Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-07-19
Declaration OF the People OF Virginia.
represented In Convention in Wheel

represented In Convention in wheel.
ing June 13, 1861.
The true purpose Of all Government
ia to promote the welfare and provide
for the protection and security of the
governed; and when any form or organ
ization of Government proves inadequate
for or subversive of this purpose, it is
the right, it is the duty of the latter to
alter or abolish it. The Bill of Rights
of Virginia, framed in 1776, reatfirmed
in 1880, and again in 1851, expressively
reeerves this right to the majority Of
her people, and the existing constitu-
ton does not confer upon the General
Assembly the power to call a Conven-
ton to alter its provisions, or to change
the relations of the Commonwealth
without the previously expressed con-
sent of such majority. The act of the
General Assembly, calling the Conven-
ton which assembled at Richmond in
February last, was therefore usurpa-
ton; and the Convention thus called
has not only abused the powers nomi-
nally entrusted to it, but, with the
the connivance and active aid of the ex-
ecutive, has usurped and exer, ised other
powers, to the manifest injury of the
people, which, if permitted, will i'll
evitabiy subject them to military des-
potism.
The Convention by its pretended or
dinances, has required the people of
Virginia to separate from and wage war
against the Government of the United
States, and against the citizens of neigh
boring States with whom they have
heretofore maintained friendly, social
and business relations.
1t has attempted to subvert the Union
founded by Washington and his CO.
patriots in the purer days of the repub-
lie, which has conferred unexampled
prosperity upon every class of citizens
and upon every section of the country
1t has attempted to transfer the allie
glance Of the people to an illegal Con,
federacy of rebellious States, and re.
quired their submission to its prenten-
ded edicts and decrees.
1t has attempted to place the whole
military force and military operations
of the Commonwealth under the control
and direction of such Confederacy. fol
offensive as well as defensive purposes
1t has in conjunction with the State
Executive, instituted wherever their
usurped power extends, reign of terror
intended to suppress the free expression
of the will of the people, making elec
tions a mockery and a fraud.
The same combination. even before
the passage of the pretended ordinance
of secession, instituted war by the seiz
ure and appropriation Of the property
Of the Federal Government, and by or
ganizing and mobilizing armies, with
the avowed purpose of capturing or de
stroying the Capital of the Union.
They have attempted to bring the al
legiance of the people of the United
States into direct conflict with theil
subordinate allegiance to the State
thereby making obedience to their pre-
tended ordinances, treason against the
former.
We, therefore, the delegates here as
SemDleQ Ill convention 10 QeVlSe Sucl
measures, and take such action as the
safety and welfare of the loyal citizen:
of Virginia may demand, having ma
turely considered the premises, anc
viewing with great concern the deplora
BILE condition to which this once happy
Commonwealth must be reduced, unles:
some regular adequate remedy is speed
lily adopted, and appealing to the Su
preme Ruler of the Universe for the
rectitude of our intentions. do hereby
in the name and on the behalf Of the
good people of Virginia, solemnly de-
clare, that the preservation of theil
dearest rights and lib critics, and then
security in person and property, imper
atively demand the reorganization o
the government Of the Commonwealth
and that all acts of said Convention anc
Executive, tending to seperate this
Commonwealth from the United States
or to levy and carry on war agains
them, are without authority and void
and that the offices of all who adhere tc
the said Convention and Executive
whether Legislative, executive or judi
cial, are vacated.