Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-12-24

true copy oi tne SAID Declaration Of Rights, Con-
stitltlon and Schedule, to be submitted to the
qlanned voters Tor ratification or rejection, as
prescribed therein: t5ss -
.sFEYsEA Given under my hand as Governor,
Is ssss ss< and under the seal of the Common
II EfIse6i wealth, at Richmond, this 18th day
of December, 1861, in the eighty
sixth year Of the Commonwealth. ,a sss
JOHN LETCHER. )
BY the Governor: 81 80 3 la7s' saT
s.R George w. Nunford, = ~ { - -'-f3 I
/ .se h, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
saG-l Publish in the Enquirer, Dispatch, Wing,
at Richmond; papers at Lynchburg, Danylle,
Norfolk, Petersburg, Charlottesville at Culpep-
er Court House, Warrenton, Wytheville,' Abing-
don, Lexington, Staunton,, Lewisburg,a Harri-
sonburg, Winchester, BerryviIIe, Romney, Ports
mouth. Fredericksburg, Tazewell Court House,
Farmvile, Leesburg, Charlestown, Jefferson
county,) Martinsburg, twice week for one
month, 1O9 l8&A
ssse A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
Made By the Representatives of the good people Q,
Virginia, assembled IN full and free Conoen:
tion, achicb rights do pertain to them and their
sposterity as the basis and foundation Of Coo
). eraanaeat. tf aae asa AA
/. That all men are by nature equally free and
independent, and have certain inherent rights, of
which, when they enteF into state OF society,
they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest
their posterity; namely, the enjoyment OF life
and liberty. with the means of acquiring and
possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining
happiness and safety. 'es~s Il - go
q That all power is vested in, and consequent
y derived from, the people; that magistrates are
their trustees and servants, and at all times
amenable to them. ~ ssushfress as,g
8. That Government is, or ought to be, insti-
tuted for the common benefit, protection and
security of the people, nation or conlmunity OF
all the various modes and forms of Government,
thatis best which is capable Of producing the
greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is
most effectually secured against the danger of
NAL administration and that, when any Govern
ment shall be found inadequate or contrary to
these pun poses, a majority of the community
hath indubitable, unalieuable and indefeasib le
right to reform, alter or abolish it, ia such man
ner as shall be Judged most conductive to the
public veal.
4. That no man, or set of men. are entitled to
exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges
from the community, but in consideration OF
public services. which, not being descendable,
neither ought the Offices Of agi trate, legislator
or jud ge to be hereditary.
| 5. That the Legislative and Executive powers
Of the State should be separate and distinct from
the Judiciary, ano that the members Of the two
first may be restrained from oppression, by feel
| ing and participating the burthens of the people,
| they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to q
private station, return into that body from which
they were originally taken, and the Hacancies be
supplied by frequent, certain, and regular cleo
| tions, IN which all, or any part of the former
members to be again eligible or ineligible as the
| laws shall direct.
! 6. That elections of all members to serve asl lep
resentatives Of the people in Assembly ought to
.e tree, and that all men having sufficient evi
dence Of permanent common interest with, and
attachment to, the community, have right OF
suffrage, and cannot be taxed or deprived OF their
pls perty for public uses, without their own con
sent, or that Of their representatives 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
exec tion of laws, by any authority, without
c. nsent of the representatives Of the people, il
Injurious to their rights, and ought not to be ex.
| ercsed. = ssiss 'f -7a <'# ~sas4'' -
/ g. That in all capital O.: criminal prosecutions
man hath right to demand the cause and na
l ture Of his accusation, to be confronted with
the aecusers and witnesses, to cali for evidence
in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an iinpar
1 ltial jury of his vicinage, without whose unanir
nous consent he cannot be found guilty mol
can he be com"eled to give evidence agains
himself; that no man be deprived Of his liberty
except by the law of the land or the judgment o.
his peers
9. That excessive bail ought not to be requir
| ed. nor excessive INES lmpOSou, nor cFu0I ant
| unusual punishment inflicted .' y.
/ 10. That general warrants, whereby an Officer
| or messenger may be commanded to search sus
pected places without evidence of fact commit
ted, or to seize any persos or persons not named
or whose offence is not particularly described
and supported bv evidence, are grevous and op
pressive, and ought not to be granted.
IL. That in controversies respecting property
and in suits between man and man, the ancient
trial by jury is preferable to any other and ough
to be held sacred. .3a1. 1H1 z
l2. That the freedom Of the press is one OF
the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be
restrained but by despotic Governme is. aas
| l3. That we'll regulated militia, composed c
the body of the people, trained to arms, is thu
proper, natural, and safe defence of flee State
that standing armies in time Of peace should bt
avoided dangerous to liberty and that in al!
cases the military should be under strict subor
aination to and governed by the civil power.
~ IA. That the people have right to uniform
Government and, therefore, that no Govern
ment separate from, or independent of, the Gov
ernment OF Virginia, ought to be erected or es
tabiished within the limits thereof. r.
15. That 20 free Government CT the blessings
of liberty can be preserved to any people but By
a firm adherence to justice, n,oder .tion, temper.
snce, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent re-
currence to fundamental principles.
l6. That religion, o. the duty which we owe
to our Creator, and he manner of discharging it
can be directed only by reason and conviction
not by force or violence and therefore al meI
are equally entitled to the free exercise Of reli-
gion according t. the dictates of conscience
and that it ls the mutual duty of all to practice
Christian forbearanee, love and charity towards
each other. asc
~ 5.-' CONSTITUTION. e
Il. Whereas the delegates and representatives
of the good people of Yirginir, in Convention as
sembied, on the twenty y-ninth day of June, in the
year Of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
fand seyenty-six-reciting and declaring, that
whereas, George the Third, King of Great Brit
ain and Ireland, and Eiector of Hanover, before
that time entrusted with The Of the king
LIZ office in the Government Of Virginia. had en-