their lands, have in divers inftances been productive of dangerous difcontents and animofities: be it ordained, that no purchases or contracts for the fale of lands made fince the fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand feven hundred and feventyfive, or which may hereafter be made with or of the faid Indians within the limits of this State, shall be binding on the faid Indians, or deemed valid, unlefs made under the authority, and with the confent of the legislature of this State.

XXXVIII. And whereas we are required by the benevolent principles of rational liberty, not only to expel civil tyranny, but also to guard against that spiritual oppreffion and intolerance wherewith the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked Priests and Princes have fcourged mankind; this Convention doth further, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, ordain, determine, and declare, that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profeffion and worship, without discrimination or preference, thall forever hereafter be allowed within this State to all mankind. Provided, that the liberty of confcience

confcience hereby granted, fhall not be fo conftrued, as to excufe acts of licentioufnefs, or justify practices inconfiftent with the peace or fafety of this State.

XXXIX. And whereas the Minifters of the Gospel are by their profeffion dedicated to the fervice of God and the cure of fouls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their function; therefore no Minister of the Gospel, or priest of any denomination whatsoever, shall at any time hereafter, under any pretence or description whatever, be eligible to, or capable of holding any civil or military office or place within this State.

XL. And whereas it is of the utmost importance to the fafety of every State, that it fhould always be in a condition of defence; and it is the duty of every man, who enjoys the protection of fociety, to be prepared and wil. ling to defend it; this Convention, therefore, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, doth ordain, determine, and declare, that the militia of this State, at all times hereafter, as well in peace as in war, shall be armed and disciplined, and in readiness for fervice. That all fuch of the inhabitants of

this State, being of the people called Quakers, who, from fcruples of confcience, may be averse to the bearing of arms, be therefrom excused by the legislature; and do pay to the State fuch fums of money in lieu of their perfonal service, as the fame may, in the judgment of the legiflature, be worth: and that a proper magazine of warlike ftores, proportionate to the number of inhabitants, be, forever hereafter, at the expence of this State, and by acts of the legiflature, established, maintained, and continued in every county in this State.

XLI. And this Convention doth further ordain, determine, and declare, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, that trial by jury, in all cases in which it hath heretofore been used in the colony of NewYork, fhall be established, and remain inviolate forever and that no acts of attainder fhall be paffed by the legislature of this State for crimes, other than thofe committed before the termination of the prefent war; and that such acts shall not work a corruption of blood. And further, that the legislature of this State fhall at no time hereafter inftitute any new court or courts, but fuch as fhall proceed according to the course of the common law.

XLII. And

XLII. And this Convention doth further, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, ordain, determine, and declare, that it fhall be in the difcretion of the legislature to naturalize all fuch persons, and in such manner, as they fhall think proper; provided all fuch of the perfons fo to be by them naturalized, as being born in parts beyond fea, and out of the United States of America, shall come to settle in, and become fubjects of this State, shall take an oath of allegiance to this State, and abjure and renounce all allegiance and subjection to all and every foreign King, Prince, Potentate, and State, in all matters ecclefiaftical as well as civil.

NEW JERSEY.

CONSTITUTION

O F

NEW JERSEY.

WH

HEREAS all the conftitutional authority ever poffeffed by the Kings of Great-Britain over thefe Colonies, or their other dominions, was by compact derived from the people, and held of them for the common interest of the whole fociety, allegiance and protection are, in the nature of things, reciprocal ties, each equally depending upon the other and liable to be diffolved by the other's being refused or withdrawn. And whereas George the Third, King of Great-Britain, has refused protection to the good people of these Colonies; and, by affenting to fundry Acts of the British Parliament, attempted to fubject them to the abfolute dominion of that body; and has also made war upon them in the most cruel and unnatural manner, for no other cause than af

serting