Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-16


the nestmabe right Of representation in the Legsla-
ture; by dssolving Legislative assemblies repeatedly
and continually, for opposing with manly frmness
his inyasions Of the rights Of the peoples when dis
solved, by refusing oal others for long space of
time thereby leaving the political without any
Legislative head; by endeavourng prevent the pop
ulaon of our country and for that purpose obstruct
ing the laws for the naturalization of foreigners; by
keeping among us, in time of peace, standing armies
and ships of war; by affecting torender the military
independent of and superiour TO the civil power by
combining with others to subject to foreign uris-
dicton, giving his to their pretended acts of
Legislation, for quartering large bodies oarmed troops
among u.s. for cutting off our trade with all parts of
the world, for imposing taxes us without our con-
sent for deprvng of the benefits of the trial by i,
ry, for transporting beyond to be tried for
pretended Offences for suspending own Legisla-
lures and declaring themselves invested with power
to legslae for us in all cases whatsoever by plumber
ing our seas, ravagng coasts burning our towns
and destroyingthe lives of peopie by melting in
| surrectons of our fellow subjects with the allure
ments of forfeiture and confiscaion; by prompting
our negroes to rise in arms among u.s. those very
Eroes. whom by an inhuman of his negative
he had refused Ss permission to exclude by law;
by endeavouring TO bring on the Inhabitants of
our frontiers, the nerciless indian savages. whose
known rule of warfare is an undistnguished des-
truction OF all ages, md conditions of exist
ence; by transporting hither large army of for
egn mercenares to complete the work ofdeath, des-
olation and tyranny, then already begun with crcu-
stances Of cruelty and per6dy unworthy the head of
civilized nation; by answering repeated petit
lons for redress with repetition of injuries; and
finally, by abandoning the helm of government and
declaring us out OF his allegiance and protection: by
which several acts of misrue, the government of
this country, as before exercised under the crown
OF reat Britain, totally dissolved did, reore
having maturely considered the premises, and view
ing with great concern the deplorable condition, to
which this once happy country would be reduced,
unless some regular adequate mode Of civil poEty
should be speedily adopted, and in compliance with
the Recommendation OF the General Congress, ordain
and declare, form of government of Virginia:
And whereas the General Assembly of Virginia
by act passed the tenth day of February Ia the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
twcnty-nine, entitled, an act to organize Conven-
ton, did authorize and provide for the election, by
the people, Of Delegates and Representatives, to
meet and assemble, in General Convention at the
Capitol in the City of Richmond, on the first Mon
day of October in the year last aforesaid to consid
discuss and propose, Constitution, or alter
atoms and amendments ofthe existing Constitution
of this Commonwealth to be submitted to the peo-
pie and to be by them ratified or rejected:
We, therefore, the Delegates and Representatives
ofthe good people of Virginia, elected and in Con-
vention assembled, in pursuance of tie said act of
Assembly, do submit and propose to the people. the
following amended Constitution, and form of Govern
ment for this Commonwealth, that is to say:
ARTICLE /.
The Declaration of Rights made the 18th June,
l776 by the representatives of the good people of
Virginia assembled in full and free Convention which
pertaned to them and their posterty, as the basis
and foundation Of Government; requiring in the on-
ion of this Convention amendment, shall be pre-
fixed to this Constitution, and have the same rea
ton thereto Is 1t had to the former Constitution of
bis Commonwealth.
ARTICLE H.
Phe Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary Depart-
rnens, shall be separate and DISTINCT that neither
exercise the powers properly belonging either Of
the others; shall any person exercise the powers
of more than one of them at the same time, except
that the justices of the county shall be eligible
to either House of Assembly.
!. The Legislature shall be formed of two distinct
branc hes. which together shall be complete Legis
lature, and shall be called the General Assembly of
Virginia.
g. One of these shall be called abe House Of Del
egates, and shall consist of hundred and thirty
four members, to be chosen, annually, for and by
the several counties, cities, towns, and boroughs OF
the Commonwealth whereof thirty one delegates
shall be chosen for and by the twenty-sx counties "
ing West of the Allegheny mountains; twenty FIVE
Tor and by the fourteen counties lying between the
Allegheny and Blue Ridge of mountains; forty-two
for and by the twenynne counties lying East of the
Blue Ridge of mountains and above tide-watcr; and
thrtysx for and by the counties, Cities towns, and
boroughs lying upon Underwater, that is to say: OF
the twenty-six counties lying West of the Alegha-
ny, the counties of Harrison, Mont Mononga
liza, Ohio and Washington, shall each elect two Dele
gates and the counties of Brooke, Cabell Grayson,
Greenbrier, Giles, Kanawha, lee, Lewis, Logan,
Mason Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Preston, Ran
dolph, Russell, Scott, Tazewe, Tyler, Wood and
Wythe, shall each elect one Delegate. Ofthe four
teen counties lying between the Allegheny and Blue
Ridge, the counties of Frederick and Shenandoah,
shall each elect three Delegates the counties of Au-
gusta, Berkeley, Botetourt, Hampshire, Jefferson,
Rockingham and Rockbridgp, shall each elect two
Delegates; and the counties of Allegheny, Bath,
Hardy, Morgan and Pendcton, shall each elect one
Delegate. OF the twenty mine counties lying East
of the Blue Ridge and above tde-watcr, the county
of Eoudon shall elect three Delegates the counties OF
Albemarie, Bedford, Brunswick, Buckingham, Camp
bell, Culpeper, Fauquer, Franklin, Halifax, Neck
lenburg and Pittsyivaniu, shall each elect two Dele
gates; and the counties of Amelia Amherst, Char
lotte, Cumberland. Dinwiddie, Fluvanna, Goochland
Henry, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Nelson, Motto
way, Orange, Patrick, Powhatan and Prince Edward
shall each elect one Delegate And of the counties
cities, towns and boroughs lying tide-water, the
counties of Accomack and Norfolk shall each elect
two Delegates; the counties of Caroline, Chester
field, Essex, Fairfax Greensvie, Gloucester, Hano-
ver Henrico Isle of Wight, King and Queen, King