The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-22
The Western Virginia Tories-Dheir Pee.
Iaration of inde prndence."

| The following is the " Declaration of In.
| dependence adopted by the Tories in TIE
! Con ventiou Wheeling
| THE true purpose OF all government is To
promote the welfare and provide for the pro-
| lection ana security of the governed ard when
! any form or organization Of government proves
| inadeQ uate for, or subversive of this purpose
it is the right, it is the iuty of the latter to
| alter or abolish it. The BIN of Rights of S-ir-
ginia, framed in l71G, reaftrmed IN 1880, and
| again in 1871, expressly reserves this right to
| the majority OF her people, and the existing
Constitution does Rot confer upon the Genera
| Assembly the power to call a Oon ntion to
alter It's provisions, or TO change the rellti0ns
| o: the Common wealth, without the previously
| expressed consent of such majority. The act
| of the General Assembly calling the Conven.
| tloE which assembled AT Richmond in Feb
| ruary last was therefore usurpa'iOn; and the
| ConNeLtinn thus called has not only abused
| the po"trs pOmiDally entrusted to it, but
with the c"nnivaBce and active aid of the
Executive, has uFHrped and exercised other
| powers, 10 the rla.sirst t4jrlry OF the people,
! which, II permit &c, = III Inevitably subject
| them 20 4 lailita,rv d. <spot,sm.
THE Convention, by It's pretended ordi-
nances, he's required the people of Virginia to
| separate from, and wage war against the
| The citizens OF neiEhturias States with whom
| they have heretofore maintained friendly, So
| Cial and business relations.
1t has attempted to subyert the Union
| founded by Washington and his conpatri lot :
| in the purer days of the republic, which has
| conferred nneXampie1 pros osperity upon eyer9
| class OF citizens, and upon every section OF
| The country.
at has attempted to transfer the allegiance
! of the people to an Illegal Confederacy of re-
beltipus States, and req quired their submission
to It's pretended edicts and decrees.
1t has attempted 10 plGCe The whole mill
| tary force and military operation of the Com
| mon wealth under The control and direction O!
| such Coniedtracy, fo7 offensive as well rs de.
| fansiVe purposes.
alt has in con niunct with the State Xxx
ecutive, instituted. wherever their usurped
power extends, a reign Of terror, intended 10
suppress the free expression OF the Will OF the
people, making eCtIonS ii mOckery and q
fraud.
1.-The same combination, even before the
passage OF the pretended Ordinance Of Seces-
sion, Instituted war, ty the seizure and ap-
preparation OF the property of the Fejeral
Government, and by organizing and moboliZ-
ing armies, with the aYoyved purpose of cap
turing or des troying the Capital of the Union.
They have attempt TO br,ng the allie
glance OF the people OF the United States INTO
dlrect cOnniCt with their subordinate allie
glance to the State, thereby making obedience
t. theiT pretended ordinance treason against
the former.
eve, therefore, the delegates here Assem-
tieI in Convention TO devise such measures
and take such action as the welfare ot the
loyal citizens of Virginia may demand hav-
in& mutually considered the premises and
viewing with great concern the dlrIurahla
condition 10 which this once happy Common
wealth must be reduced, unless some regular
adequate remedy Is speedily opted, and a,1-
pealing 10 the Supreme Ruler OF the Universe
for the rectitude OF our in ten tionS, do hereby
in the name and on the behalf OF the good peo-
pie OF Virginia, soIemulY declare that the
pres"rv ton Of their dearest rights ard liber-
ties, and their security IN person and pro.
pertv, imperaii lively demand the recrgauiza- =
tion ct the Government Of the Common
wealth, aud that All acts OF said Con 3IOn
and Executive lending TO separate this Com e
on"ea1th from the United States or 10 levy
and carry on war against sihem, are without
adhere to the said Convention and Executive,
whether Legislative, Executive or judicial, ,
ara vacated -