Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-02-12
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION.
Or Form Of Government for Virginia.
adopted 18th January, 1901


Whereas the Delegates and Representatives
of the good people of Virginia in Convention
assembled, an the twenty ninth day of June, i'm
the year Of our Lord one thousand seven hun
dred and seventy-six Reciting and declaring,
that whereas, George the third, King of Great
Britain and Ireland and Elector Of Hanover, be
fore that time entrusted with the exercise of the
klnglv Office In the government of Virg mia
had endeavoured to prevert the same into a
detestable and insupportabe tyranny, by put
ting his negative on laws the most whole some
and necessary for the public good by denying
his governors permission TO pass laws of imme-
date and pressing Importance, unless suspended
IN their operation for his assent, and when so
suspended neglecting to attend to them for ma
ny years by refusing 70 pass certain other laws,
unless the persons TO be benefited by them
would relnquish the inestimable right Of repre-
sentatIon in the Legislature by dissolving le-
gislative assemblies repeatedly and continually
for opposing with manly firmness his invasions
OF the rights OF the people when dissolved, by
refusing to call others for long space of time,
thereby leaving the political system without any
legislative head by endeavorng to prevent the
population OF our country, and for that purpose
obstructing the laws for the naturalization of
foreigners by keeping among us, III time of
peace, standing armies and ships of war by af.
tecting to render the military independent OF
ana superior to the civil power by combining
ton, giving his assent to their pretended acts
OF Legislation, for quarterng large bodies OF
armed troops among us, for cutting off our trade
with all parts of the world, for imposing taxes
on rs without our consent, for depriving us Of the
benefits OF the trial by jury, for transporting us
beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences
| for suspending our own Legislatures and declar.
ing themselves invested with power to legisate
for us in all casesiwhatsoever by plundering our
seas, ravaging coasts, burning our towns
| and destroying the lives Of our people by in
citing instructions of our follow e;.n.i;,cis with
'De azure" Of forfeiture and ,confscation
ny prompting our negroes, TO rise in arms among
US, those very negroes, whom by an inhumar
| use OF his negative he had refused us permission
1 10 exclude by law by endeavoring TO bring on u.
the inhabitants of our frontiers the nerciless in
| dian savages. whose known rule of warfare il
an undlstiugnished destruction of all ages, sex
| es and conditions of existence by transporting
| hitheY large army of foreign merciaaries, K
| complete the work Of death, desolation and ty
| ranny, then already begun with circumstance
| OF cruelty and 7erfdy unworthy the head of
| clviiiZed nation ; by answering our repeated pc
titions for redress with repetition of Injuries
asd finally, by abandoning the helm of govern
| ment, and declaring us out Of his allegiance ant
| protection by which several acts of misrule, tn
government 81 this country, as before exercises
| under the Crown Of Great Britain, was totall
dissolved Did therefore, having maturcly con
sidered the premises, and viewing with grea
concern the dcplOrable condition, to which thi
once happy country would be reduced, unles
some regular adequate mode Of civil polit
should be speedily adopted, and in compliance
with the recommendation Of the General Con
gress, ordan and declare, form of government
ofVirginia.
| And whereas the General Assembly of Vii
| GINA, by an nct passed on the tenth day of Fe
hillary, IN the year Of our Lord one ihousan
eight hundred and twenty nine, entitled an nc
TO organize convention, did authorize an
provide for the election, by the people, of Dele
gates and Representatives TO meet and asem
bic, in general Convention, at the Capitol i
the city OF Richmond, on the irss Monday G
October in the year last aforesaid, TO consider
discuss and propose, new Constitution or a
tcratioDs and amendments Of the existing Cor
siitution Of this Commonwealth to be subInitte
iothe people x 10 be by them ratified or rejects,