A free government is a government instituted, that is, established, by the consent of the people.  The government of the United States is a free government, because it has been established by the people, and the people can change it when they please.

“Government ought to be established for the common benefit.”  This means that government ought to be for the benefit of all the people, poor as well as rich, and under a free government all the people have equal protection from the law.

Fundamental principles are principles or truths according to which, or upon which, systems, or laws, or institutions, are founded. The fundamental principles of free government are that all men are born equal, and that all men have equal rights to life and liberty.

Recurrence means A going back to.  We must frequently recur, or go back to, fundamental principles in order to preserve free government.  We must also firmly adhere to, or practice justice, moderation, temperance, and virtue.

Justice is the doing of what is right.  Moderation means the avoiding of severity or harshness in our conduct towards others.  Temperance is the moderate or reasonable use or enjoyment of the pleasures of life.  Frugality is the practice of thrift and economy as opposed to extravagance.  Virtue is the practice of the moral good taught by religion.

The constitution guarantees to the people the right to make and to change their own laws; the right of speedy trial by jury; protection in the enjoyment of their inherent rights; freedom of elections; freedom of speech; freedom of the press; religious freedom; equal civil and political rights and public privileges.

It prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, the infliction of cruel and unusual punishments, and the taking of private property for public uses except by law and with just compensation.

A constitution is a system or plan of government, or a written or printed statement of the principles and rules according to which a government is to be conducted.  The constitution tells how the government is to be formed, what it has power to do, and what it must not do.  The Constitution of Virginia guarantees, that is, secures or makes sure to the people, the right to make or change the laws.  A government under a constitution is called a constitutional government.

Trial by jury is trial by a judge and certain citizens who are called the jury.  The duty of the judge is to see that the trial is conducted according to law, and to pass sentence on the accused person if found guilty.  The duty of the jury is to decide, after hearing the evidence, whether the accused person is guilty or not.  This declaration of the jury is called a verdict, a word which means a true saying.