Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-19
/, shall conclude "aseias; The PEACE cnd digit.
o; the Commonwealth"
VIRGINIA BILL nF RIGHTS.
Pissed Junc u. 1851

cl of 1850 81.
4 D>elar"ticn Ct Ejsh,s made by hr Psvr>
!cntoiirfs IF hs GGod Jeorle ef' Virginia
assembled in taN ard .';'ee Conrcn'j"n
;ch;ch rights Go *e'fGin 10 thru md tf.i,
p,s'c~j'g c$ ;as hcsis and .J*uada'i1@ e,
gorcTamc"t
Thu: all uieE, 77e hy nature equal, free
ard ind. pendent, and have certaia in::.:aI
rights Of which. when theT cc.cs irto y -:
ci .occ.r. they canGot, ny snv com2ac::. d,
p::T1 nr d:7c7. thci. Tosterl!y namely. II.
cr;o, ,uca: Of life and '::a".ty, m.:h the n3af';
:: acq':.ring ard progressing prnper'r. Ard
pursuing arG obtaining happiness and salty.
Q That ali r;.wer is vested in. ard c9.s:
:n@u;!y derived i.oai tic pcop,c; ,aal usg:s
'rnlss are their trustees ard srr:aa,:s, and &:
al times anenable to them.
3 That government Is, or ought TO be in.
sti:u,cd for The common benefit protection and
sccu'ity Of the people. nation or community
OF all the varieus modes and f,-rs Of govern
lnent, that is best which IS capable {! produ:
ing the greatest degree Of happiness and safe
t., ard IS most :f.ciuaiiy secured AGAINST the
any government shall De found inadequate c-
contrary to these purposes. mi ,risy of the
community hath ca induti!abls, unalicnatic
ard indefeasiblc r;giis to reforru alter or aoal.
ish il, in such manner az shall bc judged t. os:
conducive to the public veal.
T. That no man, OF Sc: Of men arc entitled
10 exclusive or separate enouuentS or priTi.
!eccs from the community but in consldera.
tion OF pubic services, which, not beiag lie.
sccndahle, neither ought the otE.,aE OF .nagis
tratr, legislator or Judge to be hereditary.
5. That tic legislative, executive nad judi
ciai powers should he separate and distinct:
and that tnc members thereof may be restrain
ed from oppression, By feeling and par;icipat
ing the ourlhens Of the people, they should
n Gxci periods. be rcIucea 10 nrt:ctc Sta
ton, return into tia: hody !.on which they
were originally take-. ard the vacancies &c
supplied bv frequent, certain ard regular cleo
lions, in which all. OF anT par; Of the former
tho !a:7s shs'l direct.
C. That all elections ought to DO free, ant
t!lot ali rlea having sufficient evidence Of per.
manent common interest with, and attachment
to the community. have the right Of suffrage,
and cannot be taxed or deprived OF their pep.
cry for public uses, without their own con.
seu,, or that Of their representatives so elect
cd, nor boua1 by any law to which they have
no: in Ike manre. assen!ed, for the public
good.
:. That all po~er Of suspending Laws. CT the
execution O! laIs, by any authority, without
consent Of the representatives Of the people. is
injurious 70 their rights and c":ht not 20 be
cxarcisrd
S Tha. ii Ill c.,.;ta! or criminal pToSccu
TONS 2 man hath right to demand the cause
arl natGro O. mis- accusation, TO be confronted
with the accuSeTs aad witnesses. 10 caH fer Ell.
dcacc in t;is t.YoT, and 70 s2ccdr trial % Al
:i.rrIial Jury OF twelve men Of his ":c!-.
ace, without whose unanimous consent he
cannot be inuad guilty: nor can he 2"
compelled tG -iTe evidence against himself {;
tia; M ,r,n be deprived O. ;:is ;lher;c, cxccp:
b. the iaw ol .hc aGd or the jodgmen: OF MS
pears.
Q. That csccssir. bail ought rot 20 be r,
CURED, ncr excessive fires imposed, nor crds.
AID u:nsral punishment in;ic;e'.
10 Thai general warrants. whereby at
{ ffi.cr or messenger may be c).2:na1dc1 to
s.yrch srenected placer w:thcu: cTi:iec:e 6: :
Sc: committed, or TO s>iZn anv person CT per
%nac not named. or whose offence is n"s par
.:cl.ar!7 dr sc:ib.i and supported - eriG:3c".
are srierous ard oppressive, am! ousr: not %
Dc granted.
Il. Thei II controversies respecting pro
.,eT:y. ard l.. s:lis 5cgween m2n and cis", ;':'-
aac"1: Trial by i Ivy ii two iTc rncH. is p!siei
a,,'. 10 anr other, sn:; ought 70 bc rid .c:cG.
- TIN: the frcc1er2 cf he press is &c =:
the :.eat bv'Sark, ii liberty, &nc! can Nc7cE
BE- restrained! hui b. 'iesPG:ic governments.
Is. Tia: well regulated militia c":ap"Sc;'
&C. thn oojy oc the p"o3l!, trained 10 arr, :
nc p7c1er, natural ar,, safe deie!cc OF :. IL.
; ate; tt.rt stan':ia. armies, i; ;:c:c Of pea"
.;ic,.,d na arciie,i rs dangerous 20 liberty anG
thu, in IL! cas- the military should b. unf'E
S;,ict subordlnaion 10 and governed o. tic
civil roxsr.
IL. That the people have I ri sht 70 IG!lcr1r
government; and therefore. that no goye1a
inent separate FROM, or ird1pendent of ;ns
government Of Virginia. ought TO he ercctcG 81
established within the limits thereof
IT, Tha, ~ free government o! the bless
ngs Of liberty, ran be preserved to any pe'p;'
but by hrl adherence TO justice moderat'on
temperance, frusai,ly and rlTtGc, and 5y
frequent recurrence TO fundamental princi pies
l6 That religion, or the duty which we ow'
- our Creator, ana the manner Of di$charsln'
it, can be dirc::aj Only BY reason and convic
ton, rot BY force or violence; and therefor
~! men are equally entitled to tic free eyerc;s
OF religion, according to the dictates Of con
science; ard that is is the mutual duty OF ai
to practice Christian lorhearaEce, love aEt
charity towards each other.
CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA.
l. Whereas, the delegates and Representa-
tives Of the good people Of Virginia, in Con
vea:ion assembled, on tho twenty ninth day c
June, in the year Of our Lord ore thousan'
sc7cn hundred and se:cnty.siZ Sntt
4, Caring. that whereas, George Inc In':d
King Of Great Eritain md Ireland, aHc E'ec'o
! Of IIlnovcr, before that time entrusted VI
the exercise CT the kinsly caice in Tie govern
nent OF Virginia, had eadc.rored to perveT
the s,mc into detestbls and lnsupporlaolt
t7Tarnv, br putting his negative oo Laws tn
most whole some and necessary for the pnbli
Good; by denying his governors permission
! to n:ts laws OF Immediate aud pressing in
por,aucc, unless suspended in their operation
for his assent, and when 20 suspended, neSec!
ing t., attend TO them for many years; uy rs
fusinS 10 pass certain other laws, unless III
persons to be benefited by them. would re
incuish thcines:nahle right Of rePresen'a,io
in the Legislature; by dissolving legislative as
sen5!ies repeatedly Gnd continually, for op7e
sing with manly frnness, his invssions Of th
rights 0; The people; when dissolved, by :cfl
sing IN cell others Tor long space Of time
taere5y leaving the political system withou
any Legislature head; by cndesvorins 10 preven
the population Of cur couatry, and fa- tha
pur59ss ohs.rrcting ,te laws for the natural
za.ion Of f,reigrers; By keeping among lis. j
:imc OF pescr. standing armies and ships {
wa-; By affecting to render the military ind
oendent of and superior to the c;7i! power; .
combining with others to subjec: ns ta a !o'
c:ca Jurisdiction, giving his assent to :aei
pretended acts Of legislation, for eiarterin
large bodies of armed troops among U:
for cn;ting of our trade with all parts
the world, f,r imposing taEss on Us ;'lteor
our consent, for d,priring rs 9! .ho beHtt'
Of tho t-isl rs jnr7, for Transporting US bS
vo,d seas to b, tried for prstecded c:irnce7, Il
susosnding onr osn Legislatures, and c:c.ai
,7e themselves invested WITH p'vc: 10 egsia: