Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-28

tSEIL.l the seal Of the Commonwealth nc Rich
WIN. B. Giles.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
q Deeid,uon Of Rights made BY tie Representatives
efHte good People Of Pjrginid. assersbied IN fiAt
Ga,p, and their posertty, az ths basis mud fausdd-
tion Of Gopernhsept.
TUnanunousy adopted, June Izih, Iff61
I. That all men by nature equally ffco and
Independent, and have ccitain inherent rights, Of
which, when they enter into state Of society, they
cannot, by any compact deprive or diyest their pos
teyity; namely the enjoyment of hfe and liberty,
and PURSUING ss saa
2. That all power is vested in, and consequc ntly
derived from the people; that Magistrates are then
nustees and servants and at all times auocnable TO
8. That government ID, or ought to be, Instituted
t1f the common benefit, protection and security Of
the people, nation community: of all The varous
modes and forms of government that Is best, which
pne md .ty ans So sssSe
againn the danger Of NAL administration: and that
when any government shall DO found inadequate Or
contrary to those purposes, majority of the comun
nifty hath ndutable unalienable and indefeasibie
right, TO reform, alter, abolish it, in such manncr
as shall be judged most conducive to the public veal
a. That no man, or set OF men, are entitled TO
cDsive or separate efnolumsnts privileges from
the community, but In constellation OF public seryi
Cos which pot being descendable, neiihet opea. tho
aHtes Of MagAtrafe, Legfistor, OF Jadee, to 30
hereditary. r,l-s-. -. *
$. That the Legislative and Executive poeefs or
the State should be separate and distinct from the
Judiciary and that the members of the two rst may
De restrained from oppression, by seng and partiri-
pAfing the burthens Of the people, they should, at
fZed periods. be reduced to private station. return
into that body from which they were originally taken
and the vacancies he supplied by frequent, certain,
qua regular elections, in which ALL any part Of the
former members, to be again eligible, Ineligible,
as the laws shall direct. ~
6. That elections of members to serve as represent
ttives of the people, in Assembly, ought to be free;
and that all men, having sufficient evidence OF per-
tuanert common interest with, and attachment Ia,
The community, have the right Of suffrage, and cum
not be taxed deprived of their property for public
uses, without their own cousent, that of their re-
representatives. SO elected, nor bound by any law 10
Which they have not, IN like manner, assentcs, fz
the public good. '7s'' 4
T. That all power Of sinsp sndlng iaws. or the cx-
eEtion of laws, by any authority without consent Of
the representatives of the peopi,, iuros 20 their
lights, and ought not 10 be excrciSed.
o. Ylfat, in all capital or criminal prosecutions,
nlpn hath right to demand the caiSe apd natureof
his accusation, to be confronted with the sccusefs
and witnesses, to Gull fur evidence in his favor anu
to specify trial by impartial jury of his vicinaac
without whose unanimous cpDsent, he cunnot be-
found guilty nT can he be compelled to give evi-
dence against HIMSELF that man BIO deprived of I
fits liberty except by the iav Of the nd on the judg
ment of his peers -Au.+
o. That excessive hail ou2yht not to be required,
NOR excessive fines Imposed, cruel and unusual
pnnishment inflicted.
10. That general vHtran.s, whereby an officer or
messenger may be commanded to search suspected
phees without evidence Of fact committed, or to
seize any person or persons not named, whose of
fence IL not particularly described ard supported by
evidence, are gJeyous and oppressive and ought not
TO be granted.
H. That, IN controversies rcspectng property |
and in suIs between and man, the ancient trial
by jury ~ preferable to any other, and ought TO be
held sacred. 49,
IL. That the freedom Of tho press b ono of tine
Great buiwarks ofberty and can never be Te5tsatn-
cd but by despotc governments.
10. That a well regulated militia, composed of
the body Of the people, trimmed TO arms. The pro-
per- natural and safe defence Of free Sta,e; thas
Standing armies, in tmo Of peace should be avoided
as dangerous to liberty and TINT ir all cases the
military should be under strict subordination to- and
governed by, the civil power 80 80 /
ID. That the people have right to uniform 1os-
eminent; and therefore, that government separate
from, or independent Of, The government Of p,rain
N, ought to be erected established within the I'm
its thereof.
10. That no free government, OF the blessing oil
liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by |
iifm adherence 10 JUSTICE moderation, temperance
ngalty, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to
fundamental principles.
is. Tint religion, or the duty which 20 owe TO
our ersator, ind the manner Of dischafRlna it, canl
ne directed only by reason and conviction not BY /
9Ice or volencei and therefore all men are equally
entitled to the free exercise Of raliaon according to
the dictates Of conscience; aud that IL IL the mutual
doty OF oil to practice Christian forbGsrancn love-
chprty towards each other. -
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION