The following declaration written by Elder Isaac Backus was a proposed bill of rights for the Massachusetts constitution. It was written in 1779 and can be found in Appendix 24 of the Isaac Backus Diary from which it was copied. The publisher's notes indicate that Elder Backus borrowed considerably from the bill of rights in the Virginia constitution of 1776. That could very well be true since Elder Backus had some connection with Elder John Leland who had connections in both Virginia and Massachusetts and was also an active petitioner of our founding fathers regarding moral and religious liberty. The Warren Baptist Association, who Elder Backus represented in several petitions to constitutional bodies, and the Philadelphia Baptist association who was supportive of their efforts were both active in petitioning our founding fathers for religious liberty as the new constitution was being formed. I'm not sure to what extent Elder Backus promoted this declaration but reading the original Massachusetts constitution of 1780, reveals that Article I is very similar to the article I that Elder Backus proposed, which leads me to believe that he did in some manner publicly promote his declaration. It is noteworthy that Elder Backus was also a delegate to the Massachusetts ratification convention in 1788, (ratifying the U.S. Constitution). His declaration of rights illustrates the degree that some Baptists ministers were involved and interested in the form of government being established at that time. In my opinion they were very instrumental in obtaining the blessed liberty of conscience that God has blessed our nation with for over 200 years. We pray oh, God that it may continue for our descendants! 

By publishing this Baptist historical record I'm in no way intending to promote the idea that Baptist ministers should be overly involved in politics. I don't believe that Elder Backus or Elder Leland cross the line of political involvement but they took the opportunity in that day to influence the founding fathers just as Baptists should today concerning the moral decay of our nation. Although Elder Backus devoted some time and energy in his petitions and service as a delegate I find no evidence that he left his first calling as a minister of the Gospel. After the nation was set on the course of religious liberty it appears that he was not active politically at all. An entry in his dairy states I went to our town meeting, where I had not been before in ten years, the ten year period would have been 1794 -1804.  Editor Elder Claude McKee

 

 

Isaac Backus Diary--Appendix 24

A declaration of the rights,
Of the inhabitants of the states of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England

1. All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, among which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and persuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

2. As God is the only worthy object of all religious worship, and nothing can be true religion but a voluntary obedience unto his revealed will, of which each rational soul has an equal right to judge for itself; every person has an unalienable right to act in all religious affairs according to the full persuasion of his own mind, where others are not injured thereby. And civil rulers are so far from having any right to empower any person or persons, to judge for others in such affairs, and to enforce their judgements with the sword, that their power ought to be exerted to protect all persons and societies, within their jurisdiction from being injured or interrupted in the free enjoyment of this right, under any pretence whatsoever.

3. The people of this State have the sole, exclusive, and inherent right of governing and regulating the internal police of the same.

4. As all civil rulers derive their authority from the people, so they are accountable to them for the use they make of it.

5. The great end of government being for the good of the governed, and not the honor or profit of any particular persons or families therein; the community hath an unalienable right to reform, alter, or new form their constitution of government, as that community shall judge to be most conducive to the public weal.

6. It being essential to civil freedom that every elector of officers should give his vote with an unbiased mind; whoever shall make use of any sort of bribery, or party influence, either to get into office, or to keep himself in place thereby seeks to rob the freemen of their birthright, and ought to be looked upon as an enemy to liberty, and not to be trusted with any public office. Elections ought to be free and frequent.

7. Every member of civil society hath a right to be protected in the enjoyment of life, liberty and property, and therefore is bound to contribute his proportion towards the expenses of that protection, and to yield his personal services, when necessary, or an equivalent thereto: but no part of any man's property can justly be taken from him, or applied to public uses, without his own consent, or that of his legal representatives: and no man ought to be compelled to bear arms, who conscientiously scruples the lawfulness of it, if he will pay such equivalent; nor are the people bound by any laws, but such as they have in like manner assented to, for their common good.

8. In all prosecutions for criminal offences, a man hath a right to be heard by himself and his council, to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses, to call for evidence in his favour, and a speady public trial, by an impartial jury of the countery, without whose consent he cannot be found guilty. Nor can be compelled to give evidence against himself: Nor can any man be justly deprived of his liberty, except by the laws of the land, or the judgment of his peers.

9. The people have a right to hold themselves, their houses, papers and possessions free from search or seizure; therefore warrants without oaths or affirmations first made, affording a sufficient foundation for them, and whereby an officer of messenger may be required to search suspected places, or seize any person or persons, his or their property, not particularly described, are contrary to that right, and ought not to be granted.

10. In all controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the parties have a right to trial by jury, which ought to be held sacred.

11. The people have a right to freedom of speech, and of writing and publishing their sentiments; therefore the freedom of the press ought not to be restrained.

12. The people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

13. A frequent recurrence to the first principles of government, and firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, industry, and frugality, are absolutely necessary to preserve the great blessings of government and liberty; and the people have a right to assemble together, to consult about these great concerns, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to the legesliture for a redress of grievances, by address, petition or remonstrance.