Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-03-11
January 90
RILJ. OF RIGHTS

WM. b. GILES.
January 90 w3m
BILL OF RIGHTS
A n.slaraiion Of Rights mad By The hfPrssen
ts,ir,s of fht good people Of siaciSn. n'ftni
b,,d IN ftH aud free Connection uhio
yighis ID pertain 10 then. aud 10 nor foat
,,,y as he bass aud foundation Of gorsrH
Unanimously adopted, June leth. i776.l
Tim, sll men are by nature equally free
a,Jtnd.nen lent. aud have rethio inherent
r,rbis. Of ~hirh. when they enter into state %
Society, they Cannot b, any compact depr W
ar divrst their posteriiy ; namely. he enj y
,,eot o. lilo aud liberty, with the neans OF ac
curing and possessing properly, aud pursuing
and obtaining happiness AMI safety
Q That all power is yred 10. aud conse'
oaenily derived from, the people; that Magi''
rates are their trustees and sergsnts, aud at all
times amenable TO them.
Thai government Is, or ought 10 bn, IN.
,,i,u,ed fr he common ben fif, proiec ion
and sscu Nv ofihe people nation or common
~ of all The various modes and forms of gov
eminent. that is besi, which is capable Of pro.
docing the greatest degtee of hapnn IS and
.,f.ix and il most elFectuAly secured against
tho danger Of mal-admnstrsiion and that,
when any government shall be tonnd inaGe-
ouate OF contrary 10 these purposes, MAORI
., Of the community hath nm indhOIihble, unh
I,epable. and indefeasible right 10 reform. al
Ter n, abolish II. in such manner as shall be
Judged most coulucyr To the public veal.
q That no man, or SET Of men. are entitled
10 exclusive OF separate emolnmsnis orpf'Vlle-
pes from the community, hut IN consideration
OF pnhe services which not being descenda-
bio, neither ought the Offices OF Magistrate, LIE.
gisiaior, OF Judge, to be hereditary
s.. That the Legislative and Executive pow
era Of the SJaie should be separate aud dislnc
from Tue Judiciary and thatthe members OF
the two 6rst may be restrained from oppr6s
sion, by feeling ard participating the burthens
OF the people, they should, at fixed periods, he
reduced 20 a private station, return into that
body from which they we're originally taken,
and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, Get.
,sin, and regular elections, in which ALL OF any
mart If the former members To lie again eligible.
or ineligible. AS the laws shall direct.
g. Tha, elections oil msmhers 10 serve rs
representatives. OF the people, in Assembly,
ousb,to he free aud thai ~ men having sutf.
Gent evidence of permanent common interest
with. AMI apssh n, 10. the community, have
the right Of suffrage, apd cannot be taxed or
deprived of their property, FOR public uses with
o I their own nsent, or thai OF their represen-
- IT, st, 81, CtSd, L"."u by any law 10
which they have not, 10 like manner, assented,
for the public good
7, that all power Of suspending laws, OF the
execution Of laws, by any authority. without
consent of the representatives OF the people, is
injurious to tho, rights, and ought not u be
exercised.
That in all capital or criminal proseeu.
tons, a man hath right 10 demand the cause
and nature 4 b s accusation, TO be confronted
with the ecu RS and witnesses, to call for ~.
idence in his favor. and to a speedy trial by an
impa tiel jury OF his vicnsgn, without whose
unanimous consent h. eaunot he found quit,
nor can he he compelled to give evidence II
gains himself; that no man be deprived OF his
liberty except by The law of the land or the
Judgment OF His peers.
. That escessg bail ought not 10 he reuui
red, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel aud
unusual punishment iunlcted.
10. That general warrants whereby an off
Ger or messenger may he commanded to search
suspected places without evidence of fnc
committed, or 10 seize any person or persons
moi named, or whose offence is not particularly
described aud supported by evidence. are grio
vous and oppressive, aud ought not TO be gran.
ted
IL. That. in controversies respecting prop,
erty and in suits between mao and man, the
ancient trial by jury is preferable TO any other
aud ought 10 be held sacred.
L. That the freedom OF the press is one OF
the great buwarks Of liberty. md can never
be restrained but by despoiic governments
ID That a well regalstrd mill ia, composed
Of The body of The people trained 10 arms. is
the proper natural and safe defence OF free
State that standing armies, in time of peAcr.
should be avoided, ne dangerous to liberty ;
and that In all cases. the military should be nm
der strict subordInatiun to, and governed by the
civil power.
IA That the people have a right 10 uni form
government aud therefore, that no govern.
ment separate from. or independent of. the go.
vernment OF Virginia, ought to be erected or
established within the limits thereof.
l5 That no free government, or the bless
ing OF liberty. Gao be preserved To any people
but by hrm adherence 10 justice moderation.
Tempe ance, frugality and virtue. aud hy fire.
qnent recurrence 10 Fundamental principles.
10. That religion, or tho duty which we
owe 10 our Creator, and the manner of dis.
charging II, can be directed only by reason and
conviction, not by force or violence ;and there
fore all men are equally entitled to the free ex.
ercse oil religion, according to the dictates OF
Conscience and that il is the mutual dnty ol
oil TO practice Christian forboarance, love, and
charity towards each other
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION