The Land of the Free - Conservative Politics Web Site

References to the right to vote and have representation in legislature with the authority to make laws and have such representation free of duress and from the tyranny of a non-sovereign leader can be found in:

Declaration of Independence “those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only”

Declaration of Independence “He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures”

Declaration of Independence “He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people”

Declaration of Independence “He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.”

Declaration of Independence “For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies”

Declaration of Independence “For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments”

Declaration of Independence “For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever”

Declaration of Independence “He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us”

Declaration of Independence “We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us”

Virginia Declaration of Rights, Section IV “That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, not being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge be hereditary”

Virginia Declaration of Rights, Section II “That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them”

Virginia Declaration of Rights, Section VI, “That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have the right of suffrage”

Virginia Declaration of Rights, Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges Section II, “For the well governing of this Province and Territories, there shall be an Assembly yearly chosen, by the Freemen thereof, to consist of Four Persons out of each County, of most Note for Virtue, Wisdom and Ability”

Pennsylvania Frame of Government Section II “And every inhabitant, artificer, or other resident in the said province, that pays scot and lot to the government; shall be deemed and accounted a freeman of the said province: and every such person shall, and may, be capable of electing, or being elected, representatives of the people, in provincial Council, or General Assembly, in the said province”

Pennsylvania Frame of Government Section III, “That all elections of members, or representatives of the people and freemen of the province of Pensilvania, to serve in provincial Council, or General Assembly, to be held within the said province, shall be free and voluntary”

Pennsylvania Frame of Government Section XXXIX, “That there shall be, at no time, any alteration of any of these laws, without the consent of the Governor, his heirs, or assigns, and six parts of seven of the freemen, met in provincial Council and General Assembly”

Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights and Constitution “AND WHEREAS it is absolutely necessary for the welfare and safety of the inhabitants of said colonies, that they be henceforth free and independent States, and that just, permanent, and proper forms of government exist in every part of them, derived from and founded on the authority of the people only, agreeable to the directions of the honourable American Congress”

Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights and Constitution Section IV, “That all power being originally inherent in, and consequently derived from, the people; therefore all officers of government, whether legislative or executive, are their trustees and servants, and at all time accountable to them”

Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights and Constitution Section VI, “That those who are employed in the legislative and executive business of the State, may be restrained from oppression, the people have a right, at such periods as they may think proper, to reduce their public officers to a private station, and supply the vacancies by certain and regular elections.”

Section VII “That all elections ought to be free; and that all free men having a sufficient evident common interest with, and attachment to the community, have a right to elect officers, or to be elected into office”

15th Amendment to the United States Constitution “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”

19th Amendment to the United States Constitution “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”

24th Amendment to the United States Constitution “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax”

26th Amendment to the United States Constitution “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age”

FRAME OF GOVERNMENT FOR COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA SECTION 1. “The commonwealth or state of Pennsylvania shall be governed hereafter by an assembly of the representatives of the freemen of the same, and a president and council”

FRAME OF GOVERNMENT FOR COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA SECTION 6 “Every freemen of the full age of twentyone years, having resided in this state for the space of one whole year next before the day of election for representatives, and paid public taxes during that time, shall enjoy the right of an elector: Provided always that sons of freeholders of the age of twentyone years shall be intitled to vote although they have not paid taxes”

FRAME OF GOVERNMENT FOR COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA SECTION 7 “The house of representatives of the freemen of this commonwealth shall consist of persons most noted for wisdom and virtue, to be chosen by the freemen of every city and county of this commonwealth respectively”

FRAME OF GOVERNMENT FOR COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA SECTION 9 “The members of the house of representatives shall be chosen annually by ballot”

Declaration of Arms, "They have ... suspending the legislature of one of the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another; and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by charter, and secured by acts of its own legislature solemnly confirmed by the crown"

The Northwest Ordinance Article II, "The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits ... of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature."

Fairfax County Resolves "2. Resolved that the most important and valuable Part of the BritishConstitution, upon which it's very Existence depends, is the fundamentalPrinciple of the People's being governed by no Laws, to which they havenot given their Consent, by Representatives freely chosen by themselves;who are affected by the Laws they enact equally with their Constituents;to whom they are accountable, and whose Burthens they share; in which consists the Safety and Happiness of the Community"

Fairfax County Resolves "5. Resolved that the Claim lately assumed and exercised by the British Parliament, of making all such Laws as they think fit, to govern the People of these Colonies, and to extort from us our Money with out our Consent, is not only diametrically contrary to the first Principles of the Constitution, and the original Compacts by which we are dependant
upon the British Crown and Government; but is totally incompatible with the Privileges of a free People, and the natural Rights of Mankind; will render our own Legislatures merely nominal and nugatory, and is calculated to reduce us from a State of Freedom and Happiness to Slavery and Misery.

Fairfax County Resolves "6. Resolved that Taxation and Representation are in their Nature inseperable; that the Right of withholding, or of giving and granting their own Money is the only effectual Security to a free People, against the Incroachments of Despotism and Tyranny; and that whenever they yield the One, they must quickly fall a Prey to the other."

Rights of British Colonies, James Otis, "The first principle and great end of government being to provide for the best good of all the people, this can be done only by a supreme legislative and executive ultimately in the people, or whole community, where God has placed it; but the inconveniencies, not to say impossibility, attending the consultations and operations of a large body of people have made it necessary to transfer the power of the whole to a few: This necessity gave rise to deputation, proxy or a right of representation."

English Bill of Rights "That Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free."

Declaration of Independence “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good”

Declaration of Independence “He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance”

Virginia Declaration of Rights, Section VI, “That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assented, for the public good”

Virginia Declaration of Rights, Section VII “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”

Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges, Section II, “Which Assembly shall have the Power to chuse a Speaker and other their Officers; and shall be Judges of the Qualifications and Elections of their own Members; sit upon their own Adjournments; appoint Committees; prepare Bills in order to pass into Laws; impeach Criminals, and redress Grievances; and shall have all other Powers and Privileges of an Assembly, according to the Rights of the freeborn Subjects of England, and as is usual in any of the King’s Plantations in America”

Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights and Constitution Section V, “That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people, nation or community; and not for the particular emolument or advantage of any single man, family, or sett of men, who are a part only of that community”

Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights Section XIV, “That a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles, and a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, industry, and frugality are absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty, and keep a government free: The people ought therefore to pay particular attention to these points in the choice of officers and representatives, and have a right to exact a due and constant regard to them, from their legislatures and magistrates, in the making and executing such laws as are necessary for the good government of the state”

Rights of British Colonies, James Otis, "that the person or persons on whom the sovereignty is confered by the people, shall incessantly consult their good"

The Rights of the Colonists by Samuel Adams "Secondly, The Legislative has no right to absolute, arbitrary power over
the lives and fortunes of the people; nor can mortals assume a prerogative not only too high for men, but for angels, and therefore reserved for the exercise of the Deity alone."

THE DEBATES IN THE CONVENTION OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, ON THE ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION Mr. James Wilson "Having enumerated some of the difficulties which the Convention were obliged to encounter in the course of their proceedings, I shall next point out the end which they proposed to accomplish. Our wants, our talents, our affections, our passions, all tell us that we were made for a state of society. But a state of society could not be supported long or happily without some civil restraint. It is true that, in a state of nature, any one individual may act uncontrolled by others; but it is equally true that, in such a state, every other individual may act uncontrolled by him. Amidst this universal independence, the dissensions and animosities between interfering members of the society would be numerous and ungovernable. The consequence would be, that each member, in such a natural state, would enjoy less liberty, and suffer more interruption, than he would in a regulated society. Hence the universal introduction of governments of some kind or other into the social state. The liberty of every member is increased by this introduction; for each gains more by the limitation of the freedom of every other member, than he loses by the limitation of his own. The result is, that civil government is necessary to the perfection and happiness of man. In forming this government, and carrying it into execution, it is essential that the interest and authority of the whole community should be binding in every part of it."

Rights of British Colonies, James Otis, "The end of government being the good of mankind, points out its great duties: it is above all things to provide for the security, the quiet, and happy enjoyment of life, liberty, and property."

Rights of British Colonies, James Otis, "The first principle and great end of government being to provide for the best good of all the people, this can be done only by a supreme legislative and executive ultimately in the people, or whole community, where God has placed it; but the inconveniencies, not to say impossibility, attending the consultations and operations of a large body of people have made it necessary to transfer the power of the whole to a few: This necessity gave rise to deputation, proxy or a right of representation."

RESOLVES ADOPTED IN CHARLOTTE TOWN, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA,MAY 31, 1775 "3. As all former Laws are now suspended in this Province, and the Congress have not yet provided others, we judge it
necessary, for the better Preservation of good Order, to form certain Rules and Regulations for the internal Government of
this County, until Laws shall be provided for us by the Congress."

Declaration of Independence “He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation”

RESOLVES ADOPTED IN CHARLOTTE TOWN, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA,MAY 31, 1775 "16. That whatever Person shall hereafter receive a Commission from the Crown, or attempt to exercise any such
Commission heretofore received, shall be deemed an Enemy to his Country; and upon Information being made to the Captain of the Company where he resides, the said Captain shall cause him to be apprehended, and conveyed before the two Select Men of the said Company, who, upon Proof of the Fact, shall commit him the said Offender, into safe Custody, until the next setting of the Convention, who shall deal with him as Prudence may direct."

English Bill of Rights "That the pretended Power of suspending of Laws, or the Execution of Laws, by regal Authority, without Consent of Parliament, is illegal."

English Bill of Rights "That the pretended Power of dispensing with Laws, or the Execution of Laws, by regal Authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal."

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of North Carolina November 21, 1789 "That all power is naturally vested in, and consequently derived from the people; that magistrates therefore are their trustees, and agents, and at all times amenable to them."

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of North Carolina November 21, 1789 "That Government ought to be instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people; and that the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive to the good and happiness of mankind."

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of North Carolina November 21, 1789 "the members of the two (legislative and executive branches) first may be restrained from oppression by feeling and participating the public burthens, they should at fixed periods be reduced to a private station, return into the mass of the people; and the vacancies be supplied by certain
and regular elections; in which all or any part of the former members to be eligible or ineligible, as the rules of the Constitution of Government, and the laws shall direct."