The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-18
PASSED APRIL l., ls6s.


PREAMBLE.
Whereas the delegates and renrcsento-
i'VeS CT Tho good people Of Virginia. in
convention assembled, On the 29,h day Of
June, III the Year of cur Lord ore thousand
sv7en hundred sud scyenty.six. recitino
a"A declaring that whereas George the
I1ir4, hlnc OF Grea: Britain and ireland
AMI htecior OF Hanover, before that tine
entrusted W!;h the exercise OF the k;nrlv
o'ASe IL t@e government Of Virginia, had
t"lcaVorea to pcrvert the same into q de-
'cS'&0!e and lnsup?oitahle tyranny by put
'n6 his negative on laws the most whsle-
some ana necessary fer the public good :
~ denying his governors rorrnission to
pass laws OF immediate and pressing in
lortance, unless suspended in their orera
10" io7 has &s7cut, and when SO suspenda5
neE:ecuuG TO attend to them for MANY
wears ny refusing to pass certain other
laws unless TIE persons 10 he benefited by
them would Tciinquish the jaestimablo
right Of representation in the Legislature ::
hy dtssolYlng Legislative assemblies rcpeat-
tIiy and continually for opposing with
manly hrmneSs his invasion OF the rights
al the people when dissolved, by refusing
10 call others for long space Of time
thereby leaving the political system with
out any legislative head by enleaYorinc
to prevent the population of our country,
aad Tor that purpose obssruc.iug the laws
for naturalization of foreigners; by keep
ing among Us in time Of peace standing
armies and ships Of war; by affecting TO
render the military independent of aud
superior 10 The civil power; by combining
~ ~ = to g.
dlCD0n, giving his assent to their pretended
acts Of legislation, for quarteripg large
bodies 0! armed troops among US, for cut
ting OF! cur trade with all parts of the
wov.d, fer imposing taxes on Us without our
consent, for dcprigirg Us Of the benefit Of
the trial by jury, ioC trans porting US beyond
the seas Tor trial for pretended offences,
for susnendiug cur 0wl Legislators, and
declaring themselves invested with power
to lcgsIGte for Us in all cases whatsoever !;
BY piuEderlEg cur selc, rayaging our
coasts, burning our towns, and destroying
the lives OF oar people by melting insur-
rcction of our fellow subject with the
al!urements Of forfeiture and confscation :;
By prompting our negroes TO rise in arms
among us-tho8e very negroes whom, by
an inhuman use Of his negative, ne had
refused Us permission TO exclude By laW !;
By cndeaVoYiag to bring on the inhabitants
OF our fGontierst the me7ciless Indian Bayages,
whose known rule Of warfare is an undis
ti2suished destruction Of all ages, sexes,
and conditions Of existence by transport
ing hither a large army Of foreiga mercc
narieB 20 complete the work OF death, desc
lation, and tyranny, then already begun,
with circumstances Of cruelty and perfiy
unaorthy the mead Of civilized nation ;
b. nsTcricS cur repeated petitions for
redress with d repetition o. Injuries and =,
finally, by abandoning the helm Of govern
ment aod declaring us out f his allegiance
and protection hy which several acts Of
m:srulc the government Of this country, as
before exercised under Tie Crown Of Great
Britain, vas to;ally diSgolved-did, there
fore, having EatUrely considered the prem
ises, and viewing with great concern the
dep.orut-c condition 70 which this once
happy country would be reduced unless
sooe regular, adequate mode Of civil policy
should ne speedily adopted, and in com
pIiance with tae rec0mme nGatioD Of the
General Cong ESD, ordaiu and declare q
form OF government Of Virginia:
And whereas {! convention held on the
fret Monday il October IN the year one
thousand eight hundred and tWenty-ninc
all propose 10 tie people of the Common
wealth an amended constitution. or form Of
gyTcruuGut, which vas ratified by them:
And whereas the General Assembly OF
Virginia, by 2u act passed on the fourth Of
March II tic year one thousand eight hum
4,eG ana fry did provide Tor the election
ty the people Of delegates to meet in gen
2ral conYeution to consider, discuss, and
propose 4 new constitution, or alterations
and amendments TO the existing ConstltU-
Uon Of this Commonwealth and by On act
passed On the thirteenth Of March in the
Year enc thousand eight hundred and fifty
one did further provide for submitting the
Z, same 10 tie PEOPLE fer ratification or reJec-
ton; and the same having been submitted
accordingly Vas ratified by them:
Ala whereas the General Assembly Of
Virginia BY an Get passed On the twenty
a.et day Of December in the year one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three
did provide Tor the election by me people
OF delegates 10 NEE: in general convention
to consider, Giscuss, and adopt alterations
ard amendments TO the existing Const!tu-
ton Of lhls Commonwealth, the delegates so
assembled did, therefore, having maturely
considered the premises, adopt q revised
and amended constitution rs the form of
government Of Virginia:
and whereas the Congress o. the United
states uld by an act passed On the second
DAY OF March in tho year one thousand
eight hundred g.I BiXtyseyen, and emit
tie, AN &c; 20 provide for the more eff
cient government Of the rebel States" and
by acts supplementary thereto, passed on
the twcnty-thiId 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 cf
Virginia qualified to vote under the pro-
visions Of said act8 OF Delegates to meet in
convention TO frame o constitution or form
Of government FOR Virginia, in conformity
with said acts; and by the same acts did
further provide for the submitting of such
constitution 10 the qualified voters for rati-
fcation or rejection:
We, therefore, the delegates of :he good
people OF Virginia, elected ind in conven-
ton assembled n pursuance OF said acts,
invoking the favor and guidance Of
Almighty God, DO propose TO the people the
following constitution and form of govern
men. for this Commonwealth
ARTICLE l.
ELL OF RIGHTS.
4 Declag alton of Rights laadc by tie re-
presentQtiveS Of the good people of Ftr-
1iniQ assembled in J,ul and free conuen-
ton, och;ch rights DO pertain to them and
TIER postsrity as The basis and Foundation
n { UO1,yr1lngnt.