t organized after independence, The Articles of
Confederation, gave the general government no power to reach individuals.
Experience showed this to have been a mistake, and the constitution
authorizes the general government to execute its laws directly, enabling
it to hold individuals responsible. On account of this re-enlargement of
power, many people honestly feared that the new government might trespass
upon personal rights as England had done. And several states at the time
of ratifying suggested the propriety of so amending the constitution as to
remove these fears.

In accordance with these recommendations, amendments were proposed at the
first session of congress. The house of representatives proposed
seventeen, to twelve of which the senate agreed. Only ten, however, were
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. They are, of
course, the first ten among those that follow. It was decided by the same
congress that the amendments should not be incorporated into the main body
of the constitution, but should be appended to it as distinct articles.
They have, however, the same force as the original constitution.

ARTICLE I.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION, OF SPEECH, AND OF ASSEMBLY.

_Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof;[1] or abridging the freedom of
speech or of the press;[2] or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble and to petition the government for a redress or grievances.[3]_

[1] The chief purpose for which many of the early settlers came to America
was that they might "worship God according to the dictates of their own
conscience." Hence their descendants put _first_ among the individual
rights to be protected, this freedom of religion. But this provision does
not authorize any one to commit crime in the name of religion.

[2] The only limitation upon speech in this country is that the rights of
others be respected. Any one may think as he pleases upon any subject, and
may freely express his opinion, provided that in doing so he does not
trespass upon the rights of others.

[3] It would seem that under a republican form of government this right
might be assumed to be secure. The provision is meant to "make assurance
doubly sure." History had shown the necessity of such precaution.

ARTICLE II.

RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

_A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state,
the right of the pe