Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-09-18
JOHN r. WILEY.
YIReINlA. pILL.o RIGHTS.
IPAaaEp JpxE q. l776l

IPAe4ED JVSE 10. 1TI6.l
Adopted hcut 'aeratioH BY ne cnvcHtion cf 1929
10, and re adopt with amendments By The
ConFentlsn Of l35O~'5l.
A Declaration d Rights mud blythe Representa-.
fbes of The gOod peapte n Virginia. assembled
v in fnH and freq Contention ichich Righ,s do
ptrigin 10 fhem and their posteriiy as The basis
and Foundation ef government.
!, That all meE By nature equally free and indie
nendeat and have certain inherent rights, Of W ieh
when they eater Esasa Of society. they caanot by
any eosnpact deprive ites their posterity namely
ihe enioymeat d life and liberty with the Of
quriSF and possessing property and pursuing and OBJ
tanning hsppin - and safety
q that all power is vested IN and consequently de-
rived from the people that magistrates their trus-
ices and as4 and at all tunes amenable to them
8 Thai government is, or ought TO be, instituted for
the common ben it, protection aad security Of the PEI
pIe nzton oannasi,y; o. all the various moles and
iorns Df government, that - best ~hieh = ca able Of
proeinx he greatest degfee Of happiSess aad safety,
and most sIecthaIly secared ain the danger ot
NAL admin istration; and that whcn apy government
shall b. foaad Inadequate pr contra TO ihfse purposes
majority ofhe community hath an ndub table, uaalien
sbc aud indefc asibe right REFORM alter abolish IT,
IN sneh mann shall be judged most Conducive 70 the
.pabliewcal,
et separate em9iameuts privileges from the comnan
fys blt in coasidc Il public ryices which, not
teisg eseendble. nehsr sugh the oces Of
legisaior Judge 10 be Hereditary.
5 That the egislsSfe, executive and JUDICIAL powers
shoali be separate and dstiic that the nebcrs there
Of may be d Jrem oppression, BY feeling and
participating The 5efthens &c &c people they sho I'd,
fixed periods be rtddced pEiyalc statoa return into
that 10 " frui which they originally iakeh, and
the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain aud rege
lar elections which all. any part Of the former
anemters be agala eligible IN 'lgble as the Laws
shall direct
That all elections caght obe free aud that al
having sufficient evidence u permanent common Interest
wi b. and attachment The community, have the right
Of suffrage and he taxed dc, rived ofter pro
perty public uses without their eopsen or that
Of their representatives elected bound by law
10 which they hayrno IN like manner, assented foEthe
l. That aft power Of saspending laws or the cxecu-
tim af laws by any authority without csnscnt Of the
representatives Of tbe people sinjuoIs 10 heir rights
and ought 4 10 be y rcised.
8. That, 10 ali capital or criminal prosecutions,
hath rightto e,nsnd Ahe and naiurof his
saton 10 be confronted with the and witnesses,
so cali for esidcneen his favor snd speedy trial by
impartial Jury OF twelve Of his yienage, without
whose unanimous eoasep he can't be found guilty.
can he be compelled TO give evidence asainst himself
that!no mau be dep Sed Of his liberty. except by the
law IL the land or fh- jad ment Of his peers
9. That sxee sits bail ought not 10 be required. nor
excessive daes imposed nor cruel and unusual puni
TO- That general warrants whereby an officer or mes,
senEer may BE- command TO search suspected places
without ryd- Of fact fStnmitted, 10 seize any
person persons sot namsd hose offence is par
tcnlarly described and Supported BY eyidenee gre
siods and oppres sive. dsoaght not TO be granted
H. That inpnIrovsfsses resp cting properly, and IL
salts zen tan aad man. the ancient trial by Jury
twelve cferabe to any other. ani ought to be
held sacred, i
H. That the freedom III the press K of the grca
balw arks berty sad be restrained but by
drsPolc gose Sisaenis.
is Thai meil rtgnlaed militia eemposed Of the
body of the pcole. trained TO Is the proper, natl-
raj and safe defeace OF free State thai anding armies.
10 ofpeace should be avoided dangerous liberty;
and that all the military should be under strict
sab1Fdination 10 and governed by the civil power.
w. Thai the people have right TO uniform govern
meat and therefore that government separate FROM
or iadepend NJ Of the government Of Virginia. ought
be erected OF tabiished within the limits thereof.
Is That free government, or the blessing Of liber
ty ran be preserved any people. bui by firm adhe
renee 10 justice, moderation, temperance, fugay aud
viruc aud BY frequent recurrence TO fundamental
prime pies,
- Is That relig h. or the duty which TO our
Creator and the ofdcaargiug H. be direct
cd only by reason aad cSnyiction. not By force VIC
lende aud therefore all equally entitled to the
cree exercise Of religion according % the dictates ocon
science and that is the maua duty ofa practice
christian forbearance, love and charity towards each
others