Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-01

tnc SSNcitSt brupt OF war--ti5lt IS, tie ale,t
OF snai! property, haseno hand in making
It, every heart susceptible" OF sympathy or
justice must wish 10 see the right of sui
tragc extended, ii it can be done CO lsist-
emily with the safety Of the State MIR.
Speaker, once thought that the cxtensi-
eli would give II dangerous influence to
wealth; and, by enabling the land-holder,
vino had numerous tenantry, the great
ship-owner, the op,llent manufacturer, to
bias those who were dependant OH them
Tor support, we should, under the show Of
iavoring eqnniityof rights, III fact, increase
the sReqaoh;y: and us the owners of the
soil constituted tile most independent
class, they we're the only safe repositories
of political power. But, further obscrva-
ton and reflection have induced me to
change my opinion on this subject and
now consider the question Of but little
moment, as il respects the safety or wei
fare of the State; but, important indeed,
as prospects The feelings of large class
OF individuals, as il respects the purity
and consistency of our republican princi-
pies, as Il respects the dictates OF natural
Justice. Perhaps, Sir, my feelings have
had an undue influence on ms Judgment.
When have seen poor man, who bias re-
gularly paul taxes on himself and his
IN the country, has contributed his perso-
nll service 10 the war, and who was then
perhaps abouring under the presidential
effects % Norfolk camp-wlien have
seen such a man appear at the polls to give
avoie, and have witnessed his Indignation
when siiatvote was rejected by thesberiti',
because he was not the owner of5O acres
of land-l have asked myself, if this man
could not safely be trusted And have
persuaded mysefthat he might Surely,
Mir. Speaker we have over-rated the con
sequences of extending the right of suf
irage. Looa through the whole of our
sister States-and YOU will not find one,
except Virginia, in which freehold is
Tie necessary qualification of voter
When we see these States-some CONNER
cial, some experimentation of federal
politics, and some republican-some with
slaves, and some without them-wllen we
see them diiteringso much in otherthings.
anu agreeing only in this, it seems not
easy to ascribe to this regulation any prac-
heal results. Like the worthy member
from Norfolk, ! too am willing TO Judge
OF the tree by lis fruit and five appeal
to tins test, Notwithstanding the unfavor-
able picture he has exhibited to us of some
legislative proceedings in Newly rk.
wslch he mputes 10 too extended rirht
OF suffrage, that State will not suffer by
a comparison with us. One acre of their
land Is often worth ten of ours. There *
the. same difference between the caDital
and commerce ofthe two States. They
have betterroads. Their schools are more
numerous and better endowed. They are
before us In manufactur-s-tIiev are be-
tore us IN every thing, in which are suppo-
seo 10 consist the wealth and prosperity
OF State. pennsylvania too, though
more liian hundred years Younger than
Virginia, is also far before us in these
fruits and evidences Of wise legislation.
SIR, the circumstances of the State of n.
Carolina more resemble ours. than do
those of any State North ofus. There
the members of the Senate are electedhv
the frechoiderS, aud the members of The
House OF Commons by all who yay fa4cs
and do militia dnfy. | cali upon the mem
her from Norfolk, who dixie myself lives
I'D a county contiguous 10 that State, and
ask nm, ii he has ever remarked any DIFF
terence between the members of the Sc
nate and OF the House OF Commons p
When was, a few wears ago, one OF a dele
cation from this State to that. ON the sinh
Jcet ut the Roanoke navigation. andcons
quently had 2 fair opportunity of making
The comparison, so far from pcrceivingauy
inierority IN the members of the lower
hioUse, thought, in talents and weight of
character, they possessed superiority
at least equal to their superioritv in
numbers. Intelligent persons in that
country have told me, that they could dis
Germ no difference in the characters ofthe
men chosen by the two classes, though
the very distribution is well calculated TO
produce jealousy and dissenton.
Sir, the gentleman from Norfolk should
have been tie last man in this House to
insist on the necessity of freehold qua
ilhcaiion. According 10 the ancient char
terot the Borough he represents. every
house keeper (pOt-boIer, believe he IS
Called has the right of suffrage and
when these shew themselves capable ofse-
iectins representatives. fihat gen,leman's
talents and character, can we say that il
would he unsafe to trust any but fraebol-
ders Sir, even in England, where for
many reasons great extension of poIifi-
Cal right IS less safe than i'm this country.
such limitation has been found insult
ed 10 practice; and in London, and be-
lieye IN the other corporate towns. every
house-keeper has the right of votinr. If
we may judge from the publications. of
the day, the most temperate advocates
for political reform III that countrv. do
not propose TO limit the right of suf1rage
TO the possession Ola freehold. II orr
Constitution were TO remain UNCHANGED
some fifty years hence, the ground OH
which this townstands may beowned bv
three or four hundred persons, while as
many tIoueands co,,olI,, .,.........t