the recommendation of Congress, they ordained and established a new government.

6. When a State is formed from a territory, that fact is generally set forth in the preamble. The preamble of the constitution of Alabama began as follows: "We, the people of Alabama Territory, having the right of admis sion into the general government as a member of the

tutions? For what purpose was the Constitution of the United States established, as set forth in the preamble?

5. What is set forth in the preambles of the States which were formerly colonies of Great Britain? In the preamble to the constitution of Virginia, what charge was made against George III.? What effect did these acts of misrule have upon the government, as formerly exercised under the crown of Great Britain? In compliance with what recommendation did they ordain and establish their constitution?

6. When a State is formed from a territory, what is set forth in the

Union, consistent with the Constitution of the United States, by our representatives assembled in convention at the town of Huntsville, on Monday, the 5th day of July, 1819, in pursuance of an act of Congress, entitled, 'An Act to enable the People of Alabama to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the Admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States,' do ordain and establish the following Constitution."

7. In the preamble to the constitution of Massachusetts, it was affirmed that the end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying, in safety and tranquillity, their natural rights and blessings of life. And whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity, and happiness. The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals. It is a social compact, by which the whole people covenant with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in forming a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation and a faithful execution of them, that every man may at all times find his security in them. We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the great Legislator of the Universe in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity,

preamble? How is that fact set forth in the preamble to the constitution of Alabama? Upon what did they found their right to admission into the general government? By what act were they authorized to hold a convention?

7. In the preamble to the constitution of Massachusetts what was affirmed to be the object of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government? Whenever these objects are not obtained, what is the right of the people? How is the body politic formed? Into what

deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other, and of forming a new constitution of civil government for ourselves and posterity, and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

8. The preambles of ten of the constitutions are very short, not containing more than four or five lines. The preamble of the constitution of New York is as follows: "We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this constitution." From the preambles of the several constitutions, State and national, we obtain the following political principles: 1. That the people ordain and establish the government. 2. That the body politic is a voluntary association of individuals. 3. That each citizen enters into a covenant with the whole people, and the whole people enter into a covenant with each citizen. 4. That these covenants are constitutions and laws. 5. That governments are instituted to secure union; to establish justice; to insure tranquillity; to provide for the common defence; to secure the blessings of liberty and transmit them to posterity.

CHAPTER XII.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

1. IMMEDIATELY following the preambles of most of the State constitutions is a declaration of rights. In the Dec

covenant do they enter? What is the duty of the people in forming their constitution?

8. What is the preamble to the constitution of New York? What political principles do we obtain from the preambles of the several constitutions? For what objects are governments instituted?

laration of Independence, the following truths are declared to be self-evident: 1. That all men are created equal. 2. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. 3. That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 4. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. 5. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government; laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

2. Many of these self-evident truths have been incorporated into the declaration of rights in the several State constitutions. The first of these self-evident truths is given in the several State constitutions in six different forms, in all of which the language is slightly altered from that used in the Declaration of Independence. 1. "All men are born equally free and independent." This form is adopted by six States. 2. "All men are born free and equal." 3. "All men, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights." 4. "All men are by nature equally free and independent." 5. "All freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal." 6. "All freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights."

3. All these forms of expression differ from the original, and each is different from all the others; yet all convey, substantially, the same idea. The first great principle of republican government is that of native, inborn equality.

1. What follows the preamble in most of the State constitutions? What truths are declared in the Declaration of Independence to be selfevident? For what purpose are governments instituted among men? From what do governments derive their just powers? When any government becomes destructive of these ends, what is declared to be the right of the people?

2. Into what have many of these self-evident rights been incorporated? In how many forms is the first self-evident truth named in the Declaration of Independence, given in the several State constitutions?

3. Does any of the six forms of expressions agree fully with the origi

All men, at all times, when they form a social compact, should be equally under the protection of the law, whether wise or simple, rich or poor.

4. The next self-evident truth, "That all men are en dowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," has been incorporated into the declaration of rights in most of the States, in seven different forms, in all of which the language is slightly altered from that used in the Declaration of Independence.

5. In all cases hereafter, where the same idea is expressed in the several constitutions in forms of language slightly differing, we shall select that form which conveys most clearly the idea intended to be presented, and shall give but one form.

CHAPTER XIII.

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

1. THE freedom of religious worship is described in at least twenty-three different forms in the several constitutions. To give all these forms would occupy more space than the plan of this work will allow. We shall, therefore, give on each point that form of language which conveys most clearly the idea intended to be represented. The points set forth are as follows: 1. That among our

nal? What do all express? What should be the condition of all men when they form a social compact?

4. In how many forms has the self-evident truth, "that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights," been incorporated into the State constitutions?

5. In all cases hereafter, where the same idea is expressed in different forms, in the several constitutions, what form will be selected? Will more than one form be given?

1. In how many different forms, in the several constitutions, is the freedom of religious worship described? Are these forms given? What form of language is given on each point? Why are some natural rights