Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-24
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION
Form, of Government for Virginia.

Form, of Goue:nmem for Pirgi,liG.
Adopted January IIth 1891
Whcreasthe Delegates and Representatives of the
good people of Virginia, in Convention assembled,
the twe ynnth day Of June i'll the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and seventy-siX rccing
and declaring, that whereas, George the third King
Of Grea Britain and Ireland, and Eector of Hanover,
before that time entrusted with the exercise of the
kingly office in the Government OF Virginia, had en-
deavourcd to pcrvert the into detestablc and
insupportabe tyranny, by putting his negative on
laws the most wholesome and necessary for the pub
lie good by denying his Governors permission to pass
laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless
suspended IN their operation for his assent, and when
So suspended neglecting to attend TO them for many
years; by refusing to pass certain other laws, unless
the persons TO be benefited by them would renqush
the nestimabe right Of representation in the Legsla-
ture; by dssolVng legislative assemblies repeatedly
md continuity, for opposing with manly frmness
his invasions of the rights of the people; when dis
solved, by refusing to call others for long space of
time, thereby leaving the political system without any
Legislative head by endcavourng TO prevent the pop
uation of our country and for that purpose obstruct
ing the laws for the naturalization of foreigners by
keeping among U.s. i'll time of peace, standing armies
and ships of war; by affecting to render the military
independent of and superiour to the civil power; by
combining with others to subject us to foreign jurs
dlcton giving his assent to their pretended acts of
legislation, for quaTtcrng large bodies armed troops
among US, for cutting off trade with all parts of
the Woild for imposing taxes on without
sent for deprivng OF the benefits Of the trial byju-
ry, for transporting beyond to be tried for
pretended offences, for suspending our own Legisla-
lures and declaring themselves invested with power
to egisate for all whatsoever; by plumber
ing our seas, ravagng our coasts, burning towns
and destroying the lives of our people; by melting in
surrections of our fellow subjects with the allure
ments of forfeiture and confscation; by prompting
our negroes to rise in arms among us, those very
groes, whom by an inhuman of his negative
he had refused us permission to exclude by law;
by endcavouring to bring Oh the inhabitants Of
fb,f t,,,t,
known rule of warfare is an undstinnuished des-
tructlon Of ell ages sexes and conditions of exist
encc; by transporting hther large army Of for
egn mercenaries, to complete the work Of death, dcs
olaton and tyranny, then already begun with circum
stances of cruelty and porfdy unworthy the head of
Il civilized nation; by answering repeated petit
tons for redress with repetition Of INJURIES aud
finally, by abandoning the helm Of government, and
declaring lis out OF his allegiance and projections by
which several acts. Of misrue, the government Of
this country, as before exercised under the cro2n
OF Lrcat Britain, totally dissolved did, the reore
having rnatuTely considered the premises, and view
ing with great concern the deplorabe condition, to
which this once happy country would be reduced,
unless some regular adequate mode Of civil poliiy
should be speedily adopted, and in compliance with
The OF tho General Congress, ordaln
and declared form of government of Virgins:
And whereas the General Assembly Of Virginia
by an act passed the tenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord thousand eight hundred and
twenty nine, entitled, an act to organize Conyen-
e,"''' anu pIOFlue ClcCtl0H, by
the people, Of Delegates and Representatives, TO
meet aud assemble, in General Convention, at the
Capitol IN the City Of Richmond, on the first Mon-
day OF October in the year last aforesaid TO consid
err discuss aud propose, now CONSTITUTIONS or alter
atons and amendments Of the existing Constitution
OF this Commonwealth, to be submitted TO the peo-
pic and to be Ivy them ratified or rejectod
We, therefore, the Delegates and Representatives
oil The good people Of Virginia, elected and in Con-
ventlon assembled in pursuance of the said act Of
Assembly. do submit and PROPOSE TO the ucople the
following amended Constitution, and forn of Govern
ment for this Commonwealth, that is to say:
ARTICLE I.
The Declaration Of Rights made on the I2th June.
77G, by the representatives Of the good people of
Virginia assembled in full and free Convention, which
pertained 10 them and their posterity as the basis
and foundation of Government requiring in the opin-
ION OF this Convention no amendment. sh1l be pre-
hXed TO this Constitution, and have the same rela-
ton thereto as it bad TO the former Constitution of
his Commonwealth. -
ARTICLE H.
The Legislative, Eycculiyc, and Judiciary Depart