Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-08-08
CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA.

Whtrn- ,e Delegates and Representa- lives OF the good
20 ,s Virginia in Convention assembled on Inc twenty,
nuta Cav June In year Of our Lurd ooe thousand
sru un:rd und reciiing and declaring that
"heo. George the lhirh king Of Great Britain and Ire
Int Hanover oeo,e that time entrusted win
kindly Office in the government OF Fir-
.p a ,ndeavored Ia per. into detestabe
aa sprortanle tyranny, by putting his negative ON laws
m M hole some and necessary Tor The pubic COCO oy
nu his Governors permission pass laws Of immediate
add importance unless suspended 10 thel' operation
!f!- and Suspended nrglecnS To attrno ~
liz for many yeas by refusing 10 pass certain other laws
un The PEI sons benefited by them would rcnqu!Sl
e estiape right Of representation in the legislature n
Gsinu legislative assemblies repeatedly ana cnntlnuhY
if rlInsins wlh manly fness his invasons Ut the gnts
Of IN people; when dissolved by refusing ID call others TOT
long space ut lime thereby leaving the political system
any legislative head by endeaVorlng 10 prevent
tn population country und for that purpose obstruct
Ing the naturally ton OF foreigners by Keeping
aun. time of psare standing armies and shps vi war
By affecting 10 render the military Independent oi superior
III. evil powers by combining with others 10 subject us
foreign ur,sdclinn giving his assent 10 their pretended
r.sAlion Tor quarrerne large b"des OF armed troops
Tor cutting oil our Trade WIN all parts o Inc ~ono,
.r uuslng without our CONSENT tor deplvlnp
benefits nj the ri by jury, or transporting uS be-
he tried for pretended offences. for suspendne
isa and declaring themselves invested WIN
lnWet glslate in all whatsoever; ny pun
csn Ranging COASTS burning our towns ano
tlng the lives Of people; by melting insurrecuons
fellow subjects with the aurements of forfeiture and
conGca,lun; by prompting negroes 10 rise in arms
among US very negroes whu oy an inhuman use oi
his he had refused us permission To exclude by law
endravutng bring the Inhabitants Ut our frontiers
ercipss Indian whose known rule OF warfare
an destruction OF all ages sexes and con-
nns of existence; by transporting her large army o.
.pn merccnarirs complete the work OF DEATH desoia
Lon and yanuv then already begun, with circumstances
uy md p-rHiry unworthy The mead of civilized nation
b. answering repeated petitions for redress with repe
;nu of Injuries: and finally. by abandoning the helm o
sernmen and declaring out of his allegiance ana pro
,IiIun by which several of nsrus, Inc government
his country rs before exercised under the crown o Urea
BRIAN wns totally dissolved did therefore having mature
the premises, and viewing with great concern
deI"rale condition which This once hnppy country
would reduced unless some regular adequate ooe Oh CT
', policy should be speedily adopted and IN compliance WIZ
Tie of the general Congress, odan ana oe
clare form of government Of Virginia;
AMI w.ler as Convention held ON the nrst Monoay IL
October the year thousand eight hundred and twenty
nine did propose to Inc people OF the commonwealth on
amended C. wh,rEon or Form OF Government, %mch was
laihrd by them
And whereas the General Assembly of Virginia by an nc
Pissed the of March, in the year one thousand el9n
hundred fifty. did provide for the election by Inc people,
te.nts t. meet in general Convention consider dis
and pronose new Constitution or alterations ano
amendments to the existing Constitution OF this Common
wealth; hy an act passed the thirteenth OF March, IN
lie yen one thousand eight hundred and fifty one did further
Provide for submitting the same to Inc people lof faucao
OF lee ton - .
We therefore the Delegates of the good people of Virg
liza elected and Convention assembled In pursuance OF
sd acts do propose TO the people the following
h"n and Form of Government Tor this commonwealth:
ARTICLE /.
Bill IF Rights.
The Declaration of Rights as amended ana PsenAeo te
his Constitution shall have the relation thereto rs II
Sat 10 the former Constitution.
ARTICLE II.
Dirsion of Po1cers.
HE Legislative, Executive and Judiciary Departments
~ be separate distinct that neither exercise the
properly belonging either Of the others nor snail any
eNtcisc the powers of than one OF tnen at le
i except that Justices Of tie peace shal Dc eiigi'
VIC ~ e''''ef House Of Assembly.
: ARTICLE Ill
,,, " qualification of Voters.
f.ie'! "1'e male citizen Of the Commonwealth OF the
~" VI yoNe years WHO has been resident OF the
SIT. tor TWO years and of ropn,v c;,v mr. town where
+" oilers 10 vote Tor twelve months nx receano an cleo.
:On and other person. shall b. on,6 - o,e for mann,
hers of the General Assembly and all ocss hv the
people bu, person in the military naval nv ,asns car
vice OF the United States shall be deemed rsd, f ,h;s
Safe by of being Stationed therein and No e,.on
shall have the right VOTE who is of unsound n;od
pauper, or non commissioned officer sol,isr as -
convicted vt bribery in election, of any in,m e
!:nce.
The General Assembly its first session after the adon
tn Of this Constitution, and afterwards occasion
require, shall every city town, the white popuI,
ton Uf which exceeds five thousand be laid off into
Ncncnt wards and separate place of voting be es,a
issd EACH and thereafter inhabant Of such city OF
town shall be allowed vote except in the ward in which he
resites.
g. No voter during the time for holding any election al
which he is entitled vote shall be compelled perform mil
iry service except in time OF public dunger;
work upon the public roads, attend any sutton
any civil process during his attendance at elections in
Going 10 and returning from Them
10 all elections votes shall BIO given openly pva poce