Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-08-01
VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS.
TPAssEp JrSE Il, lII6.

.ao,,.a without alteration hr the Convention, OF 30 and re
adopted aneu:t,ens b. the Convention OF S' o.
Declaration Of Rights made BY the RerrsssGstsss IN
good people Of Virginia assembled i" full ana free con
renon uhica rights do pertain to item and mcE PoS1eTH
az the basis and foundation Of government
That all men by nature equally free ana Independent
and have certain inherent rights of which, when they e
into state of society," they cannot by any compact dep
or dvest their postery; namely: the enjoyment OF lie an
liberty with the means OF acquiring ana $50
1y and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety
2 That all power Is vested IN, and consequent! ~ or
from the people; that magistrates are their trustees ~"
wants. and al all times amenaole 10 theni r. q,
That government is or ought be instituted or IN
common benefit, protection and security OF the re"po,
or community; of all the various modes ana io's VI
ernment that is best which is capable 81 p'ouaE ,r
greatest degree of happiness and safety anu Is n
ally secured against The danger OF % idnna,a
thu, uben INV Government shall be iounu lhaaeqoa'e
,r - ,beso nnrnnses n majority OF the community
hath an indubabe urnicnable and inae,sas ~ SSs,
reform, alter abolish IT, IN sucn ''aa"'' % '"'
most conducive the public veal. -, = -,a;... :.
Tnr M man or set of men entitled to exclusive
separate emoumens PRIVILEGES from the community W. W.
in consideration OF public services WHICH, n' peinS w
scsndible neither ought the offices OF magistrate essa
or Judge to be hereditary. ,.,:, .o. ,ho,I,
no and distinct and that the members thereof ma!
he restrained from oppression, by feeling and parcpaus
the buhens OF the people, they should al hxeu peou u
reduced TO a private station return into that oouy on
which they were originally taken and the vacancies DC
piled by frequent, certain and regular elections IN W
or any part OF the former members TO DC again
Erh; I elections omnht TO be free and that all men
having sufficient evidence Of permanent coly ;h, .;
with and attachment TO- the community na.t ~. ~
for public uses without their own consen, VI - h;h
representatives elected nor oouno oy any h,i. GOOD
,hev have NOT in like manner assened for me Puoc eoou
That all power of suspendng laws, or the execution VI
laws by any authority. without consent OF ne ps, ,
tives of the people, is injurious 10 thelT f's anu
10 be exercised , ..,,;,., , ~, =
& That, in all capital criminal prosecutions man
hath demand the cause and nature ms
ZION to be confronted with the accusers ana Witnesses ~
call for evidence in his favor and speedy al oy a %
tia Jury of twelve of his vicinage without WHOSE
imous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can nc DC Ia
lid m olive evidence against himself; that no man DC
deprived of his liberty except by the law OF 'he o u
Thar excessive bail ought not to be required nor exces
sive fines imposed cruel and unusual puhsheh's a"
ficted ,e,o0r or n,esssn
GER NAV be Commanded search suspected places Without
evidence of fact committed or to selze any person VI p
SONS not named or whose offence not particularly oesco
Cd and supported evidence are grevous and oppressive
and ought not 10 be granted :;
H. That in controversies respecting property, and IN
salts between man and man, the ancient rai oy Jury OF
twelve preferable TO any other ana oush " NC w
H. Tha, the freedom Of the press of the great bull
warks of liberty and never be restrained OUT .! oeo
r Thai we'll recula ted militia composed of the body of
the people trained arms is the proper natural ana SAFE
defence of free State that standing armies III Hhe
peace should be avoided dangerous TO liberty; and a
in all the military should be under strc suoorohaon
TO and governed by the civil power
H. That the people have right to uniform government
and therefore, that separate ro or ihoepeh
dent Of the government Of Virginia. ought 10 DC erected "
established within the limits thereof.
Is That free government or the blessing OF liberty
can be preserved any people, but by firm adherence 10
Justice moderation temperance fugay and virtue and by
Il frequent recurrence fundamental principles.
l6 That religion the duty which we owe TO our Crea
tor and of dischargng IT, can be directed only
BY and conviction by force or violence and
therefore all men equally entitled TO the free exercise OF
religion according 10 the dictates Of conscencc and that II
is the mutual duty of all practise christian fooearance
love and charity towards each other