The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-18
rIrppAY MORNING, APRIL Is.

r,raIsle1 ny eRC SVshsSAASAVR =
which met in Richmond
on the Sd day OF Be- M
ccrnber, 1867.
,,s the delegates and representatives
Nhe.e"5 ,eople of Virginia in con ven ton as.
Of 'eeIsS on the 29th day of June, in the year of
sefn22Toa -s one thousand seven hundred and Sc.
oas n reciting and declaring, that whereas
[e ns the Third, King Of Great Britain and
Corr and E,ectcr of Hanover, before that
I!eSn" ,-nsted with the exercise Of the kingly
tr'e ca ~ The government of Virginia, had en-
ohcr ~ pervert the same into detestable
6ea'V; nsnpportable tyranny by putting his
a anu on laws the most wholesome and
nes"Sssry for the public good; by denying his
pece %,Snts permission to pass laws Of imme.
foNa and pressing Importance, unless sus-
diA'S W .heir operation for his assent, and
~ 90 suspended. nesiecting to attend to
W., for many years; by refusing to pass
."r,ain other laws, unless. the persons to be
SSe....G%ed by them would relinquish the in
T,a,ble right of representation In the legis.
en- hy dissolyipg legislative assemblies
la. 80 ,edE and continually for opposing with
IpIv firmness his inyasions of the rights of
~ ia ;;aonle: when dissolved, by refusing to
.sT others for g long space of time, thereby
,.",.;rg The political system without any legis-
I've mead; by endeavorine to prevent the
n,nnia-ion Of our country, and for that pur-s
~ obstructing the laws for naturalization
- foreigners by keeping among us in time
~ mace standing armies and ships Of war !;
~ INJECTING TO render the military independ-;
W, of and superior to the civil power; by
.ambjpiDg with others to subject us to @ for
sirn jurisdiction, giving his assent to their
nreteHded acts OF legislation, for quartering
Iarre bodies Of armed troops among US, for
Mining eff our trade with all parts Of the
world' for imposing taxes on MS without our
consent, for deprivingy us OF the benefit of the
,rial bv iury for transporting us beyond seas
for trial for pretended offences, for suspend
inr our own Legislatures and declaring them
lives invested with power to legislate for us
N ali cases whatsoever; by plGndering our
.aas rayagiug our coasts, burning our towns,
md DESTROYING the lives OF our people; by in
ririrr Instructions of our fellow subjects
with the allurements of forfeiture and confiS-
cation BY prompting our negroes to rise in
arms among us-those very negroes whom, by
an inhuman use Of his negative, he had re-
fused US permission to exclude by law !; by
andeayorins 10 bring on the inhabitants Of
our frontiers the merciless Indian sayages,
whose known rule Of warfare is an undtstin-
gu!shed destruction of alag sexes, and con-.
dRions OF existence; by transporting hither q
large army Of foreign mercenaries to complete
the work of death, desolation, ana tyranny,
then already begun, with circumstances OF
cruelty and per1ldy unworthy the head of
civilized nation; by answering our repeated
petitions Tor redress with q repetition of in
juries and finally, by abandoning the helm
Of government and declaring us out OF his
allegiance and protection by which several
lc,s OF misrule The government OF this coun-
try, rs before exercised under the Grown of
Great Britain, was totally dissolyed-did,
therefore, having maturely considered the
premises, and viewing with great concern the
leporable condition to which this once happy
ountry would be reduced unless some regu-t
n, adequate mode of civil policy should be
peedly adopted, and in compliance with the
of the general congress, or.
ain and declare 4 form Of government OF Viz
mia: a ste.t.- ~
And whereas q convention held on the first
Ionday in October, in the year one thousand
ight hundred and twenty-nine, did propose
0 the people of the Commonwealth an amend
4 Constitution, or form OF government,
;hich was ratified by them:
And whereas the General Assembly OF Nir-
iGia by IN set passed on the fourth OF March,
n the year one thousand eight hundred and
itlv did provide for the election, by the peo-
pie, of delegates TO meet in general conven-s
ion 10 consider, discuss, and proposea new
or alterations ana amendments
o the existing Constitution OF this Common
wealth; and by an act passed on the thir-
zenith Of March, in the year one thousand
light hundred and fifty-one, did further
rroyide for submitting the same to the peo-
Die for ratification or rejection; and the same
laving been submitted accordingly, was rati-
led by them -
,inia. BY an act passed on the. twenty firstday
# December, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and siXty-thrse, did provide for the
election, by the people, of delegates to meet
in GENERAL convention to consider, discuss, ana
adop, alterations and amendments to the ex-
slim Constitution of this Commonwealth,
The delegates so assembled did, therefore,
having maturely considered the premises,
adont revised and amended constitution rs
the form of governmental Virginia
And whereas the Congress of the United
States did, by an act passed on the second day
of March in the wear one thousand eight hun
dred and siXty.seyen, and entitled :" An act 10
provide for the more efficient government
for the rebel States" and by acts supplement
tarv thereto, passed on the twenty third DAY
OF March and the nineteenth day OF july, IN
the year one thousand eight hundred and
sixty seven, provide for the election, by the
people of Virginia qualified to vote under the
provisions of said acts, of delegates to meet In
convention to frame constitution or 1or1n OF
government for Virginia, in conformity with
sid acts: and BY the same acts did 1urtner
provide for the submitting of such constitu-
ton 10 the qualified voters for ratification or
rejection.
We therefore, the delegates of the good peo-
pie OF Virginia elected and In convention
assembled, in pursuance of said acts, invoking
IL
propose TO the people the following Constitu-
lion and Form Of Government LOT TINS Com-
moaweallh: Es 4
ARTICLE I. ,
BILL OF RIGHTS.
Declaration Of Rights made by the RepreSentd-
tires Of tie good people Of Virginia assembled IN
Jull and free Convention, anttch rights 40 per,
tain 10 them and their posterity as the oasis ana
Foundation Of government.
That al an 70 NV ,ootura aunallu free
and independent, and have certain lnherent
rights, OF which, when they enter into q state
OF society, they cannot by any compact de-
pTl'e or dvest their posterity-namely, the
enjoyment Of life and liberty, with the means
OF acquiring and possessing property, and pnr-
suing and obtaining happiness and safety.
IL. That this State shall ever remain
member of the United States of America, ana
that the people thereof are part of the Anne
rican nation, and that all attempts, from
whatever source, or upon whatever pretee1l,
10 dissolve said Union or to sever said -natio9
are unauthorized, and ought to be resisted
with the whole power Of the State.
Ill. That the Constitution OF the .Unltea
States, and the laws of Congress passed IN
pursuance thereof, constitute the supreme la"
VI the land, 10 which paramount allegianee
and obedience are due from every citizen, any
thlng in the Constitution, ordinances, or laws
OF any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
~. That all power is vested in, and conse-
quently derived from, the people; that magis.
'raies are their trustees and servants, ana al
al Times amenable to them.
'. That government is, or ought to be, In
siltuted for the common benefit, protection,
and security of the people, nation, or commu.
MY Of all the various modes and forms OF
government, that is best which is capabie OF
producing the greatest degree Of happiness
and safety, and is most effectually secured
against the danger Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.; AND
hat, when any government shall be found In
adequate or contrary to these purposes, a
majority Of the community hath an indubita-
ole, inalenable, and indefeasible right to re-
form, alter, or abolish it, in such manner rs
shall he indnnd roSaSt nnnduniya To the nuhllc