Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-28
TPubiished by Request:l
VIBGTM9A@BID RSGHTs.
a DeelaFati0n Of Rsghts made By thssRspTs.


a Declaration Of Rights made By thssRsprs=
sentGtipes of the good people of pfTginid,
(, assembled N fvtk and, free EonreHtioa,
gvlsich right do pertain 70 them aud their
!Posttrtty az thc 6asie dHR toul51dtion Of
Fg6uey1acnt. 81
i Passed June nth, 1I76.1 r.;
1. That allsmen are by nature equally
free and independents and have certain in
herent rights, of which; when they enter
into state of society, they cannot, by
any compact, deprive. or divcst their pos
Eterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and,
'Iliberty; with the means of acquiring and
possessing property, and pursuing and OBJ
tanning happiness and safety.
2. That oil power is vested in, and con-
sequentiy derived from the people; that
! magistrates are their trustees and servants.
and at all times lmenable to them
| - 3. That government is, or ought to be,
instituted for the common benefit, protec-
! ton and security of the people, nation or
Community; of all the various modes and
forms Of government, that is best which
is capable of producing the greatest de-
gree Of happiness and safety, and is most
eHectpally secured against the danger of
mal=administration; and that, when any
government shall be found inadequate or
contrary to these purposes, a majority of
the community hath an indpbitablc,, una
lienqble and indefeasible right, to reform,
alter. or abolish il, in such manner as shall
be judged most conducive to the public
veal, ~. !; -
4. That no man, or set of men are enti-
| tied to exclusive or separate femoluments=
or privileges from the community, but in
consideration of public services, which,.
not being desccndible, neither ought the
Offices of magistrate, legislator or judge
to be hereditary.
5. That the legislative, executive and
judicial powers should be separate and dis
tinct; and thatthe members thereof may
be restrained from oppression, by feeling
and participating the burthens of the peo-
pie, they should, at fixed periods, be redu-
ced to private station, return into that
body from which they were originally la
ken, and the vacancies be supplied by fire.
quent, certain and regular elections, in
which all, or any part of heformcr mem
bers to be again eligible or ineligible, as
the laws shall direct. afs'ia
6. That all elections ought to be free,
and that oil men having sufficient evidence
of permanent common interest with, and
attachment to the community, have the
right of suffrage, and cannot be taxed or
deprived of their properly for public uses,
without their own consent, or that of their
Representatives so elected, nor bound by
any law to which they have not, in like
manner, assented, for the public good.
Z. That all power of suspending laws
or the execution of laws, by any authority,
without consentfof the Representatives of
the people, is injurious to their rights, and
ought not to be exercied.
8. That, in all capital or criminal prose-,
cutions, a man hath right to dema1d the
cause and nature of his accusation, TO be
\ At.
SEES, to call:for evidence in his favor, and
to speedy trial by an impartial jury of
his Yicinage, without whose unanimous
consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can.
he be compelled to give evidence against
himself; that'no man be deprived of his
linerty, except by the law of the land or
the judgment of his peers.
Q. That excessive bail ought NOT to he
required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
10. That general warrants, whereby an
officer or messenger may be commanded to
search suspected places without evidence
of fact committed, or to seize any per-
son or persons not named, or whose of
fence is not particularly described and sup.
| ported by evidence, are grievous and OPP
pressivc, and ought not to be granted.
| IL. That, in controversies respecting
I property, and in suits between man and
man, the ancient trial by jury of twelve.
mon is preferable to any other, and ought
to be held sacred.
t IL. That the freedom of the press is one of
the Or eat bWl,Uarks Of liberty, and can neve1.
be restrained but 6u aespotic governments
l3. That we'll regulated militia, COM
posed of the body of the people, trained
to arms, is the proper, natural and safe de-.
fence of a free state; that standing armies.
in time. of peace, should be avoided, as
the military should be under strict subor-
dinntion to and governed by the civil
power.
i IA. That the people have right to uni
form government; and therefore, that no
government separate from, or Independent
of, the government of. Virginia, ought to
be erected or establishedwithin the limits
4 thereof.
Is. That no free government, or the
blessing of liberty, can be preserved to
any people, but by firm adherence to
Justice, moderation, temperance, frugality
and virtue. and by a frequent recurrence to
fundamental principles.
lG. That religion, or the duty which we
owe to our Creator, and the manner Of
dischargiug it, can be directed only by
reason and conviction, not by force or vio-
lence; end therefore all men arc equally
entitled to the free exercise of religion, ac-
cording TO the dictates. of conscience;. and
that it lis the mutual duty of all to prac-
tice christian forbearance, love and char
ity towards each, other.
The Wheeling Union.