Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-07-13

which set out, which ,7as to prove 70 you
| that the qualification ot property was re
qdred merely as evidence of permanent
citizenship and attachment TO the Country
and that the amount Ut wealth b.iong ny
70 a part % che country, ought not 70 be
taken into consideration, IN apport,oning
the amour. OF representation. On this
subject, IL US listca to the remarks of q
British Ju Sc, alcArncd and jealous sup
porter oI the British constitution. 1t will
Surprlze YOU. perhaps, 70 hnd his lie s
more consistent with republican principles,
more directly opposed to the inbuence OF
wealth. III the affairs of governments. than
the DOCTRINES we hear sometimes advanced
IN our own country.
The true reason. says Judge Black
stone. of requiring any qualification with
regard tn proper,yin voters, 10 To- exclude
such persons, rs are in 50 mean situation,
that they arc esteem; to have no win Of
tneir own. II these psrslns had votes,
they would be tempt 4 to dispose OF ther,
under some undue influence or other. This
would give great, or an artful. or T1eul-
thy man, a lar.er Sharein elections, than
rs consistent with general liberty If ,c
qveTe hro6a6ie iAGt cory aia,, 7go'lld pfyr
his Uote freely, and qvithoaf i,.fusnce Of
any Kind, then, ithon the trilc theory, and
sen"ine hrincif!ies Of liberty. every mem
Der u the community. ho9yeoer h57r,
shoNld haVe Uofe az e(rciing those deie-
gates 90 TvtoSc cierec IS connittcd the dis
fosai Of hiSH'rgiery, his liberty cn1 his
We But since thae can hardly be expect
ed In psrso"s OF in;liSent fortunes, or such
as are urder the immediate dominion of ~
Tiers, All popular states have been oblig. d
to establish c-rtstn qualifications, wh >r, by
rod 70 NO.
their own, arc excluded from voting. III II
der to SIT other individuals whose wis niey
be supposed i'lIehende7.t, more Thoroughly
upon a level with each other" The Judge
afterwards says, that the richest nan can
vote 6u o';cc, If his property al, lies in enc
Place tu- i it IS diffused, he has, hro5a-
oLy. night, (undsr the British Cc7s;i u
fiOn, % vote more than once. He * II. re
speaking CT the pract!c. under the British
government, be It remembered, and not q
the true theory of representation The
same abiurd practice prevails in this ccun-
try, ana 1T Is d practice as contrary 10 the
real spirit OF our constitution, as 1t is de STU
tute OF justice and reason. BY such a rule,
a man is authorised to vote t5ricc, II he is
the proprietor Of an inConsiderab.e estate
IN two counties but # he OWLS millions III
one county, he can vote but once. But
Judge Blackstone contends, that the ONLY
reason ter which property to any amount
Is required, IS that the " ter may be Jade
pendent, and net subject TO the will of o.
Tiers, and to exclude the Tich from having
too great an influence in elections. The
5GTe ''defiendence of the voter, * the Only
thing required, and the only reason upon
winch smell property was made quail
tication. The theory of Representation
tnen. as 1t is understood eUen in H.rgiund,
50 far from being based upon the idea, that
90eai!h is to be favored, is founded upon
reasons diametricalIy opposite Ac, ordi p
to the reasoning Of tue learned author a.
b We quoted, it IS 10 prevent the unduc in.
hucnce of wealth.