Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-25
The Western Virginia TOries.-Their GsDe.
,laraIIon of INDEPENDENCE,

,laraIIon of Independencs.o
The following is the Declaration Of Indepen.
dence'' adopted by the Tories in the Convention at
Wheeling:
The true purpose of all government is to pro-
mote the welfare and provide for the protection and
security of the governed and when any form or or
ganizatlon Of government proves made quate tor.
or subversiye of this purpose, it is the right it is
the duty OF the latter to alter abolish il. The
Bill of Rights of Virginia. fran d in l776 reafirm
ed in 1880, and again in 1851 expressly reserves tails
right to the majority of her people and the existing
Constitution does not confer upon the General As
sembly the power to cali convention to alter its
provisions, or to change the relations of the Com
| monwealth, without the previously expressed con
sent of such majority. The act of the Cene1 al As
sem5ly calling the convention which Ass mbled at
| Richmond in February last was therefore usurpa
| ton; and the convention thus called has not only
abused the powers nOminally entrusted to it. but
with the connivance and active aid of the Execu-
tive, has usurped and exercised other DO wers, to
the manifest injury Of the people, which, il per
mitted, will evidently subject them to a military
| despotism.
THE Convention, by its pretended ordinances
has required the people of Virginia to separate from
and wage war against the Government of tho United
States, and against the citizens OF the neg hborse
States with whom they have heretofore maintained
friendly, social and business relations.
at has attempted to subvert the Union founded
by Washington and his compatriots in the purer
days of the republic, which has conferred unexanl>
pied prosperity upon every class of citizens and
upon every section of the country.
ut has attempted to transfer the allegiance of the
people to illegal Confederscy of rebelious Ste tes
and required their submission its pretended edlcts
and DEGREES.
1t has attempted to place the whole military force
and military operation Of the Commonwealth under
the control aud direction of such Confederacy for
offensive well as defensive purposes.
at has, in conjunction with the State Executive
instituted, wherever their usurped power extends
reign of terror, intended to suppress the free ex
preston o. the people, making eections mt ckery
and fraud.
The same combinations even before the passage
Of sae pretended ordinance of secession instituted
war, by the seizure and appropriation of the prop
erty of the Federal Government and by organizing
and monopolizing armies with the avowed purpose |
of capturing destroying the Capital of the Union
+" They have attemp ed to bring the allegiance of |
the people Of the United States into direct conflict |
with their subordinate allegiance to the State, there
by making obedience to their pretended ordinance |
treason against the former.
We, therefore, the delegates here assembled in /
Convention to devise such meas uPes and take such
action the welfare of the loyal citizens of VIr-
gnia may demand having mutually considered the /
premises, and viewing with great concern the de-
plorable condition to which this once happy Com
monwealth must be reduced unless some regular
adequate measure Is speedily adopted, and appealing
to the Supreme Ruler OF the Universe for the recti-
tude of intentions, do hereby, in the name and
on the behalf of the good people of Virginia solemn
ly declare that the preservation of their dearest
rights and liberties and their security in person and
property, imperatiVely demand the reorganization |
of the Government of the Commonwealth and that |
all acts of said Convention and Executive tending TO
separate this Commonwealth from the United States
to levy and carry on war against them, with
out authority and void, and the Offices of all who |
adhere to the said Convention and Executive. wheth-
er Legislative Executive or JUDICIAL are vacated"