VirginiaDeclarationofRights
喬治·梅森/GeorgeMason
喬治·梅森（1725—1792），一位歷史人物，他在兩百多年前為美國的獨立做出了重要貢獻。最近，一座喬治·梅森的坐式銅像在美國首都華盛頓市中心樹立起來，以紀念這位以倡導人權、促成被稱為人權法案的美國憲法修正案的通過而名垂青史的政治家、思想家。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
1.amenableadj.易控制的，順從的；願接受的
2.maladministrationn.暴政，亂政
3.militian.民兵組織，民兵
4.magistraten.地方法官，治安官
5.descendibleadj.可遺傳的
IThatallmenarebynatureequallyfreeandindependent,andhavecertaininherentrights,ofwhich,whentheyenterintoastateofsociety,theycannot,byanycompact,depriveordivesttheirposterity;namely,theenjoymentoflifeandliberty,withthemeansofacquiringandpossessingproperty,andpursuingandobtaininghappinessandsafety.
IIThatallpowerisvestedin,andconsequentlyderivedfrom,thepeople;thatmagistratesaretheirtrusteesandservants,andatalltimesamenabletothem.
IIIThatgovernmentis,oroughttobe,institutedforthecommonbenefit,protection,andsecurityofthepeople,nationorcommunity;ofallthevariousmodesandformsofgovernmentthatisbest,whichiscapableofproducingthegreatestdegreeofhappinessandsafetyandismosteffectuallysecuredagainstthedangerofmaladministration;andthat,wheneveranygovernmentshallbefoundinadequateorcontrarytothesepurposes,amajorityofthecommunityhathanindubitable,unalienable,andindefeasiblerighttoreform,alterorabolishit,insuchmannerasshallbejudgedmostconducivetothepublicweal.
IVThatnoman,orsetofmen,areentitledtoexclusiveorseparateemolumentsorprivilegesfromthecommunity,butinconsiderationofpublicservices;which,notbeingdescendible,neitheroughttheofficesofmagistrate,legislatororjudgebehereditary.
VThatthelegislativeandexecutivepowersofthestateshouldbeseparateanddistinctfromthejudicative;and,thatthemembersofthetwofirstmayberestrainedfromoppressionbyfeelingandparticipatingtheburthensofthepeople,theyshould,atfixedperiods,bereducedtoaprivatestation,returnintothatbodyfromwhichtheywereoriginallytaken,andthevacanciesbesuppliedbyfrequent,certain,andregularelectionsinwhichall,oranypartoftheformermembers,tobeagaineligible,orineligible,asthelawsshalldirect.
VIThatelectionsofmemberstoserveasrepresentativesofthepeopleinassemblyoughttobefree;andthatallmen,havingsufficientevidenceofpermanentcommoninterestwith,andattachmentto,thecommunityhavetherightofsuffrageandcannotbetaxedordeprivedoftheirpropertyforpublicuseswithouttheirownconsentorthatoftheirrepresentativessoelected,norboundbyanylawtowhichtheyhavenot,inlikemanner,assented,forthepublicgood.
VIIThatallpowerofsuspendinglaws,ortheexecutionoflaws,byanyauthoritywithoutconsentoftherepresentativesofthepeopleisinjurioustotheirrightsandoughtnottobeexercised.
VIIIThatinallcapitalorcriminalprosecutionsamanhatharighttodemandthecauseandnatureofhisaccusationtobeconfrontedwiththeaccusersandwitnesses,tocallforevidenceinhisfavor,andtoaspeedytrialbyanimpartialjuryofhisvicinage,withoutwhoseunanimousconsenthecannotbefoundguilty,norcanhebecompelledtogiveevidenceagainsthimself;thatnomanbedeprivedofhislibertyexceptbythelawofthelandorthejudgementofhispeers.
IXThatexcessivebailoughtnottoberequired,norexcessivefinesimposed;norcruelandunusualpunishmentsinflicted.
XThatgeneralwarrants,wherebyanyofficerormessengermaybecommandedtosearchsuspectedplaceswithoutevidenceofafactcommitted,ortoseizeanypersonorpersonsnotnamed,orwhoseoffenseisnotparticularlydescribedandsupportedbyevidence,aregrievousandoppressiveandoughtnottobegranted.
XIThatincontroversiesrespectingpropertyandinsuitsbetweenmanandman,theancienttrialbyjuryispreferabletoanyotherandoughttobeheldsacred.