Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-08-22
VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS.
TPAssEp JUNE IL, lao.

,., .hon alteration by the of and re
ADOPTED with by the Convention oil is o.
Declaration Of Rts made 6y me ~ PRE- and ss Cam
oood people of Virginia. assembled IN jul ana Jree o|
rention, uheh rights do pertain 10 mem ana s p0s's'"'
as The basis and foundation Of government
That all men by equally free and Independent
and have cercin inherent rights Of which, when they ch
,o stare of society," they Cannot by compact deprive
or divest their posery; namey the enjoyment OF NE an
liberty with the of acquiring and possessing P'epe
w. and pursuing and obtaining happiness ana safely
9 That all power is vested in, and consequently We
from the peoples that magistrates are their 'fuseeS ~
wants and al all times amenublc 10 theIn r. ~.
That government is or ought be instituted for the
common benefit protection and security OF Tue eo @
commun,y of all the various moSes anu n rndncns the
greatest degree Of happiness and saely, aau 10 d
ally secured against the danger 81 III "nd
contrary 10 these purposes, majority oil the comun'!
hath an indubitable unalenabe and indeeasole rsh; -
reform alter or abolish it, in such manner US sla W Juus
most conducive 10 the public veal. -, ,,; :,
Tina, no man. or set men entitled TO exclusive OF
separate emoluments or privileges rom ' @ hang de-
in consideration of public services which, not oen% ue'
scondibe neither ought the offices OF magistrate
or Judge to be hereditary. , a.,
That the legislative executive and Judicial powers snouio
h. separate and distinct and that the members thereof may
be restrained from OPPRESSION by feeling ana patcipa'
the burthens of the people, they Should al hXeo e'os "
reduced TO private station, return into mat oouy i'o
which they were originally aken and Inc vacancies oe
nrd bv frequent certain and elections in which ALL
or any part Of the former members ~ DC usal' eS "
rha, all elections ought 10 be Free and that all men
having sufficient evidence Of permanent common interest
with and attachment TO, the community nave thelSht Vi
suffrage and cannot taxed deprived vi lhelr properly
for public uses without their own consent or ha OF he
representatives elected nor bound by any law 10 "ne
they have not like assened Tor Inc puoc eooo
T. That all power of suspendng laws, or Inc execution "
laws by any authority, without consent OF the !epreen'a
tves of people, is injurious TO their rights ana ous"' o
8. That in all capital criminal prosecutions man
hath right demand the cause and nature OF ms
ton 10 b. Onted with the accusers ana Witnesses "
cali for evdenr in his favor and speedy trial by an Impair
al ury of Twelve of his rcinage without whose u
mons consent s cannot found guilty. can he be conf
nelled 10 give evidence against himself; that no man De
deprived of his liberty except by the Ia" OF inc ahu VI
Judgment Of his GERS.
sve fines imposed cruel and unusual punlsents IN
ficted.
TO- That general warrants whereby officer or messen
ger NAV be commanded search suspected places without
evidence of fact committed seize any person or per
sons not named whose offence is not particularly
ed and supported by evidence are grevous ana
and ought not TO be granted :.
H. That, in controversies respecting property and in
suits between and man, the ancient tiia oy Jury u
twelve men is preferable to any DINER ana u &c
sacred. 1000 h,
H. That the freedom of the is one Of the great bull
warks of liberty and never be restrained out 0! ueS
ic governments. !.
g. That well regulated militia, composed of the body OF
the people, trained is the proper natural ana sa
defence of free State standing armies, IN Time OF
peace should be avoided dangerous To berty ana ha
all cases military should be under sct snoordnauoh
TO and governed by the civil power
H. That the people have right TO uniform government
and therefore that no separate ro or ndpen
dent Of the government Of Virginia. ought to DC erected or
established within the limits thereof.
l5 That free government or The blessing OF hoert!'
can be preserved any people but BY firm adherence 10
justice moderation, temperance ng'y ana virtue ana
a frequent recurrence fundamental principles.
l6 That religion, the duty which We owe TO our Urea
tor and the manner discargng it, can be directed only
hv reason and conviction not by violence and
therefore all men equally entitled the free exercise Of
religion according dictates OF cunscCncc and that II
is the duty OF all 10 practise christian ioroeaEa'ce
love and charity towards erch other.