Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-07-13
ron TIE Enquirer.
FIRST sERIEs-LcoNcLupr7.1
Letfera}rom a gentleman in tie after coun
try 20 his friend in Richmond.

Try 20 his friend IN Richmond.
IN my last letter, expressed it as my
opinion, that the number of free white p5-
pulation of country, was the proper stan
d@rd by which its repre- sentation ought to
be apportioued. j Will now attempt to
redeem the Pledge which l there gave, Of
satisfying YOU OF the correctness of this pro-
position. IL would be sufficient to sustain
the soundness oi this pos ton, merely TO
state that it was the principle upon which
our wise ancestors acted, when they laid
the foundation Of our representative svs-
tenn. To their maXims, | shall never cease
to return, wh,n examining the truth OF DO
litical doctrines. They ought to be i'm
printed upon cur hearts in our early edu-
catou-they ought to be cherished to the
latest moment of our lives. If the opinions
of any men, who have ever lived in any
age OF the world, deserve the sanction of
authority, they are those If the patriots of
America, who tiour;shed at the commence
Inent OF our Ievo ution. What, then, have
they said ON this subject /? They have said
in their Bill OF i ehts, that every man
who has given sufficient evidence Of per-
aarent common interest with and attach
ment 10 the community, ought 10 enjoy the
right II sMDiags Ought to enjoy it how /!
In proportion to his wealth or, in propor
zion to The wealth of the country in which
he lives or, IN Irofl0rtfon to the amount Of
fGres which ne pays to the government p
BY no means ; he is to enjoy the right i'm its
fullest A1Gtnds. So soon as he p1yes this
evidence: And this evidence has been deci-
ded e. be a freehold. IF he asccrtains to the
Country, by the parchase of small freehold
not worth more than $500, that he is not
a StrugStcr, but that he intends perma-
uently to reside in the country and that he
feels an interest in its welfare, he is aulho-
rised by the max - contained in our Bill
of Rights, TO enjoy the right Of suffrage 20
the same ertent, as il lie owned a and d
estate worth a million. But tbe men who
laid down this maxim as one If the first in
their political creed, acted upon it them
selves in the apportionment thcy made Of
our representation. They paid no attention
co the comparative wealth OF particular Dor
tons OF the cOuItry, or tue amount of taxes
they paid. They adjusted il ACCORDING to
the number OF free white popnlatiOu.-
That was the only standard to Which they
had reference Why, then, IS she J1inci-
pie to be changed, which our ancestors
Thoughts good enc, and upon which they
1HtcHdc6 the government should be admin
istorrd Have We gained any new lights
which they do not enjoy !--or, have we
discovered that their republican mayims
a'c not calculated TO promote our political
happiness presume not If the right
of suffrage is intended IS renUncrati9ll
10 the cit zen for the burden which he.
bears under the government, why then, to
be sure, he ough, 60 enjoy tho right as il is
enjoyed by the Sf9ckiolders Of q Bank, in
proportion to the Stock which he contri-
butcs to the nationsl fund. a moments
calm reflection, viii dis, over 60 any candid
mind, the consequences Of such doctrine
IL would place the reins Of govern
ment completely in the hands Of tie veal
Thy part OF the community. The great
mass Of the people. Chose up n whom the
safety of the country must rest in the hour
Of danser and public dill ulty. those who
are tie real and substantial pillars of our
liberties.) would scarcely be heard in our
legislative councils. II would lead 70 an
odious aristccracy, and would insure the
dominion Of pride, of arrogance. ard final
~, Of an iasolerablc dsspotisn - gaiust