Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-05
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.


the following Consiiuuon; N.Y. al
The Select Committee to whom the several rise
utions oftc Convention referred with ipstruc.
tons To prepare and report either new Constitu.
~ report an apportonment of the representation in
the Senate and House of Delegates aponp the Sc.
vcra counties, Cities boroughs, and districts of tho
Commonwealth, coniornably with the resolutions tc
them refcrred respectfully report the following form
of an amended Constitution:
! Whereas the Delegates and Representatives of tho
good people ofVirginii, in Convention assembled OF
the twcnty-ninth day of June, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventv-six
Rcciting and declaring, that whereas George the
Third King Of Great Britain and Ireland and Flee
tor OF Hanover. before that time sted with In.
exercise OF the kingy office in the government OF
virginia; hed endeavored to perreit the same into Il
detesablc aud insupporable Tyranny, by putting hi.
negative OH laws the most wholesome and necessary
Tor the public good; by den? ing his governors per
mission tn pass laws of immediate aud pressing i,u
portance unless susp n'icd IN their opcru,on for hi
assent, and when suspended ncglrcting 10 attcn,
To them for many years; by refusing pass certain
other laws, unless the persons to be benefited by them
would rclinqush the ncstmablc right OF representa-
ton III the Legislature; by dissolving legislative as
seinbcS repa ejiy an continually. for Opposing witt
manly hrnncss his nvasions of the rights OF the PEG
pie; when dissolved, by refusing to call others for
,Ig space OF time, thereby leaving the political svs
tenn without any legislative head by cndcavoring 10
prevent the population of our country, and for tina,
purpose obstruc.ng the laws for tic naturalization
of foreigners by keeping among U.s. i'll time OF peace
standing armies and ships war; by ccctinr 10 rem
der the military independent Of and superior to- the
civil power; by combining with others subject us
to foreign jutsdict,on giving his assent TO their
pretended acts of legislation; for quarcrng large DO.
dies OF armed troops among for cutting oil our
trade with ull parts of the world for imposing taxes
on without consent; for dcprivinr us OF the
ocEehts of the trial by jury, for Transporting be-
yond sea To be tried for pretended Offences for rus
pending our own legislatures, and declaring them
selves invested with power to lcgi,!a;c for US in all
cases whatsoever; by plundcr;ng ou.. seas, rayarnc
our coasts, burning our towns and destroying the
lives of people; by melting instructions of our
fellow subjects with the allurcincns forfeiture and
confiscato1; by prompting negroes 10 rise arms
among us, those very negroes, whom by an nhumau
use of his negative he had refused US permission to
exclude by law; by endeavorug To bring the inla-
ban,s of our frontiers the mcrcilcss Indian savugcs
whose known rule OF warfare is undistnguis he'd
dcstrnci of all ages, sexes and conditions of exist
ence BY transporting large army of foreign MERGE
nares TO complete the york of DEATH dcsolation and
tyranny, then already begun with circumstances OF
| cruelty and perfidy unworthy the head of civilized
nation; by answering our repeated petitions for redress
with repetition of injuries and findly by abandon
ing the helm of government, and declaring us out OF
his allegiance nnd projections; by which several acts
of miSrue the government of this country as before
eX :~isod under the crown of Great Britain. was to-
tally dissolved: Did, therefore, having maurey con-
sdcrcd the premises and viewing with great concern
| the deporable condition 10 which this once happy
country would be reduced, unless some regular ade
qnate mode of civil poty should be speedily adopted
and III comp, lance with the recommendations of the
General Congross, ordain aud declare, form of 90
vernment of Virginia.
| And whereas the General Assembly of Virginia
by an act passed on the tenth day of February in thu
year OF our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
twenty nine, entitled act toho organize Conven
ton, did authorize and provide for the election by
the people, of delegates and representatives to meet
and assemble ingeneral Convention, the Capitol in
| thfan ID ,ot,r al.
nithe year last aforesaid to consider discuss anf
propose, new Constitution, or alterations and a.
mendments of the existing Constitution OF this Com
monwealth, to be submitted TO the people, and to be
| by them ratified or rejected:
| We, therefore, the delegates and representatives
of the good people of Virginia. elected and in Con-
Ventlon assembled, IN pursuance of the said Of AS
semby, do submit and propose to the people the fol
lowing amended Constitution and form of government
c for this Commonwealth, that is to say:
L. The legislative, executive, and judiciary depart
Inents shall be separate and distinct so that ncithe
exercise the powers properly belonging to either o
the others nor shall any person exercise the power
o of more than one of chem at the same time. cycep
that the justices of the county courts shall be erb
n to either House Of Assembly.
n H. The legislature shall be formed oftwo distinc
d branches, which together shall be complete leoisa
ture, and shall be called the General Assembly of Vr
d ginia
III. One ofthcse shall be called the House Of Dc
egates and shall consist Of one hundred and twenty
",
several counties, cities, towns and borourhs Of th
commonwealth; whereof twenty nine Delegates shall
!, be chosen for end by tho twenty-sx counties lvn,
vest of the Allegheny mountains twenty -four for am
by the fourteen counties lying between the Allerha
ny and Blue Ridge Of mountains forty for and by In
u twcnty-nlne counties lying east OF the Blue Bidr
j. aud above tidc-wacr and thirty for and by III
2 Counties, cities towns and borougls lying upon tide
It water that Is To say 3 = = q =
i ~. The other House Of tho General Assemla
shall be called the Senate, shall consist of thrty-tw
y members, of wfsm thirteen shall DC chosen for an
by the counties lying west Of the Blue Ridge Of noun
tains. and Dneteeh for and by the counlics cities
= towns, and boroughs lying east thereof and for II,
election Of whom the counties, cities towns and no
roughs shall be divided into twenty two districts. n
herein after provided. Each county Of the respcc
tive districts at the time Of The first election of its do
egate delegates under this Constitution, shall vo
!, for one Senator; and the shorif5 or other officer
holding the election for each county city, town. O
borongb within five days at fdrhest after the las
county, city, town. or borough election in the district
shall meet at some convenient place. and from tht
7 polls taken in their respective counties. cities
If,,ssv ,s..l,,