The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21
VIRGINIA "A CONTRAST.


quantity Of talk, have adjourned. We bsvs.;
ready given synopsis Of the provisions OF them,
Constitution. IL is regarded as a aanirest IN,
provement upon the old one, and will douh,,ss.
be adopted by the people by large majority on
the 23d day of October next.
The Constitution is prefaced by Bill of i,bt.
passed June ~, 1776, and readopted with amend
ments, which rights ado pertain to the good peoDls
of Virginia, and their pOsterity, as the basis and
foundation Of government
al. That all men are by nature eouallv fra.
and independent, and have certain inherent rights
OF which, when they enter into state Of society
they cannot by any compact deprive or diyest
their posterity, namely, the enjoyment of life
ana hoerty, with the means of acquiring and
possessing property, and pursuing and Obtaining
happiness and safety
w That all power is vested in, and conse-
quently derived from, the people, that magistrates
are their trustees and servants, and at all times
amenable to them
g. hat Governmentis, or ought TO be, institut-
ed for the common benefit protection, and securi.
" OF the people, nation, or community of sl the
various modes and forms Of Government that is
best which is capable Of producing the greatest
degree of happiness and safety, and is most effect.
uslly secured against the danger Of msl-admins.
tration and that, when any Government shall be
found inadequate or contrary to these purposes
a majority of the community hath an indubitable
unaenable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter
or abolish it, in such manner az shall be Judged
most conducive to the public veal.
"a. That no man or set Of men are entitled to
exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges
from the community, but in consideration Of pub.
lie services which, not being descendible, neither
ought the Offices OF magistrate, legislator judge
to be hereditary
The Bill of Rights also declares that the Legis-
lstive. Executive, and judicial powers should be
separate and distinot-tnat all eivoosfsudsnt 70
,A' f-ssrvythst sAs Eisl BY ipgy, .; iy Is men i
preferable TO any ornerEtnAt ylie ITp-de>l 'a "A
press is one Of the great buiwarks of,iberty, and
can never be restrained but by despOtic Govern.
ments-that standing armies should be avoided as
dangerous to liberty, and "thai 40 free Govern
ment, or the blessings of Hbei y, an preserved
to any people, but by firm slheeence to justice,
moderation, temperance, irugality, and virtue and
by frequent recurrence to fundamental princi.
ples-"that religion, or the duty which we owe to
our Creator, and the manner Of dischsrging it, can
be directed only by reason and conviction, not by
force or violence and therefore all mel are equal
y entitled to the free exercise Of rel gos accord
ing to the dictates of conscience; and that 1t is the
mutual duty Of all to practice Christian forbear-
ance, love, and charity, towards each othern
In contrast with the above, we present several
provisions Of the Constitution framed under this
Bill of Rights:
CART. Bill of Rights
"The declaration of Rights, as amended and
pref xed to this Constitution, shall have the SAINT
relation thereto as 1t had to the former Consttu
ton.
CART disqualification Of Voters.
every white male citizen of the Common
wealth, of the age Of twenty one years, who has
been resident of the State for two years, ard Of
the county, city, or town, where he offers to vote,
for twelve months next preceding an election and
| no other porson, shall be qualified to vote for
members Of the General Assembly and all officers
elective by the people; but no person in the mill
tary, naval, or marine service of the United
6sAses, shall be deemed rssident ef thss StaSe
| by reason Of being stationed therein. And no
person shall have the right to vote, who is Of IN
sound mind, or q pauper, or non.commissioned
officer, soldier, seamen, or marine, in the service
| of the United States, or who have been convicted
of bribery in an election, or Of any infamous Of
fence.
aStares and Free Negroes.
"Slaves hereafter emancipsted shall forfeit
their freedom by remaining In the Commonwealth
more than twelve months after they become acu-
ally free, and shall be reduced to slavery
under such regulations ss may be prescribed bJ
law.
"The General Assembly may impose such re
strictions and conditions as they shall deem prop
er, on the power Of slave owners TO emancipau
their slaves; and may pass laws for the relief o.
the Commonw wealth fro N the free negro population
| by removal or otherwise,
| 1.-THE General ASSEMBLY shall not eusncipan
any slave, or the descendant of anJ slave, either
before or after the birth Of such descendant"
Notwithstanding these provisions discouragng
emancipation, there are many good points in tn
new Constitution, among the most important
which are the following;
"The privilege of the writ Of Habeas Corp
shall no. in any case be suspended. The Gene
raj Assembly shall not prescribe any religious
test whatever. The freedom Of speech and oil th'
press shall remain inviolate No law shall en-
brace more than one subject, which shall be e.
that no person shall be eligible TO office under
| the Common wealth who shall be hereafter engaged
in duel as principal, second or challenge bearer
The Governor, State officers, Judges, &c, for cor,
ruption or Standardization, may be impesehed
| by the House and tried by the Senate, but Judg
| ment shall not extend beyond removal from Othce
| and disqualification to hold Office in future
Taxation shall be equal and uniform, and all
property, other than slaves, shall be taxed in pro-
portion to lite value. Every slave above the age Oh
twelve years shall be assessed at $500, Under
that age they shall not be subject TO taxation
Every white male inhsbitant Of the age OF twenty
one years shall pay captation tai equal 70 .ne
tax on land valued at $500, one half OF wnisn
shall d applied free schools Taxes may os
levi n1pcoa Salaries, and licenses. ANY act
| imposing q tax OF creating debt must rsoe,'s
the vote of msjority Of all the members eieceea
to each House. The faith Of the State must not
be pledged for the debts or obligations OF any cor
poration. A Sinking Fund for the payment
the State debt is provided for. The Legislaiur
is forbidden 70 contract loans for period gres'a
than thirty-four years, aud whenever o s.S 70
contracted, q Sinking Fund must be pro''a''
liquidste it. .o,so Of
aThe establishment Of lotteries and the sac
lottery tickets are prohibited. The begisA'u,s
NAV confer on courts the power to grant divor'G,
aud change the names Of persons frO. .n". and
made for the periodical registration Of voter
the annual registration Of the births, h:s,hs
and DEATHS in the white population, ana .se ~, sor
and deaths in the colorsd population ana alyo
taking the census in 1885, and each decau' NV
aftern
Br.ur,r,n. The Springfield Post, peHO
cratic paper of the Caleb Gushing schoOi, =
desvoring to bring the Democracy OF massA0D
.s,ts 70 a correct view of its duty. Speaking V
the Fugitive Slave Law, it says III was ~a
ure which the Democracy never co",' 81, ~.
ua.sd;o but Democracy, ns,er'ns, s asonno.in,
necessity of submitting to that anu p hs
any saor. to repeal IT, The Democracy 'a of
psa We TAX. il. j. not by any means matter %
pr.aerl bat .olsly one Of .1S,d,s"ey Mssssi
go q Dsuocrscy never could have origins'sl