Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-31

such men only will be called to the ser.
vice OF their country, who have age, dis.
erection, and talents, to recommend them.
ne charaeter of the Virginians is suai-
Client to fortfy us in tha, hope. Their
love OF peace and the uncommon share
otintormationd iifused through the various
parts OF the state, are sufficient euaran-
Tee tor the virtue of the selection and the
discretion Of tile agent. And should q
convention ever be summoned, we might
expect that another crisis would arrive
whose termination would serve to
strengthen the principles of republican
government, * Increase our confidence in
the wisdom & virtue ofou fellow citizens.
| wish, said Mr.. b. to have an epporinni.
ty OF expressing my opinion Of the defects
ut the present constitution. i wish that
the people themselves should have an OPP.
portunity Misunderstanding the subject and
expressing their opinions. Let US, then.
subn; the proposition at once TO their
consideration.
We have been teld (said Mr.. b. that
there are few restless, discontented in
dividuals, who complain, and that the
fault is in them and not in the CONSTITUTE
on Certainly myself enjoy The most
perfect personal liberty am happy and
contented; my property in common with
that of the people at large is sacred and
respected But here is yet class oil peo-
pie in the community who are very daft
ferentiy circums'anced men who are di
vested OF all political rights, and left at
the mercy Of their governors. I aliude,
Sir, 10 hose who are deprived of,he righf
of suffrage.
The Bill Of Rights declares, thai "inen
canno be deprived of ;heir property FOR
public uees, without their own consent, or
hat oil their representatives. SO elecicd
nor bound by any law 70 which they have
no, la like manner, assen,cd for tl& pub
lie good" Yet does no, every person
know, that nine ten,hs OF ,b: free men
lof the state are disfranshisetl, aud cx=-
Guided from all agency in The councils
which give The law binding UPON the peo-
Pile of the commonwealth Men who are
thus derived Of The privilege of eieeting
representatives., are as much ensisyed as
hose unfortunate Seiags who inbabit the
rGrkish Empire. If they enjoy more
personal liberty; If they suffer lass vex-
atoms in the management ofth, ir proper
y; IL rs because ,hsir nsas,ers are snore in
dn!gent, & not thar they are less absolute.
This state Of political existence is peculi-
arly oppressive, since he Bill OF Rights
IN the clause which has been recited, pro
misses the reverse, Upsn what principles,
then has this sacred and invaluable pro.
zisisn been violated for VIVA. purposes?
we shall be told perhaps, THAT these PEG
pie pay no taxes, and that they should
nor therefore participate in tn admins
ration of the government. But is this
argument correct? Are land.holders sbe
Only persons, who pay taxes! Men With
nut land possess slaves. horses. and other
property, subject To taxation. Even WHEN
destitute OF these thew render personal
services to the government Are not
these TO be deducted from the little Dit
lance allotted TO themselves and depen-
iant family, and under this point of view
may they not fairly, be considered as a
tax upon their Industry and subsistence
10 TAR then as the argument OF tax,tion
applies, 1t IS obviously unGoundeI. Rut
ie governments Instituted for the pur-
poses OF taxntiou alo4e? Let it be recoI-
iecsea that the laws which define crimes
and punlshnents, and by whose Influence
ihs personal liberty of every individual IA
'ecured or endang red the laws which
regula'e the mode oftransfetrj1g and ac.
CURING property and let il also b: recnl
'eStcd, that the laws which aopor,ien ib,.
military services Of the citizen; are in.
ieres,ag TO every one whether he he a
'and-hnlder or not. No doubt II Is rich,
that society should demand some " ev;.
dencc OF common interest with. and AT
iachment to the Community . THE qua.
i,hcslions OF age, colour and s~x were no
dou5t indispensable. For in what situation
should we be placed, wefe We to see ,h,-
SABLE race crowding round OH, poll,
and CONTROLLING our elections (! For the
same reason perhaps, minors and femnles
should be excluded from the rieht nj ar
hase, though for my own part (saij Mr..
B) l have no very strong obie alon 10 the
latter. But why should this pledge con.
sst In property, or why should one soe.
cles OF property be preferred to another ?
Where IS the justice OF requiring 25 -
stead OF one or $4,000 acres as the Qua.
LITIGATION of an eleeior1 Let /, be granted
tina, some standard is necessary: bur let
that standard no oue ,ub;cL o,,,L..--.- =, .