Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-27
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION
Form of Government for Virgi,,ia.

[Adopted January 18th, 1901 --t-
Whereas the Delegates and Representatives of the
good peopleof Virginia, in Convention assembled, on
tho twenty ninth day of june in the year of Lord
one th0usnnd seven hundred and sevcntysx reciting
and declaring, that whereas, George the third King
of Great Britain and Ireland and Ecctor of Hanover
before That time entrusted with the exercise Of the
Dhgly Office in the Government Of Virginia, had en-
dcavoured to pcrvcrt the same into detestabc and
insupportable tyranny, by putting his negative on
laws the most wholesome and necessary for the pub
lie good by denying his Governors permission pass
laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless
suspended their operation for his assent, and when
so suspended negccting to attend to them for many
years; by refusing to pass certain other laws, unless
the persons TO be benefited by them would rclinquish
the nest;mable right Representation in the Legsa-
ture; by dissolvmg Legislative assemblies repeatedly
and continually, for opposing with manly frmness
his inyasions Of the rights Of the people; when dis
solved, by refusing TO call others for long space of
time, thereby leaving the pocaIsystem without any
legislative head by endeavourng to prevent the pop
uation Of our country, and for that purpose obsruct
ing the laws for the naturalization Of foreigners; by
keeping among us, in time Of peace, standing armies
and ships Of war; by affecting render the military
independent of and SUPERIOR to the civil power by
combining with others to subject us to foreign iurs
dcton, giving hIy assent to their pretended acts Of
among us, for cutting off trade with all parts of
the world, for imposing taxes on ue without con-
sent for depryng Of the benefits of the trial by ju
ry, for transporting US beyond seas to be tried for
pretended offences, for suspending own Legsla-
lures and declaring themselves invested with power
to egisate for in all cases whatsoever; by plumber
ing seas, ravagIng our coasts burning towns
and destroyngth lives of our peoples by meeting in
surrcctiofs of our fellow subjects with the allure
ments of forfeiture and confiscation; by prompting
negroes to rise in arms among US, those very
groes, whom by an inhuman use of his negative
he hud refused us permission to exclude by law;
by endeavouriDg to bring on the inhabitants Of
frontiers, the mcrcilcss indian savages, whose
kno1 payf1y uftr,rr,. bod
truction of all ages, sexes md conditions Of exist
ence; by transporting hithcr large army Of for
egn mercenanes, to complete the work Of DEATH des-
olatoD and tyranny, then already begun with circuna
stances Of cruelty and per6dy unworthy tho head Of
a civilized nation by answering repeated petit
tions for redress with repetition Of injuries; and
finally, by abandoning the helm Of government, and
declaring US out OF his allegiance and projections by
which several acts of misr ule, the government of
this country, as before exercised under the crown
oil Great Britain totally dissolvcd did, therefore,
having maturely considered tho premises and view
ing with great concern the deporoble 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 accommodation Of the General Congress- ordain
and declare formof government of Virginia:
And whereas the General Assembly Of Virginia,
by act passed the tenth day Of February in the
year Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
twenty -nne, entitled, an act to organize Convon-
ton, did authorise and provide for the election, by
the people, OF Delegates nnd Representatives, 10
meet and assemble in Gcnoral Convention Mt the
Capitol in the City Of Richmond on the first Mon
dry Of October in tho year last aforesaid, to consid-
or discuss and propose, new Constitution, or alter
atoms and amendments oftbe existing Constitution
Of this Commonwealth, to be submitted to the peo-
pie and to be by them ratified or rejected:
We, therefore, the Delegates and Representatives
Of the good people OF Virginia, elected and In Con-
ventioD assembled in pursuance Of the said act OF
Assembly, do submit and propose to the people, the
following amended Constitution, and form Of Govern
ment for this Commonwealth, that is to say:
III ARTICLE /.
The Declaration Of Rights made on the 18th juno,
l776, by the representatives of the good people OF
Virginia. assembled in full and free Convention which
pertained to Thorn and their posterity as the basis
and foundation Of Government; requiring in the opin-
ion of this Convention no amendment, shall be pre-
liked to this Constitution, and have the same rcla-
ton thereto as il had tothe former Constitution Of
his Commonwealth.
ARTICLE III.
tho Legislative, Executive and Judiciary Depart