Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-02-26
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION.
Or Form Of Government for VI, ginia.
Adopted I4ih Innuarv Ia3nl

Whereas the Delegate and Representatives
OF the good people OF Virginia in Convention
assembled, an the twenty ninth day of June. in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun.
dred and seventy-six Reciting and declaring,
that whereas, George the third, King of Great
Britain and Ireland and Elector of Hanover, be.
fore that time entrusted with the exercise of the
klngly office In the government of Virginia,
mad endeavoured TO prevent the same into n
detestablo and insupportable tyranny, by put
ting his negative on laws the most wholesome
and necessary for the public good by denying
ms governors permission to pass laws of imme-
date and pressing Importance, unless suspended
in their operation for his assent, and when so
suspended negecting to attend TO them for ma
ny years; by refusing to pas, certain other laws
unless the persons TO be benefited by them
would re!inquish the inestimable right OF repre-
sentation in the Legislature F.; by dissolving le-
gislative assemblies repeatedly and continually,
for opposing with manly firmness his invasions
OF the rights of the people when dissolved, by
refusing to call others for long space of time,
thereby leaving the political system without any
legislative head by endeavoring to prevent the
population OF our country, and Iur that purpose
obstructing the laws for the naturalization of
foreigners by keeping among us, in time Of
peace, standing armies and ships of war /; by af.
fecting to render the military independent of
ana superior TO the civil power; by combining
with others to subject us to foreign juiisdic-
ton, giving his assent to their pretended acts
OF legislation, for quartcring large bodies of
armed troops among us, for cutting off our trade
with allparts of the world, for imposing taxes
on rs without our consent for epriving us of the
benefits OF the trial by jury, for transporting us
beyond seas to be tried for pretended Offences
tor suspeoding our own Legislatures and declar.
ing themselves invested with power TO legislatc
Tor us In all caseswhatsoever by plunderDg our
seas, ravaging our coasts, burning our towns
a fttn ,f L., k,,
citing instructions of our fellow subjects with
the alluremeuts Of forfeiture and ,coDfiscation :;
by prompting our negroes, To rise III arms among
us, those very negroes, whom by an inhuman
use OF his negative he had refused us permission
to exclude by law by endeavoriOg TO bring on us
the inhabitants of our frontiers, the nerciess in
dian savagcs. whose known rule of warfare is
an undstDg,iished destruction of all ages SEX
rs and conditions ofexisteDcc by transporting
hither n large army of foreign mercinaTies to
complete the work of DEATH desolation and ty-
ranny, then already begun with circumstances
| of cruelty and Tcrfdy unworthy the head of a
civilized nation by answering our repeated pc
tiiions tor redress with repetition of injuries
| and finally, by abandoning the helm Of govern
| mcnt and declaring US out of his allegiance and
| protection by which several acts of mlsrule the
government OF this country, rs before exercised
| under the Crown of Great Britain, was totally
dissolved Did therefore, having maturcly con-
sinereu ihe premises, ana viewing with great
concern the deplorable condition, TO which this
once happy country would be reduced, unless
some regular adequate mode Of civil polity
| should be speedily adopted, and in compliance
| with the recommendation nf the General Con.
gress, ordain and declare, form Of government
Of Virginia,
And whereas tho General Assembly of yir
gimia, by an act passed tho tenth day of Fe
bruary, the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and twenty nine, entitled on act
| 10 organize convention, did authorize and
provide for the election, by the people, Of Dele
gates and Representatives, to meet and ascn
bic, in general Convention, at the Capitol il
the city Of Richmond, on the first Monday oil
October in the year last aforesaid, TO consider
discuss and propose, a new Constitution or al
teraiiops and amendments Of the existing Con
Y siitUtion Of this Commonwealth tn be submitte,
y te the people & ~ be by them ratified or rejected