Virginia Bill of Rights
189
should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that
body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain and regular elections, in which all, or any part
of the former members to be again eligible or ineligible, as the laws shall
direct.
VI. That all elections ought to be free, and that all men having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to
the community have the right of suffrage, and cannot be taxed, or deprived of their property for public uses, without their own consent, or
that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which
they have not in like manner assented, for the public good.
VII. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by
any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exercised.
VIII. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions, a man hath a right to
demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the
accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to speedy
trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose
unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled
to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of