WebAmong his accomplishments in governance, Penn is remembered for interacting peacefully with the Lenni Lenape (or Delaware) Indians; there were no armed conflicts between Pennsylvania and native tribes until shortly before the outbreak of the French & Indian War. III, 1787: Letters from the Federal Farmer, No. Available in hard copy and for download. xxiii. That as a careless and corrupt administration of justice draws the wrath of God upon magistrates, so the wildness and looseness of the people provoke the indignation of God against a country: therefore, that all such offences against God, as swearing, cursing, lying, prophane talking, drunkenness, drinking of healths, obscene words, incest, sodomy, rapes, whoredom, fornication, and other uncleanness (not to be repeated) all treasons, misprisions, murders, duels, felony, seditions, maims, forcible entries, and other violences, to the persons and estates of the inhabitants within this province; all prizes, stage-plays, cards, dice, May-games, gamesters, masques, revels, bull-baitings, cock-fightings, bear-baitings, and the like, which excite the people to rudeness, cruelty, looseness, and irreligion, shall be respectively discouraged, and severely punished, according to the appointment of the Governor and freemen in provincial Council and General Assembly; as also all proceedings contrary to these laws, that are not here made expressly penal. WebWilliam Penn (1644-1718) Quaker activist, theorist of liberty of conscience, and colonial founder and proprietor played a central role in the movement for religious liberty on both sides of the Atlantic for more than four decades. He was born in 1644 and died in 1718. XL. That all factors or correspondents in the said province, wronging their employers, shall make satisfaction, and one-third over, to their said employers: and in case of the death of any such factor or correspondent, the committee of trade shall take care to secure so much of the deceased partys estate as belongs to his said respective employers. That, in all courts all persons of all persuasions may freely appear in their own way, and acording 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. Summary Description William Penn - The First Draft of the Frame of Government - c1681.jpg The Papers of William Penn , Volume Two (16801684), University of Pennsylvania 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. xxxviii. West's Encyclopedia of American Law. State Government. xviii. There he devised a government, laws and plans for Philadelphia's physical development. 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. III. The large upper house of the bicameral legislature, the Provincial Council, has staggered three-year terms so that one-third of its members are elected each year. . But lust prevailing against duty, made a lamentable breach upon it; and the law, that before had no power over him, took place upon him, and his disobedient posterity, that such as would not live comformable to the holy law within, should fall under the reproof and correction of the just law without, in a judicial administration. That the government of this province shall, according to the powers of the patent, consist of the Governor and freemen of the said province, in form of a provincial Council and General Assembly, by whom all laws shall be made, officers chosen, and public affairs transacted, as is hereafter respectively declared, that is to say. Updated: 09/13/2021 Who Was William Penn? The Frame provided, first, for full religious freedom for all theists. XXIV. And moreover that, in all cases and matters of lesser moment, twenty-four Members of the said provincial Council shall make a quorum the majority of which twenty-four shall, and may, always determine in such cases and causes of lesser moment. To prevent absolutism, Penn employed the concept of balancing forces, a concept that the Framers of the U.S. Constitution later would use liberally. 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. Rare Penn had been already a champion for democracy, religious freedom, and anti-slavery movements. Liberty Fund, Inc. All rights reserved. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil: wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Constitution. xii. ), 1675: Shaftesbury, Letter from a Person of Quality (Pamphlet), 1675: Shaftesbury, Speech in Parliament (Pamphlet), 1682: Act for Freedom of Conscience (Penn. 1-better That the age is too nice and difficult for it; there being nothing the wits of men are more bury and divided upon. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Donald S. Lutz (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1998). That for the encouragement of the planters and traders in this province, who are incorporated into a society, the patent granted to them by William Penn, Governor of the said province, is hereby ratified and confirmed. That, for the establishment of the government and laws of this province, and to the end there may be an universal satisfaction in the laying of the fundamentals thereof: the General Assembly shall, or may, for the first year, consist of all the freemen of and in the said province; and ever after it shall be yearly chosen, as aforesaid; which number of two hundred shall be enlarged as the country shall increase in people, so as it do not exceed five hundred, at any time; the appointment and proportioning of which, as also the laying and methodizing of the choice of the provincial Council and General Assembly, in future times most equally to the divisions of the hundreds and counties, which the country shall hereafter be divided into, shall be in the power of the provincial Council to propose, and the General Assembly to resolve. This native goodness was equally his honour and his happiness; and whilst he stood here, all went well; there was no need of coercive or compulsive means; the precept of divine love and truth, in his bosom, was the guide and keeper of his innocency. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. XXI. WebSupporters who had helped Penn with his 1681 Frame of Government later criticized it because Penns power seemed absolute. Benjamin Furly and Algernon Sidney felt duped and betrayed by Penn when they heard the news that the Frame of Government was the colonys constitution. 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. Article xxxix created the first formal amendment process in history. XIII. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. That all children, within this province, of the age of twelve years, shall be taught some useful trade or skill, to the end none may be idle, but the poor may work to live, and the rich, if they become poor may not want. VII. WebWILLIAM PENN, Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging, To all to whom these Presents shall come, sends Greeting. Fleshly desires corrupted this balance, which put mans self before his duties. 27 Apr. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania What attracted settlers to the region? William Penn, 1682. 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. WebHaving received a substantial grant of lands in 1681 in what became Pennsylvania, William Penn set about devising a constitution for his new colony, which became The Frame of the Government of Pennsylvania. And in case any person so called to evidence, shall be convicted of wilful falsehood, such person shall suffer and undergo such damage or penalty, as the person, or persons, against whom he or she bore false witness, did, or should, , undergo; and shall also make satisfaction to the party wronged and be publicly exposed as a false witness, never to be credited in any court, or before any Magistrate, in the said province. Secondly. WebFortunately, Penn was adept at convincing people. WebFrame of Government of PennsylvaniaMay 5, 1682 (1) The frame of the government of the province of Pensilvania, in America: together with certain laws agreed upon in England, by the Governor arid divers freemen of the aforesaid province. William Penn, 1682. Penn was born in London in 1644 into a prominent family, the son of a naval hero, Admiral Penn. But I chuse to solve the controversy with this small distinction, and it belongs to all three: Any government is free to the people under it (whatever be the frame) where the laws rule, and the people are a party to those laws, and more than this is tyranny, oligarchy, or confusion. xxi. That the charter of liberties, declared, granted and confirmed the five and twentieth day of the second month, called April, 1682, before divers witnesses, by William Penn, Governor and chief Proprietor of Pensilvania, to all the freemen and planters of said province, is hereby declared and approved, and shall be for ever held for fundamental in the government thereof, according to the limitations mentioned in the said charter. 1,544 Sq. XVIII.That all fines shall be moderate, and saving mens contenements, merchandize, or wainage. Carolina (Speech), 1787: Selections from the Federalist (Pamphlets), 1787: Wilson, Address to the People of Philadelphia (Speech), 1788: Amendments recommended by the Several State Conventions, 1789: French Declaration of the Rights of Man, 1789: Madison, Speech Introducing Proposed Amendments to the Constitution, 1790: Hamilton, First Report on Public Credit, 1790: Jefferson, Memorandum on the Compromise of 1790, 1790: Price, Discourse on the Love of Our Country (Sermon), 1791: Hamilton, Opinion as to the Constitutionality of the Bank of the US, 1791: Jefferson, Opinion against the Constitutionality of a National Bank, 1791: US Bill of Rights (1st 10 Amendments) - with commentary, 1793: French Republic Constitution of 1793, 1793: Helvidius (Madison), No. It is true, good laws have some awe upon ill ministers, but that is where they have not power to escape or abolish them, and the people are generally wise and good: but a loose and depraved people (which is the question) love laws and an administration like themselves. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 1.5 Baths. Although it is his colony, Penn establishes the principle of popular sovereignty. Amen. That a copy of these laws shall be hung up in the provincial Council, and in public courts of justice: and that they shall be read yearly at the opening of every provincial Council and General Assembly, and court of justice; and their assent shall be testified, by their standing up after the reading thereof. 2. 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. 1, xxviixxviii. Web1682 - Penn's Charter of Libertie - April 25; 1682 - Frame of Government of Pennsylvania - May 5; 1683 - Frame of Government of Pennsylvania - February 2; 1696 - Frame of Government of Pennsylvania; 1701 - Charter of Privileges Granted by William Penn, esq. 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. The democratic principles that he set forth served as an inspiration for the United States Constitution. That all Treasurers, Judges, Masters of the Rolls, Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, and other officers and persons whatsoever, relating to courts, or trials of causes, or any other service in the government; and all Members elected to serve in provincial Council and General Assembly, and all that have right to elect such Members, shall be such as possess faith in Jesus Christ, and that are not convicted of ill fame, or unsober and dishonest conversation, and that are of one and twenty years of age, at least; and that all such so qualified, shall be capable of the said several employments and privileges, as aforesaid. xxi. XXXVII. XII. 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 may want good men, and be abolished or evaded by ill men: but good men will never want good laws, nor suffer ill ones. It is true, they seem to agree to the end, to wit, happiness; but, in the means, they differ, as to divine, so to this human felicity; and the cause is much the same, not always want of light and knowledge, but want of using them rightly. That all persons wrongfully imprisoned, or prosecuted at law, shall have double damages against the informer, or prosecutor. Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them; and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. He also built himself a house north of Philadelphia, which he Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. To be further explained and To be further explained and confirmed there, by the first provincial Council, that shall be held, if they see meet. That all other matters and things not herein provided for, which shall, and may, concern the public justice, peace, or safety of the said province; and the raising and imposing taxes, customs, duties, or other charges whatsoever, shall be, and are, hereby referred to the order, prudence and determination of the Governor and freemen, in Provincial Council and General Assembly, to be held, from time to time, in the said province. And, to the end that all officers chosen to serve within this province, may, with more care and dilligence, answer the trust reposed in them, it is agreed, that no such person shall enjoy more than one public office, at one time.