Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-10-05
FROM a WESTERN CORRESPONDENT.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

W.
ELECTIVE PRANCHIsE--" TAXATION AND REPRE-
sENTATIoN."
nh respect TO our laws relative 10 elections they
arc 'ndIspuably founded upon The same contracted
system winch, almost haJ century back, had been in
general practice throughout the United States Since
hen, most OF the states have become ashamed of the
anii-repHbIcan tendency OF their old election laws,
anu nave generally discarded them from their code.
1t IS rank d9'iStocT0cy contend for any propcrtv
qualification either in the eector OF elected, under
our republican institutions where citizenship mel IT,
and fair character should be the only REQUISITES
we have in fact made j; kind of crime for person.
not to be possessed OF cer.ain number OF acres Is
mere any nan without property who not DESTROYS
Oh acquiring as much rs he can by lawful means (?
What then IS your restriction but rescrpt or invita-
uon, Tor every one TO acquire property by any means
- Per f1S ga neidS :" And if fires storms shin
wrecks, false friends, perjury or other misfor-
tunes nave deprived man of virtue and tai
ents oil his houses, ships, and acres ; is his
mind less qualified 10 feel and provide for the wants
OF ms family, or still serve his country and his friends
by ms '''sdom and experience 1.-Two articles always
improved instead Of having suffered any deterioration
by msfortunes Had General Washington lost the
whole OF his property by earthquake and escaped
himself, ought the want of your qualifications to have
rendered hun incompetent, TO GIL the high dcs-
TIMES to which he was called Or would he
IN fact have been less qualified in body or
mind, 10 devote himself to the good Of his country
There IS no man, who has spark of genuine beraIi-
Of sent'meni IN his son who can deny, that the de-
grading qualifications alluded to above are the Of
spring OF our old 0iSt0cr1tic rejuices and IL is hph
time that all liber almnded republicans united in an
attempt TO kick them from statute book Atprc-
sent they stand black record against the Hiibe-
rGfity Of our system, and that quarter Of century
at least, after they have been banshcd by thc most
enlightened part of the states.
Another serious charge against our violation of the
pure doctrines Of lopubicansm, consists in Our usVr-
patton ofindiyidual rights 10y pcrssting TO leaslnte
for aud even tax host Of Whiie yeemen who because
they have been unfortunate as not Co be able to ac-
quire freehold (dd who in Justice ought to be conf
miscrated but moi Pajsied) have neither roice nor
choice in selecting their rulers or iu making the laws
which govern and tax them Yet these are the very
Heemcn whom yOu depcnd, 10 tines ofthe greatest
need, 10 face your enemies Ia fight your battles and
70 shed their blood in your defence while your free
holders, who are tie only who ought TO fight n
hcy are the only OuCs Interested IN the event qeuc-
rally I'm, az the first alarm seek shelter from dan
ger by means Of substituting these lrecmen in tei,
places l. this honorable f. this liberal? j. th
just Oris this conorualc to the sacred republican
maxim Of which frequently boast and for which
we finally rcbccd against the tyranny Of George the 81
That TAN iTIoN AID INTERPRETATIONS arc fNsz
PABABtEil
Shame on Virginia il she longer consents tn il,i
stain on her Cquauimty aud shame ON those Of hcI
sons, who not sufficiently independent in mind Il
discOnnienance u continuance Of these rioifiOns O.
die rights offreemeg To all such, we rccommen,
| the application Of Doctor Franklin's Jackassr
NESTOR