"That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of
liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic
governments."

It will be perceived at once that these are but variations of the
English Declaration of Rights of 1689, which indeed was
consciously followed as a model; and yet there is a world-wide
difference between the English model and these American copies.
The earlier document enunciated the rights of English subjects,
the recent infringement of which made it desirable that they
should be reasserted in convincing form. The American documents
asserted rights which the colonists generally had enjoyed and
which they declared to be "governing principles for all peoples
in all future times."

But the greater significance of these State Constitutions is to
be found in their quality as working instruments of government.
There was indeed little difference between the old colonial and
the new State Governments. The inhabitants of each of the
Thirteen States had been accustomed to a large measure of
self-government, and when they took matters into their own hands
they were not disposed to make any radical changes in the forms
to which they had become accustomed. Accordingly the State
Governments that were adopted simply continued a framework of
government almost identical with that of colonial times. To be
sure, the Governor and other appointed officials were now elected
either by the people or the legislature, and so were ultimately
responsible to the electors instead of to the Crown; and other
changes were made which in the long run might prove of