Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-02-11

assembled. on the twenty Bintn aaJ w sVhe1iD
the wear of our Lord one thousand seven aand.
red end seventy-siS; reciting and deeisTing thst,
whereas, George the third, King OF Greet
British sndirelsnd, and the EieetoT ct Hano-
yer. before that time ENTRUSTED With the exer
else Of the kingly Office in the eovernment OF
Virginia, had endeavored 10 peTvert the same
into = de,es,able and insupporlable tyranny, ~
putting MA negative on laws The most whole
some and necessary fer he public good; by
denying his Governors permission to pass laws
Of immediate and pressing Importance, unless
suspended in their operation tor his assent, and
when so suspended negiec,ng TO attend othem
for many years; BY refusing TO pass Gers Avn
other Ia xs, unless the pc sons TO benefited
by them voud relinqulsh the inestinabie
right Of representation in The Legislature; ~
dissoiving legislative assent iies repeatedly and
continually. for opposing with msnly hrmness
hi. invssions Of the rights ofthe people,; when
Dissolved. by refusing TO call others tor long
sp.ce OF time thereb, leaving the Political sys.
TEN withou, any legislative head; by endea-
voring to prevent the population of our coun.
try. and for that purpose sbs'ructing the laws
for the naturalization of foreigners; by keeping
among us ia time OF peace, standing armies
and ships Of war; by affecting to rsnder the
military independent of, snd Superior to. the
civil power; by combining with others 10 sub
ject us TO foreign jurisdiction, giving his as.
sent to their pretended acts OF legislation. for
quartering large bodies OF armed troops among
us, for cutting OF our trade with all parts OF
the world, for imposing taxes on us without
our consent. for depriving as of the benefits
| of the trial by jury, for transporting us be
| You'd the seas to be tried for pretended often
ces, for suspendIng our Own Legislatures and
| declaring Themselves invested with power to
| legsiste fer US in ell cases whatsoever; by
fltsnHAstar nfI~ ragantun a
burning our towns, and destroying the lives
| OF our people; by melting Instructions OF our
! fellow subjects with the slluFements Of for
feiture and conhscation; by prompting our ne.
| groes 10 rise III arms among Us, those very ne
erses whom by an nhuman use OF his negative
| ne had refused us permission to exclude by
law; by edeavoriRg to bring on The inhabitants
OF our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages,
| whose known rule of warfare is an undistin
guished destruction Of all Ages, seyes and con.
dfions Of existence; by Transporting large
| army Of foregn mercenaries, to complete the
wsrk sfdeah, desoiation and tyranny, then al
ready begun with circumstances of cruelty
and perfidy unworthy the head OF civilized
| nstisn; by answering our repeated petitions
tor redress with repetition ofinjuriesj and
finally, by abandoning the helm Of govern
men', and declaring us out Of his allegiance
ana protection: by which several acts of mis-
rule, the government of this country, as before
exercised under the Crown Of Great Britain,
was totally $50 we'd: did, therefore, having
maturely considered the premises, and viewing
with great csncera the deploraoe condition,
TO which this once happy country wsuld be
reduced, unless some regular adequate mode
OF civi polity should be speedily adopted, and
in compliance with the recommendation ofthe
General Congress, ordain and declare, a form
81 government oil Virginia.
And whereas the General Assembly of Vir.
ginis, by an act passed on the tenth day Of Feb
ruary in the yesr of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and twenty.nine, entitled. an
act to organize Convention, did au, horize
and provide for the election by the people, of
Delegates snd Represe ntat~es. to meet and
assemble, in General Convention, At the Cap
itoi in the City of Richmond, on the FIRST,
Monday OF October. in rhe year last aforesaid,
to consider, discuss and propose, new Con
sti ution, OF alterations and amendments ofthe
existing Constitution Of this Commonwealth, to
be submitted to the people and to be by them
ratified or rejected.
We, therefore, the Delegates and Repre-.
sentstives OF the good people Of Virginia, elect.
ed and in Convention assembled, in pursuance
OF the said act of Assembly, do submit and
propose to the people, the following amended
Constitution and Form OF Cog rnment for this
Commonwealth, thst is to say.
ARTICLE I,
The Declaration OF Rights made on the 18Th
June, 1875, by the representatives OF the good
people OF Virginia assembled in full and free
Convention, which pertained to them end their
Psster'ty, as The basis aad foundation of Gov
eminent; requiring in the opinion of this Con.
vention no amendment. shall he pref ed to his
Constitution, and have the ssme relation there.
to a. had to the former Constitution of this
Commonwealth.
ARTICLE II.
Inc Legislative, Executive and Judiciary
departments, shall be separate and distinct. so
that neither exercise the powers proper1y he
longing to either Of the others; nor shall snv
person exercise the powers of more than one
OF them at che same time. except that the Jus.
tices efthe County Courts shall be eligible /,
ether House OF Assembly.
ARTICLE Ill.
I. The Legislature shall be formed of,ws
'd'st'nst branches. which together shall be a
complete Legislature, and shall oe called the
Cenerel Assembly of Virgins.
q. ohe OF these shall be called The Housr of
delegates, and shall consist of one hundred
ana thirty four members. to be chosen, ANN.
siiy. TOR and by the several counties. cities
towns and boroughs of the Commonwealth.
whereof thirty one Delegates shall be chosen
Tor and ny the twenty SIX counties lying West
oi tne Aheghany MOUNTAINS; twenty Ave, for
me py the fourteen counties " ing between the
nheghany and Blue Ridge of mountains: forty
Two isr ana by the twenty nine counties wing
Es" OF the Blue Ridge Of mountains and above
.lae water; and thirty six for and by the coun.
yes ett'es' and oorougbs lying upon tide water.
,a' IS 20 say; vi the twenty six counties wing
lla0 han h.