Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-15
FOR THE VIRGINIA ARGUS.
ADDRESS.

FELLOW CITIZENS,
We address youby the appointment of a
meeting which was held in Harrisburg, on the
2lst of June. On that occasion, the subject Of
the inhibitions to the exercise of the elective
franchise was considered, and it was determined
UNANIMOUSLY, that it was necessary to direct the
public attention to 1ns very interesting and I'M
portant topic. The committee, in pursuance of
he powers vested IN them, assembled, and adopt
ed the following resolutions expressive of their
opinions, and prepared the accompanying Me
mortal TO the Legislature of Virginia:
Resolued, /. That we cord lalk assent to IN +.
doctrine inculcated IN the Bill of Rights-se IN
men, hduing sufficient evidence Of bermaneDs
common interest zuth, and attachment TO the Com
,nifmty, hare the right ofsufidge, ana cannot be
tdred Or debrfued their property FIR b,t5Ec use
Srisiout their o1vn consent, that fteir Rebreseh
tdtfres, nor bound by any in1V, 10 1pch they haze
nor, IN IKE manner dssentedjor The b1t5hcgood"
2. That to withhold theright of suffrage from
large majority of the active Militia & those per-
sons who pay taxes, IS unjust, iinpolitc, and anti
republican," a Rebresentat,ue Democracy is me
ordinance Of COD"
5. That We VIII use all legal means in our
power, TO procure the regulation Of the elective
franchise in this Commonwealth, so as to accord
with these sentiments.
From the history of the progressive improve
ments of this commonwealth in every point con-
nected with the real prosperity of the BODY poll
tic, when contrasted with some of our Sister
States-the vast difference is so obvious, that the
rejecting mind IS insensbly induced 10 inquire
what can be the cause why the oldest State in
the Union should be in every respect SO far dis
tanced in improvement by those which are of so
much later establishment An accurate and I'M
partial investigation would convince all persons
that to the tendency of the system wh.ch demands
certain quantity of wealth as a qualification for.
the exercise OF the inalenable rights, which eve
ny man who contributes to the public expend-
ture, or who endangers his life m his country's
service, naturally possesses, this slow meorat or
of the state III every desirable advantage must
chiefly be imputed.
The Convention whoissued the Bill Of Rights
have declared, that by no compact can men divest
Their posterity of this privilege; and many cir
cumstances have manifested the necessity Of adj
herng stedtNstly to this truth the peculiar op-
preston OF the existing system, and the tendency
II has TO produce N the minds of those who have
no voice in representation, a comparative apathy
on great questions of public benefit, and an in
difference TO the acquisition of necessary know
ledge upon the TRUE interests ofthe Nation thus
exposing them TO the danger of benp. deIuded in
forming a correct Judgment upon those measures
winch are necessary 20 promote the general well
tare. Besides, during the late war, had all the
Militia, who are AZ present restricted from the
invaluable right of Suffrage, CONFIRMED TO this
article Or The Bill ORR ghts, by declaring them
selves not bound by the laws Of which thcv had
no part in the formation, ere the dispute between
the Government and the People could have been
ayusted-the Country would have been desolat-
Ell and by no just procedure could they have
been coerced mo the military sery ce, and by no
republican principle can taxes be demanded of
those who sanction not the law which imposes
tnem-to genuine love ofCountry in every en-
hghtened milIta-man must his selfdcvotion ~
her cause be ascribed, and not to the Justice of
the clam upon him,or the acquisitions of duty.
Ii IS not little extraordinary that the denial
OF this right to the inhabitants of this Country.
was one of the charges which the Convention al.
eyed against the King Of England, as their iusti.
hcatlon for an appeal to arms To defend Their ma
liiral privileges. That men should paw by taxa
ION to the public fund, without voice in the
election of the Legislators by whom those taxes
are imposed, was the grand political heresy for
Inch the men Of 1776 declared the independ-
ence ofthe United States, and resorted to the
word as the only mode of permanently estab.
,tshmg their doctrine and that any man should
DE called TO bear the prvations and be exposed
the dangers of military service withou part.
paing by any mode in the formation of the law
hich imposes his duty and cxacts his compli-
nce with it, is entirely subYersiYe Of all natural