Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-25

Mr. Tucker rose 10 say. that the time
iidd come To bring a most important ques-
non Deiore The liouse-which was TO try
the sense OF the House. whether they
were IN favor Of a limited or an unlimited
cosre'f'or-ile declared himself i'm favor
oi me iaiier: and proceeded to state at
some ieh%'h'he nperisc,ions, which III
ms "P'1iion eN isiad IN HE Constitution, as
respects 'he limitation IN the right of Sui-
'faSe,' ne constitution of the Executive
ana Ju'Nc'arl departments. &c. &c. lie
detects existed, II was better to refer the
Whole Constitution 10 the Convention, to
remedy tie whole nj once, than to be
continually agitating tie Commonwealth
10y renewed attempts TO amend Ire re-
naming branches OF tie Constitution.
lie disclaimcd any aprrehrnsions fran "A
rage Tor Notwithstanding that he
was wiling,o trust tire people, sc. Sc
MIR. Tucker then moved 10 amend the
first resolution of the Select Committee.
by striking therefrom The following words:
so as 10 eqrlalize the Representation in
bort branches ofibe Legislature, TO e.
qualue taxation, and 10 provide for such
in'ufe alterations as experience shall sug-
gcst'
The question being taken on this a
~.
'appasenils with considerable majority
against IT,
motion was then made By hir. Hun
ter, that the said first resoibiion he a.
mended by inserting therein the words
TO erte''d the rigM If sutfrngs'-(so as to
introduce that feature also among those
which were 10 be submitted to the Con
veDtlon.)- his amendment was carried
without argument, ayes 70, noes 76.
Several gentlemen then rose 10 move
amendments 10 explain or modify tie
preceding amendment-AIr. Thompson
(of raiTlax) moved 10 insert after il, the
words " To ALI persons having sufficient
evidence Ola permanent common interest
with, and attachment to The community"
Mr.. Hing moved TO add after the word
suffrage q or Freeholds"--Messrs.
Coiston and Mercer suggested other a
mendmeRts Which were not reduced 10
writing.
a motion was then made TO adjourn,
and carried.
YEsTERD AY-the II. efO. were principal
" engaged upon the subject of CoSvENTIoY
We have room only for the faintest Sketch.
Mn. Thompson tof r. renewed his motion 10
amend the resolution, by adding after the
words ITO extend the right of suffrage" these
words: 8 TO all those who have sufficient evil
dence OF permanent common interest with y.
attachmentto the community (words copied
from our Bill of Rights. Mr.. T. said this
would leave it discretionary with the Conven-
ton 10 make a change perhaps they might
THINK the right ofsuffrage already sufficiently
extended, according TO this principle
Mr.. D0ddridge approved ithis amendment
he said, it ought to aiiay the fears of all. vino
were opposed TO anuniversal sufiraee-wliy any
apprehenSiouth that this principle would he en-
grated into the constitute III The Convention
was 10 be elected by freeholdegs, and 10 he
composed OF freeholders. The honse, by com
ing to this decision, had thus given an assn
! rance OF their objection 10 extending the ri@.t
OF suffrage in any mischiesous degree
Mir. EstiD was opposed TO the motion. consi-
deringit as asidc-wind attempt to defeat the
amendment made yeSterday-ijy thai amend
ment, the house seemed willing TO extend the
| right OF suffrage beyond the present standard.
lad down by the bill of rights and the present
constitution-7Mr. T. asked if they were afraid
| of trusting this qsestiou TO the discretion nj
| treehcAt'erS whowere 30 form the Convention.
! lie diSclaiined the idea of unlimited suffrage
| extending it to the tender infant the woman
| the slave, whom the law regards az property
! but commended, that there was class of mon
! who ought to possess it; that freeho, WAS
| not the only evidence of attachment to The
| community the man who sheds his blood FOR
| ms country, gives as strong evidence of his
| love for it,aS he who owns land
| Mr. Mercer declared, that he. too was for
| extending the right OF suffrage he asked If
having wife and family, if plying amecLanic
tfdut7 III hdFiiiSdn interest IN the public stuck
| was not too, an evidence Of mans permanent
interest in TIE community; tat the re- We re 9th
| er defects III tie constitution which he
! wonid wish TO see amended he agreed
with Mir. SrRyth in most of his ideas nc m
the defects of the constitution, ez cept As to mn.
| limited suffrage and the judiciary; but thouch
| he wished to see them amended he would NOT
attempt it in this way; because he did MOI
WISH to multiply the points which wert. TO he
! proposed TO be submitted to the Convention
! points, too, which might be subsequently cor.
! iecteoi under the power proposed to be given
4 or making such other alterations as experience
/ would suggest. He was unwilling 10 refer cv-
4 cry thing to the Convention for II the neooje
were Jealous of their Legislature, of the iudicj
/ airy, OF the Executive, ought they not. also TO
| have some jealousy ofthe Conventions He hon
| ed that gentlemen, friendly to Convention.
| would adhere to the resolutions of tie Select
ComInIttee; otherwise, there would not be that
unaniinitv among ourselves, or among the pco-
| pie, so desirable to the of the measure
re SAID, 1t the gentleman from Fa:Tflx, mir.
lnoinpson) would Withdraw his proposition he
! would then propose that the omenduien, adop-
\ ted Yesterday be reconsidered, aud hoDed fbrt
| the house would fetrace their STEPS.
MIR. Chamberlayne declared IfscIf in favor
| OF an unlimited conyeution-he said the ON.
| ~ question was, should there he Convention
| or not! n ono, il must BE general oue
| Row could this house limit it? could they .
| VehiImit the ncNt Legislature? How then q
| convention oftbc people why INDULGE an
| preheusiOns, when u was to I've co,n,,ogcd of
| freeholdersI Why this suspicion of Tho nro.
| pief Ut they are not TT TO be Trusted IN
themselves, yon may as wei! at once import a
| UnsiPh or BOnapartc TO govern them. He