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ACTS

AND

RESOLVES

PASSED BY THE

General Court of Massachusetts,

IN THE YEAR

1868,

TOGETHER WITH

THE CONSTITUTION, THE MESSAGES OF THE GOVERNOR,
LIST OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT, CHANGES

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A CONSTITUTION

OR

FORM OF GOVERNMENT

FOR THE

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A

PREAMBLE.

ernment.

The end of the institution, maintenance and administra- Objects of govtion of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying, in safety and tranquillity, their natural rights, and the blessings of life: and whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness.

The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of Body politic, how individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people its nature. covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in framing a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation and a faithful execution of them; that every man may, at all times, find his security in them.

We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of his providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit and solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new

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