In a series of treaties This settles the divine right of government beyond exception, and that for two ends: first, to terrify evil doers: secondly, to cherish those that do well; which gives government a life beyond corruption, and makes it as durable in the world, as good men shall be. The complete text retains the original spelling. I do not find a model in the world, that time, place, and some singular emergences have not necessarily altered: nor is it easy to frame a civil government, that shall serve all places alike. He thought that a harmonious society, unhampered by intolerance, would be a prosperous society as well. WebWILLIAM PENN, Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging, To all to whom these Presents shall come, sends Greeting. But, next to the power of necessity (which is a solicitor, that will take no denial) this induced me to a compliance, that we have (with reverence to God, and good conscience to men) to the best of our skill contrived and composed to the frame and laws of this government, to the great end of all government, viz: To support power in reverence with the people and to secure the people from the abuse of power; that they may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honourable, for their administration: for liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Although anyone who professed a belief in God could live undisturbed, one had to believe in Jesus Christ in order to vote and hold office (see the Pennsylvania Frame of Government [59], Articles xxxiv and xxxv of the Laws Agreed Upon in England). xiii. So that government seems to me a part of religion itself, a thing sacred in its institution and end. I know what is said by the several admirers of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy, which are the rule of one, a few, and many, and are the three common ideas of government, when men discourse on the subject. He also built himself a house north of Philadelphia, which he That there shall be a register for all servants, where their names, time, wages, and days of payment shall be registered. Penn believed in religious toleration on both pragmatic and moral grounds. WebWilliam Penn, a well-placed English gentlemen and a Quaker, turned an old debt into a charter for the proprietary colony called Pennsylvania, (all the land between New Jersey and Maryland) Penn took great pains in setting up his colony; twenty drafts survive of his First Frame of Government, the colonys 1682 constitution. xxxiii. They weakly err, that think there is no other use of government, than correction, which is the coarsest part of it: daily experience tells us, that the care and regulation of many other affairs, more soft, and daily necessary, makeup much of the greatest part of government; and which must have followed the peopling of the world, had Adam never fell, and will continue among men, on earth, under the highest attainments they may arrive at, by the coming of the blessed Second Adam, the Lord from heaven. This the Apostle teaches in divers of his epistles: The law (says he) was added because of transgression, In another place, Knowing that the law was not made for the righteous man, but for the disobedient and ungodly, for sinners, for unholy and prophane, for murderers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, and for man-stealers, for lyers, for perjured persons, &c., but this is not all, he opens and carries the matter of government a little further: Let every soul be subject to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God. 1682. The jury 22 reached their verdict despite intimidation and imprisonment by the 23 English trial court, and the jury's independence and integrity were upheld 24 by an appellate court. Penn envisioned a colony that permitted religious freedom, the consent and participation of the governed, as well as other laws pertaining to property rights. Penn family papers Religion and the Founding of the American Republic. The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania was a proto-constitution for the Province of Pennsylvania, a proprietary colony granted to William Penn by Charles II of England. But, lastly, when all is said, there is hardly one frame of government in the world so ill designed by its first founders, that, in good hands, would not do well enough; and [hi]story tells us, the best, in ill ones, can do nothing that is great or good; witness the said states. WebFrame of Government (1682) William Penn's Frame of Government set out the original laws and regulations of the Pennsylvania colony. The powers that be are ordained of God: whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. Frame of Government of Pennsylvania And that the provincial Council shall, on the thirteenth day of the first month, yearly, elect and present to the Governor, or his Deputy, a double number of persons, to serve for Judges, Treasurers, Masters of Rolls, within the said province, for the year next ensuing; and the freemen of the said province, in the county courts, when they shall be erected, and till then, in the General Assembly, shall, on the three and twentieth day of the second month, yearly, elect and present to the Governor, or his Deputy, a double number of persons, to serve for Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, and Coroners, for the year next ensuing; out of which respective elections and presentments, the Governor or his Deputy shall nominate and commissionate the proper number for each office, the third day after the said presentments, or else the first named in such presentment, for each office, shall stand and serve for that office the year ensuing. I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better: for good laws want good men, and be abolished or evaded by ill men; but good men will never want good laws, nor suffer ill ones. That all marriages (not forbidden by the law of God, as to nearness of blood and affinity by marriage) shall be encouraged; but the parents, or guardians, shall be first consulted, and the marriage shall be published before it be solemnized; and it shall be solemnized by taking one another as husband and wife, before credible witnesses; and a certificate of the whole, under the hands of parties and witnesses, shall be brought to the proper register of that county, and shall be registered in his office. To be further explained and Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for William Penn and the Founding of Pennsylvania, 1680-1684: A Documentary History at the best online prices at eBay! He sought to create a framework that would frustrate political mischief and prevent a ruler from assuming absolute power to the detriment of the community. But, next to the power of necessity, (which is a solicitor, that will take no denial) this induced me to a compliance, that we have (with reverence to God, and good conscience to men) to the best of our skill, contrived and composed the frame and laws of this government, to the great end of all government, viz: To support power in reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of power; that they may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honourable, for their just adminstration: for liberty, without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery. xxii. Frame of Government of Pennsylvania by William Penn New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania What attracted settlers to the region? Secondly. Charters 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. That, in all courts all persons of all persuasions may freely appear in their own way, and according to their own manner, and there personally plead their own cause themselves; or, if unable, by their friends: and the first process shall be the exhibition of the complaint in court, fourteen days before the trial; and that the party, complained against, may be fitted for the same, he or she shall be summoned, no less than ten days before, and a copy of the complaint delivered him or her, at his or her dwelling house. Thirdly. William Penn William Penn