The original 13 states were "ordered" to draw up state constitutions before the Federal Constitution came into being. In general, they contain the same rights set forth in the Bill of Rights. The Federal Bill of Rights came into being so that both new and old states would have certain rights. There is a site called Avalon...something. It has all the original State Constitutions. I believe Massachusetts is closest in wording to the Fed Bill of Rights.
"The original 13 states were "ordered" to draw up state constitutions before the Federal Constitution came into being. In general, they contain the same rights set forth in the Bill of Rights. The Federal Bill of Rights came into being so that both new and old states would have certain rights. There is a site called Avalon...something. It has all the original State Constitutions. I believe Massachusetts is closest in wording to the Fed Bill of Rights." ~ Sacajaweau
"...The type of political Union that was adopted by the first colonies in America was the "Confederation".
This type of union allowed them to unite as a single union FOR SECURITY but allowed them to retain their right of sovereignty as Christians and their right of sovereignty to exist as 'free Protestant" colonies.
The first Confederation was formed in 1643. As we examine a portion of their Charter , we can gain a clear view of how they viewed their religious liberty politically.
Again because there were no dictionaries at that time, this is the only source to see how liberty was viewed in America.
It proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that they continued the belief of the pilgrims identifying God not man as the author and giver of their liberties.
The following portion in that Charter clearly reflects the purpose of the American Confederation and souce of their Liberties.
This, by the way is the same Confederation that fought the Revolutionary War:
Whereas we all came into these parts of America with one and the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity with peace;
For our founders, one man’s liberty did not rest upon another man’s conscience.
Each citizen had the right to program his conscience according to the standards he felt were true and to live his life as his conscience dictated in his pursuit for happiness.
Again Blackstone speaks on the subject of pursuing happiness.
"For he (God) has so intimately connected, so inseparably inter-woven the laws of eternal justice with the happiness of each individual that the latter cannot be attained but by observing the former; and, if the former be punctually obeyed, it cannnot but induce the latter."
They believed that God gave life to all men and with that life the opportunity to follow him.
As believers, they believed that they had a responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of their fellow Americans against all tyranny and that each citizen should have the right as a priest to pursue happiness according to the dictates of his own conscience.
"League of Friendship" identified the religious and political principles that were in their Confederation as colonies.
Those same principles are identified when they again refer to their Confederation of free States as a "League of Friendship" (see Articles of the Confederation).
As Christians, they defined the obligation of their sacred friendship in the following manner.
In John 15:13 of the New Testament, Jesus made this statement to his followers:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
Those founders considered the cost of belonging to the Union that they had created and determined that the treasure for their children was well worth the price.
Thus they asked God for the following condition as they pledged their support to one another to protect the Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness of their fellow Americans. They asked God to keep them honest by holding them accountable for what they were about to pledge. They then pledged the following:
"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare:
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
Rights of Conscience is the foundation of American Politics.
Many Christians in America were worried at the time when the U.S. Constitution was passed and feared that their right to let God govern their conscience might be replaced by the authority given to Congress as the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
Thomas Jefferson was aware of their concerns and wrote the following:
"No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the power of its public functionaries..."
(Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Methodist Episcopal Church at New London, Connecticut, Feb. 4, 1809).
In America, one man’s liberty is not dependent upon another man’s conscience!
INTRODUCTION TO THE LIBERTY PRINCIPLES IN AMERICAN POLITICS
by Stephen L. Corrigan - http://w3.one.net/~stephenc/fun.html