Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-01-29
BILL OF RIGHTS.

II Declardtton Of Rights made by tie Rcprcseric-
ttoes Of the good Pe"pte Of VIRoIsiA, assem-
0icd IA .tuU and free Contention rhich
rtgh'S do pertain 10 them, AMI Meir Posicri,y.
as The basis and Foundation Of GOrcrarnen
Unanimously adopted, Juno 18th. I776l
}. mat al! men are By nature equally FREQ and
independent, and have certain inherent rights, of
Wh'c", when they enter into a state of society
taey cannot, by any compact, deprive, or divest
tne,r p'ster'iy; namely, the enjoyment of life
ana h9erty, with the means of acquiring and
possessing property, aud pursuing aud Obtaining
happne and safety.
:. mat all powers are invested in and conse.
quently derived from, the people that maai.
tra'cS are their trustees and servants and nj all
times amenabe to them
D. ihat Government is, or ough. 20 he inst-
'u.eu IF me common benefit, protection and 80.
cnrty OF the people, nation or community; OF
all The various mode and forms of government.
'hnt Is pest, which IS capable Of producing the
gIeates. degree OF happiness and safety, and is
most cHcctuai!y secured against Tic dancer of
INSTRUMENTATION and tIlat when arv ctC,ycrn
Inant shall he found inadequate or contrary 10
lhese purposes, amajorily ofthe community hath
Fgnt TO reform, alter or abolish it, in such man.
ner as shall be Judged most conducive to the pub.
tic veal. 49,
q; mat no man. or set of men, are entitled to
exclusive or separate emolumcnts OF PRIVILEGES
rom The community, but in consideration of pub-
nc services which not being dcscendbc, nei-
Their ought the Offices of Maristra;n. Lc,;.Iator
OF Judge, to b. hereditary
3 That the Legislative and Executive mowers
OF the Strte should be separate and distinct from
NE Judiciary and that the members oftl,c two
!irsl may be restrained from oppression, by feel
ing and participating the brthens of the pcorle
'nsy should at liked periods, be reduced - pri-
vate stallion, return into that body from which
thcy were originally ken and the vacancies
lie supplied by frequent, certain. and REGULAR
elections, in which al, or any part of the fr,ner
the law direct. '1'
D. The elections Of members 10 serve as rcp.
reseHtatlvcs of the people, in Assembly. ought
TO De iree and that all men having sufficient evil
dencc OIL permanent common interest with and
attachment To the community have the riUht of
suffrage, and cs!not be taxed or deprived other
property for public uses, without their own CON.
sent, or that ct their representative so elected
nor bound by any law to which they have not
in Ike manner, asscnted, for the pubic good.
Z. That al! power of suspcndimg laws. or the
execution OF laws, by any authority, without
consent OF the representatives of the pcoplc. il
injurious to their rights, aud ought not TO bc
exercised.
8. That, in all capital or criminal progco:tior,
n man hath right to demand the cause and ma
ture OF his accusation, 10 he confronted with the
accusers and witnesses, To- call for evidence in
his favor, and to speedy trial by an impartial
jury OF mis- vcinage, without whose unanimous
consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can be
compelled to, give evidence AGAINST himself.
that no man be deprived of his liberty erceot
by the law of the land, or the Judgment of his
peers.
y. That excessive bail ought not to be reonir-
ed, nor excessive or unsual punIshments inflicted
lO. That general warrants whereby an officer
or messenger may be commanded 10 search sus
pected places without evidence of fact COM
United or TO- seize any person or persons not
named, or whose offence is not particularly do.
scrlbed and supported by evidence, are ,,rieyous
and oppressive, and ought not to be granted
H. Ihat IN controversies respecting proper-
~, and IN suits between man and man, tho an
Gent trial by jury is preferable TO any other. and
ought to be held sacred.
u That the freedom Of tho press is one Of
the greatest bulwarks Of liberty, and ran nev.
or be restrained but by despotic governments
III. That well regulared militia. comnosed
OF the body OF the people trained to arms IL the
proper, natural and safe defence of u freq State.
That standing armies, in time Of peace, should be
avoided, as dangerous to liberty; and that in
all cases, the military should be under strict
subordinauoh to, and governed by the civil pow
er.
a. That tho people have right to Uniform
government; and therefore, that no government
separate from, or independent of, the poveTn.
ment of pirginia, ought to be erected or estob.
lished within the limits thereof
10. That no FREQ govcrnment, or the BLESSING
OF liberty, can be preserved to any peopl.. hui
by hrm adherrence to justic, moderation, tenn
Pctance' fruga!ity, and virtue, and BY freousnt
recurrence TO fundamental principles.
10. That religion, or the duty which we .o,yc
- our Creator, and the manner Of dischsrging :,
can be directed only BY reason and Conviction
not oy t"rco or violence; and therefore all men
'rS equally entitled t. Tho free cxrciso Of reii-
80; acc"tning u The dictates Of conscience and
ion ieT1caEaacc, loro, and charity towards csch