New Yorks original constitution is written in a
slightly different manner than the rest of the thirteen original
colonies. Most of the other constitutions directly acknowledge that
their frame of Government and their choice of leaders is to be
directly founded on the principles laid out in the Bible. New York
instead uses the term "the laws of nature and natures God" and the
"common law" of England and Great Briton to describe the laws and
principles on which their state is to be founded. The term "the laws
of nature and nature's God" was and still is a descriptive term of the
Bibles teachings on how things naturally work, how human beings are to
relate, right and wrong and government. English common law was governing
principles and the statuary law that had developed in Great Briton over
the proceeding centuries based on the laws of nature and natures God.
Of course the kings of England using their imperial church constantly
violated these laws which caused much blood letting over those centuries
in that land. In reality the revolutionary war was a continuation of
those wars that sought to establish a rule of law found in the Bible
verses the rule of men as exemplified in Kings. These terms show the
religious nature and religious understanding the representative of
New York had in writing their original constitution. No different than
the other states constitutions who's language is a little bit more
direct.
"When, in the course of human events, it
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which
have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the
earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of
nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the
separation.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights; that among these are, life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness;"
XXXV. And this convention doth further, in the
name and by the authority of the good people of this State, ordain,
determine, and declare that such parts of the common law of England, and
of the statute law of England and Great Britain, and of the acts of the
legislature of the colony of New York, as together did form the law of
the said colony on the 19th day of April, in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, shall be and continue the law
of this State, subject to such alterations and provisions as the
legislature of this State shall, from time to time, make concerning the
same. That such of the said acts, as are temporary, shall expire at the
times limited for their duration, respectively. That all such parts of
the said common law, and all such of the said statutes and acts
aforesaid, or parts thereof, as may be construed to establish or
maintain any particular denomination of Christians or their ministers,
or concern the allegiance heretofore yielded to, and the supremacy,
sovereignty, government, or prerogatives claimed or exercised by, the
King of Great Britain and his predecessors, over the colony of New York
and its inhabitants, or are repugnant to this constitution, be, and they
hereby are, abrogated and rejected. And this convention doth further
ordain, that the resolves or resolutions of the congresses of the colony
of New York, and of the convention of the State of New York, now in
force, and not repugnant to the government established by this
constitution, shall be considered as making part of the laws of this
State; subject, nevertheless, to such alterations and provisions as the
legislature of this State may, from time to time, make concerning the
same.
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 oppression and
intolerance wherewith the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked
priests and princes have scourged 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 profession and worship, without discrimination or preference,
shall forever hereafter be allowed, within this State, to all mankind:
Provided, That the liberty of conscience, hereby granted, shall not be
so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices
inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State.
XXXIX. And whereas the ministers of the gospel
are, by their profession, dedicated to the service of God and the care
of souls, 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
presence or description whatever, be eligible to, or capable of holding,
any civil or military office or place within this State.
To view the entire constitution follow this
hyperlink.
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