Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-30

i'll this House, and ensure defeat in the Sc.
nate, On the contrary, lift be deferred.
It's friends will net be precludcd from
pressing 1t hereafter, under circumstances
perhaps more propitious to their wishA
es.
But, granting that bill containing this
provision should pass both branches of
the Legislature, what security have gen
ilemen, that ii will be sanctioned by the
People! Stamp this character upon tue
law, and you will combine against it liat
numerous class opposed 20 aConYention,
however restricted, and those who prefer
suffering Tor some time longer the evils
Spginging from unequal representation 10
the evils which may be unprecedented from
an extension OF the right OF suiirage<rTu
tie probability, then, (allowing il 10 Dc no
Bore,) offaltre here, YOU add the risoue
OF disappointment from the people them
sstFes.
But, my greaiest objection 20 This a.
meodmeut, Mir. Speaker, arises from my
unwIiinguess 10 disturb the elective fran
chIse, ~ handed down from our auccs
tors. Sir, shall he said, that we are more
enlightened, mere patriotic than t,ley
werc-that we know better The nature OF
man, and the character of the people for
whom we are to legislate! Ihev have
been charged with returning some Of those
impressions, which they had Untitled UNI
der the regal government, when they cou-
tlnued this feature tx the new Constitute
on that, just emanoipated from British
thraldoDi, they were sill pa italy intiu ~
ced by Britlshpreiudlces. " hat, SIR!
The prisoner Just emerged from his dun
geon, and liberated from his ciaius, less
elated with liberty, less liable TO give ful
latitude To the expression of rapture, less
n !1a ~
than ne who has long since escaped from
his confinement Ii is i'll me first mo-
ments OF Siddy JOY at the recovery Of lib
eriy, thatnations are most apt 10 abuse its
blessings, TO oyerturn all their former
institutions, and 10 run wild iii the excess
OF newly acquired freedom. Look at re-
voluti0nary France, and you will find
complete eXemplitcation Of this truth
When liberty first dawned upon that
couAtTy- there were many offs citizens,
no doubt who hailed with unfeigaed de-
light but, their hopes were soon blasted
the nation became prey TO the widest
excuses, ana ine dawn of freedom vas
quickly overcast.
The founders of our Independence and
tie trainers OF our Constitution acted nei-
ther under The influence of ancient preiu-
dices, Dor Of thoushtless zeal; they con-
sIdered we'll TO what hands they would
entrnst the elective franchise, and af-
ter solemn deliberation, determined 10
continue ii without modification as Il lad
originally stood.
Many, very many reasons, Mr.. Speak
er, might be urged in support OF this de-
termination, by one more competent than
myself 10 do justice TO the subject. |
VIII endeavor to call The attention of the
House 10 few Of those reasons which
strike mo with me UrfaafaSt form
All acts of legislation affect either pro
perty or persons. So long as the power
OF making laws Is confined TO those who
are proprletOrs Of the soil, il is impossi-
bic tor them 10 pass any ac;, whether re-
lanng 10 persons or TO property, which
does not affect them equally with the
rest of their felIow-citizens; butwhen this
power Is delegated TO those vino do not
ENJOY the same interest in the soil, they
cannot, 1t Is true, pass laws relating TO
persons which will not reach themselves,
but they may readily legislate unon prop
erty III manner by which they viii not
BE- affected. Make law givers OF those
who have not realestale, and the present
system of things WILSON be changed, the
tenure OF real property will not long con-
hnue as ii is. That scrupulous regard,
too, fer the rights of infants in relation 10
real estate, which has heretofore cLarac-
terized Virginia, will soon be forgotten.-
New ideas, new sentiments, win prevail.
for, new set OF men, actuated by differ
ent feelings and different interests from
ours, Will constitute the Legislature Of the
State.
Again, Sri prefer an adherence TO the
right OF suffrage, as it now exists, because
1t maintains great purity in our elections,
with reference both to the electors and
the elected. Compare the order iic de-
corum, Tor ihe most part observed at our
elections, with the manner in which they
ase conducted in some Of those States
where greater latitude is given 10 tie
right OF suffrage, and the result will he
decidedly favorable TO the ancient donii-
mon: " hat better guarantee can bc do
NIsed Tor procuring trae expression Of
the unbought and unbiased viii Of the
people, iar representation ofthcir char
actrr, their opinions and their intercs. i,
than that furnished by the freehold sdl-
tfage. But, Sir, eNieud the right of suf-
iraAc IN the manner contemplated by ma
ny gentlemen on this floor, and The char
dcter OF OR elections will be sadly chan
ged. Confusion will succeed 10 order (;
| straiJScm 70 integrity aud we Shall 40
longer have body representing I, G viz
tue and intelligence Of tao commmi-
| iy.
will not deny, Mr.. Speaker, that many
persons now admitted TO the polls, rave