Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-02-19
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION.
Or Form Of Government for VI, Sinia.
GAdo,,41.I IN I 1onn

Whereas the Delegates 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 hum
dred and seventy-six; Reciting and declaring,
that whereas, George the third, King of Great
Britian and ireland and EIector of Hanover, be.
tore that tile entrusted with the exercise of the
kingly Office In the government Of Virginia,
had eRdeavonred to prevent the same into
detestab!c 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 iinme-
date and pressing Importance, unless suspended
IN their operation for his assent, and when so
| suspended negIecting to attend 10 them for ma
ny years by refusing to pass certain other laws,
unless the persons to be benefited by them
would relinquish the inestinable right Of repre-
sentsAon in the Legislature by dissolving le-
gisatiye assemblies repeatedly and continually,
tor opposing with manly frmness his invasions
of the rights of tho people when dissolved, by
refusing to call others for long space of time,
thereby leaving the political system without any
legislative head by cndeavoring to prevent the
population OF our country, and for 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.
tecting to render the military independent Of
and superior 10 the civil power; by combining
with others to subject us to a foreign juiisdic-
ton, giving his assent TO their pretended acts
Of legislation, for quarterng large bodies of
arslcd troops among us, for cutting Of our trade
with allparts Of the world for imposing taxes
on rs without our consent, for depriving of the
benefits of the trial by jury, for Transporting us
beyond seas 10 be tried for pretended offences
| for suspeOding our own legislatures and declar-
ing themselves invested with power TO lcgisate
for us in all cases;whatsoever by plundering our
seas, ravaging our coasts, burning our towns
| and destroying the lives of our people by in
citing iDsu, rectioDs of our fellow subjects with
/ the allurcments of forfeiture and coDfscation
by prompting our negroes, to rise in arms among
US, those very negroes, whom by an inhumar
use of his negative he bad refused us permission
| to exclude by law by endeavoriDg 10 bring on u:
the Inhabitants of our frontiers, the inerciess in
dian savages. whose known rule of warfare j,
| an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sex
| es and conditions of existence ; by transporting
hither large army of foreign mercinaries, I:
complete the work Of death, dssolation and ty
/ ranDy, then already begun with circumstance
| Of cruelty and 2eriidy unworthy the head Of
civilized nation by answering orr repeated pc
titions for redress with repetition Of injuries
aud finally, by abandoning the holm of govern
ment, and declaring us out Of his allegiance an
protection by which several acts of misrule, tn
government Of this country, as before exercise
under the Crown of Great Britain, was total
dissolved Did therefore, having inaturcly cor
sidered the premises and viewing with gres
concern the deplorable condition, to which thi
once happy country would be reduced, unles
, some regular adequate mode of civil polit
should be speedily adopted, and in compIianc
: with the recommendation Of the General Cor
grcss, ordain and declare, sform Of goyernmer
Of Virginia.
And whereas the General Assembly Of vi
ginia, by nm act passed OH the tenth day Of Fl
bruary, in the year Of out Lord ono thousan
. | eight hundred and twenty nine, entitled an az
10 organize convention, did authorize an
provide for the election, Ivy the people, Of Dell
gates and Representatives, to meet and aseu
bic, in general Convention, at the Capitol
the city Of Richmond, on the first Monday
October in the year last aforesaid, to conside
discuss and propose, new Constitution or a
terations and amendments Of the existing Co
9 stitution Of this Commonwealth, 10 be submitt'
, toths pscpl0 & to 30 by thsm ratsod or rejects