Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-18
II Friend to Erclusice Privileges.
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS IL

II Friend to Erclusice Priciieees
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, IL
Made by the Representatives of the Iaood people1
FREEIoiDERs of Virginia, assembled in full aud
Tree Convention; which rights do pertain TO them
Land their pos,erty as tile basis and formation OF
government.
That all men FREEuoLpEas possessed of the
quantity oi land heretofore established by law and
the consent of our late we'll bcovcd mona rcli are
ny nature, equally iIse aud ind, pendent, and have
certain Inherent rights, of which, when they enter
INTO state OF society, they cannot by any com
: paet deprive or divest their posterityl EACH
OTHER, as they laicfialy may tH others, namely,
the enjoyment of life aud liberty, with the means OF
acquiring anu possessing property and pur suing nd
obtaining happiness and safety.
hat all power is vested in, and consequently
derived from the people SAID PnEEuoIpERs;
mat magistrates are their and servants and
at all times amenablc 20 tlfc,n--OHiy.
that government Is, Iivsht To b., instituted for
The common bcneat, protection and security of the
8sRpeopie, nation, or community FREEHoLDERs.
- all the various forms of governments that is best
(which is capable of producing Ia them the greatest
F<egrec of happiness and safety and is most cfectu-
ally secured against the danger of NAL aministra-
ton general suffrage and that when any govern
nent shall be found iaadcquate those purposes,
majority vi the Community PnEEHoIDERs
hath an indubitable, sinalcnable and indefcasible
right, pM The permission o( Tie Legislatures to re-
form, liter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be
judged, by The SAID Legislature, most conducive to-
, the public veal advantage of the FREEHoIDERs.
ahat elections To serve representatives of the
lPeoptel fREEHeLDERS III Assembly, ought to be
free: and that ali men FREEHoLDERs having 81 E
hcient evidence of permanent common interest
woaaa and aiiaclimhnt 10 the community EACH
OTHER, nave the right of suffrage, and cannot be
taxed Ger ~ePnSed OF their property for public
ALL OTHER PERSONS VERY Property MAY,
without iheir own consent that of their repre-
sentatIves so elected, bound by any law AS ALL
oTHER PERSONS SHOULD BE: to which they have
not in like manner assented for the public their
Olcn good.
That in all capital or criminal prosecutions. FIX
cEPT IN CASE OF CoNTEMPTs OF COURT, a man
hath right TO dcma nd the cause and nature of his
accu$t,tInis, 10 he confronted with his accuscrs nd
witnesses 10 call for evidence in his favor aud 10
speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vcinngc
without whose Hnan imous consent he cannot
De found guilty, nor can he be compelled give
evidence against himself, crcepf as ubOre--that
no man be deprived of his liberty exccut by tile la Nv
of the land, or the Judgment of his peers MAN
D.TE JUDGE.
That no free government, az the blessings OF Ii
Rerty can be preserved To- any people TIE FREE
HOLDERS but by firm adherence to Justice mo-
deratjon, temperance, frgality aud virtue and by
frequent recurrence THESE fundamental pripcj-
pies.
NEW SECTIONS.
81. That the Royal government of our beloved
certain persons, not being echOldes in the city of
Williamsburg and borough Of Norfolk, nd the rcby
bestowed on the common people, rtbble, de-
gree of freedom Incompatible with Republican Co
Vernnient the charters thereof ought to be abolish
Ell, and tue persons aforesaid DIsFRANCfrIsED
, q That all wise governments should uroyjd,
proper incentives To- and rewards f, virtuOus con-
duet: aud experience having proved, notwithstanI-
ing the Federal Constitution prohibits titles of no
blIiy, the existence of an ardent aspiration altcr
Suular distinctions, that this laudublc ambition
should be gratfed, and proper gra.Iations of rank
established by law, providing, under suifa bic penoI
Srs fhat the Governor be addressed by the title of
BtTs EHcELLENcY Speakers of both IIot.es
councillors and judges by that of the FIoyoRSutE
and Justices Of the peace the WoRsHIPFCL.
- This section is intended to embrace the views
taken by member from Augusta, and coutai,rcd in
1Ae section offered by him, which, among oth.r
fpugs, proposed to confer on the Conyention pover
70 amend the Constitution, BY abolishing any
peculiar privileges now enjoyed by any CITY or bo
rough by requiring the same qualifications for
Voting for members Of the Legislature that are now
required III other parts of this Commonwealth