and Governor, at Philadelphia, this Twenty-Eighth Day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred and One. Signed on Behalf, and by Order of the Assembly,
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Edward Shippen, Phineas Pemberton, Samuel Carpenter, |
Griffith Owen, Caleb Pusey, Thomas Story, |
Whereas all government ought to be instituted and supported for the security and protection of the community as such, and to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and the other blessings which the Author of existence has bestowed upon man; and whenever these great ends of government are not obtained, the people have a right, by common consent to change it, and take such measures as to them may appear necessary to promote their safety and happiness. And whereas the inhabitants of this commonwealth have in consideration of protection only, heretofore acknowledged allegiance to the king of Great Britain; and the said king has not only withdrawn that protection, but commenced, and still continues to carry on, with unabated vengeance, a most cruel and unjust war against them, employing therein, not only the troops of Great Britain, but foreign mercenaries, savages and slaves, for the avowed purpose of reducing them to a total and abject submission to the despotic domination of the British parliament, with many other acts of tyranny, (more fully set forth in the declaration of Congress) whereby all allegiance and fealty to the said king and his successors, are dissolved and at an end, and all power and authority derived from him ceased in these colonies. 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
- ↑ The Proceedings Relative to Calling the Conventions of 1776 and 1790, the Minutes of the Convention that formed the present Constitution of Pennsylvania, together with the Charter to William Penn, the Constitutions of 1776 and 1790, and a view of the Proceedings of the Convention of 1776 and the Council of Censors. Harrisburg: Printed by John S. Wiestling, Market Street, 1825. pp. 384. Index.—The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as established by the General Convention, carefully compared with the original, to which is added a Report of the Committee appointed to enquire, “Whether the Constitution has been preserved inviolate in every Part, and whether the legislative and executive branches of Government, have performed their duty as Guardians of the People, or assumed to themselves or exercised other or greater Powers, than they are entitled to by the Constitution.”—As adopted by the Council of Censors, Published by their Order. Philadelphia: Printed by Francis Bailey, at Yorick’s Head, in Market Street, M, DCC.LXXXIV. pp. 64.
- ↑ This constitution was framed by a convention (called in accordance with the expressed wish of the Continental Congress) which assembled at Philadelphia July 15, 1776, and completed its labors September 28, 1776. It was not submitted to the people for ratification.
