09
Virginia Declaration of Rights 弗吉尼亞權利法案

George Mason

喬治·梅森

導讀

《弗吉尼亞權利法案》被認為是殖民地草擬憲法的先導，它也是一部有關天賦人權問題最著名的綱領性文件。這部法案誕生于《獨立宣言》發表前一個月。作為憲法框架的一部分，它率先列舉了一批公民權利。作者喬治·梅森是弗吉尼亞的一個大地主，他堅信“根植于人性之中的偉大權利”。

歷史學家理查德·伯恩斯坦指出：“權利”并非僅指那些不受政府干涉的個人權益，它還包括“正當之事”和行為準則。喬治·梅森因為重申有關個人權益與自由的原則，所以“在人類自由史上獲得光榮地位”。

Ⅰ. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

一、所有人都是生來同樣自由與獨立的，并享有某些天賦權利，當他們組成一個社會時，他們不能憑任何契約剝奪其后裔的這些權利；也就是說，享受生活與自由的權利，包括獲取與擁有財產、追求和享有幸福與安全的手段。

Ⅱ. That all power is vested in, and conse-quently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.

二、所有的權力都屬于人民，因而也來自人民；長官是他們的受托人與仆人，無論何時都應服從他們。

Ⅲ. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community; of all the various modes and forms of government that is best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and that, whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.

三、政府是為了或者應當是為了人民、國家或社會的共同利益、保障和安全而設立的；在所有各種形式的政府當中，最好的政府是能夠提供最大幸福和安全的政府，是能夠最有效地防止弊政危險的政府；當發現任何政府不適合或違反這些宗旨時，社會的大多數人享有不容置疑、不可剝奪和不能取消的權利，得以用公認為最有助于大眾利益的方式，改革、變換或廢黜政府。

Ⅳ. That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, not being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge be hereditary.

四、除非為了服務公眾，任何個人或一群人都無權自社會得到獨占的或單獨的報酬或特權；公務職位不能相傳，行政官、立法者與法官等職不應世襲。

Ⅴ. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judicative; and, that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression by feeling and participating the burthens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections in which all, or any part of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.

五、州的立法權和行政權應與司法分立，并應有明確界限；前兩者的成員如能感受并分擔人民的疾苦，就可以不致壓迫人民；他們應在規定的期限，恢復平民身份，回到他們原來的單位去，其空缺則通過經常的、確定的、定期的選舉來填補；在選舉中，將按照法律規定，確定以前的所有成員或部分成員是否仍符合條件。

Ⅵ. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assented, for the public good.

六、遴選議會人民代表的各項選舉，均應自由進行；舉凡能夠證明與本社會有永久性共同利害關系并屬于本社會的人都享有選舉權；未經其本人同意，或其選出的代表同意，不能對其征稅，或剝奪其財產以供公眾使用；也不受任何未經他們為公益而以同樣方式同意的法律的約束。

Ⅶ. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority without consent of the representatives of the people is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.

七、任何當局未經人民代表同意而中止法律或執行法律，其與此有關的所有權力都有損于人民的權利，均不得行使。

Ⅷ. That in all capital or criminal prose-cutions a man hath a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty, nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgement of his peers.

八、在所有可判死刑案件或刑事訴訟中，人們有權要求知道對其起訴的理由和性質，有權與起訴人和證人對質，要求查證對其有利的證據，并有權要求由來自其鄰近地區的公正陪審團進行迅速審理；未經陪審團的一致同意，不能確認他有罪，也不能強迫他自證其罪；除非根據當地法律或由與其地位相同的公民所組的陪審團裁決，不得剝奪任何人的自由。

Ⅸ. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

九、不得要求繳交過量的保釋金或判處過重的罰金，也不得判處殘酷而非同尋常的刑罰。

Ⅹ. That general warrants, whereby any officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons

十、對官員或執令人員簽發一般搜捕令，使其在沒有獲得所犯事實的證據時，即行搜查可疑地點，或拘捕未經指名或其罪行未經闡明

not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.

且無實據足以佐證的人；這種搜捕令實屬不可容忍并且是壓迫性的，絕對不應簽發。

Ⅺ. That in controversies respecting property and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.

十一、在財產糾紛和人與人之間的訴訟案件中由陪審團進行裁定，這一古老的審判程序比任何其他程序均為可取、應予以保持并視為神圣不可侵犯。

Ⅻ. That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

十二、出版自由乃自由的重要保障之一，絕不能加以限制；只有專制政體才會限制這種自由。

ⅩⅢ. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and be governed by, the civil power.

十三、由受過軍事訓練的人民組成管理得當的民兵，乃自由州的妥善、自然而安全的保障；在和平時期，常備軍會危及自由，應避免設置；在任何情況下，軍隊都應嚴格服從文職權力，并受其統率。

ⅩⅣ. That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore, that no government separate from, or independent of, the government of Virginia, ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.

十四、人民有權享有一個統一的政府；因此，在弗吉尼亞地區內，不得于弗吉尼亞政府之外另行設立或成立任何政府。

ⅩⅤ. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

十五、必須堅持公正、適中、節制、勤儉和優良品德，經常謹守各項基本原則，否則任何人民都不能保有自由的政府，也無法享有上蒼所賜的自由。

ⅩⅥ. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.

十六、宗教，亦即我們對創世主所負有的責任以及盡這種責任的方式，只能由理智和信念加以指引，不能借助于強力或暴行；因此，任何人都有按照良知的指示，自由信仰宗教的平等權利，所有人都相互有責任以基督的克制、博愛和仁慈對待他人。

Cloze 選詞填空

That the legislative and 1 powers of the state should be separate and distinct 2 the judicative; and, that the members of the two first may be restrained 3 oppression by feeling and participating the burthens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced 4 a private station, return into that body 5 which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied 6 frequent, certain, and regular elections 7 which all, or any part of the former members, to be again eligible, or 8, as the laws shall direct.

Key

1. executive 2. from 3. from 4. to 5. from 6. by

7. in 8. ineligible

Translation Practices 翻譯練習

Ⅱ. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.

ⅩⅤ. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

參考譯文

二、所有的權力都屬于人民，因而也來自人民；長官是他們的受托人與仆人，無論何時都應服從他們。

十五、必須堅持公正、適中、節制、勤儉和優良品德，經常謹守各項基本原則，否則任何人民都不能保有自由的政府，也無法享有上蒼所賜的自由。

Emulation 美文自己寫得出——學生仿寫

____________________________________________________________