Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1811-12-02

iE'he hapse died, N the lmesn time, j, ws'
d eu,, 10 decide whether the rightsggsset
with the m~n or the horse
AIR Randolph con,en6ed that this was
not contest between the rich and the poor,
rs Il had been represented on the contra
~, il was aquesIihn between the landed in.
trTest and the transient passenger; for the
richest man in Virginia(in money, stock, sc }
would nor be allowed 10 vote, unless he was
freeholder-Thers bad, he said. fervor
prevailed in that state for a short time for
altering The constitution (by means of con-
vention) SO as to extend the right of suf-
frage but it had subsiceU on reflection /;
for il was found that the convention would
be nothing more than the old house OF dele
gates with nick name. AS TO the argu
ment of the gentleman from Maryland Mr..
Wrigh) that mas possessing Is, 900 acres
might parcel them out into dIffefent tree
holds in order to enable a number of men
20 vote, Mr. Randolph observed, that if the
gentleman's principle would not prevent him
from doing such thing (ss he believed it
ayould) there was something else which
would at least prevent him (Mr. r from
doing il, and that was his interest for he
should be afraid that the persons to whom
,he property was conveyed, might feel IN
clined 10 remain freeholders. He conclu-
ded by moving that the committee rise.
Mr.. Smile expressed his regretthat the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. RAndolph)
Should have taken the present occasion, to
give side blow to foreigners. He saw no
>propriety in connecting Tom Paine and the
Al ho1 To
coNtended that the writings Of Paine had
been of inealcuiable benefit TO this country.
With regard to o freehold being the only
proper qualification, he inquired whether
the gentleman meant to insist that the state
of Virginia possessed more wisdom than
Vermont, Pennsylvania, w-Jersey, and
Maryland, where no such qualification was
required
Mr.. Fisk also spoke in reply to Mr. RAN
dolph, after>which the latter withdrew his
motion for the committees rising.
MIR. Poindexter again objected to the bill
as it stands, on the ground that 1t did not
even require citizenship, by which means
many SpaDiards would De entitled 70 vote,
and that man might vote in two counties,
the one in which he resided and the other
N which his property lay, &c.
Mr.. Randolph disclaimed all idea Of wan
Ton attacks on foreigners Some of his
most valuable friends were men who had
emigrated TO this country since the revolu-
sloa. He said he had referred TO the impor-
ted patriots of the present day. He was
glad TO find the genlleman from Pennsylys-
ria had confined his commentators OF Tom
Paine TO tie Rights Of Man, without bring
ing III the Age Of Reason For his own
cart, Mr.. r. said, the ideas of Top Paine
aud the Devil were sointimately associated
in his mind, that he could not think of the
one without recalling the other: Nor did
lie believe that the Washingtons and Han.
cocks ofthis country required to be spurred
- resistance 10y an English Stay maker
she revolution would have gone on without
him. lf the gentleman from Pennsylvania
was disposed TO defy Tom Paine, he should
not JOIN in the worship Mr.. K expressed
his unwiliingness to encourage rmigrations
from the old states especially at this impor-
tant crisis. lie hoped we should take care
of ourselves first, ana OF the people on the
Missouri afterwards.
Mr. Smile denied having made any re
ference to Tom paine's religious creed
that was matter between himself and bis
Cod He respected the man for his polti-
cal writings.
As soon as Mr.. concluded, a motion
was made anl agreed TO, that the commit
lee rlse, report progress, and ask leave 10
sit sgain (Which was gsanted.)
And then the house adjourned (half past
three.)