The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-14

favorable opportunity f-fefHis dsciI, iisey
will not fail 10 disseminate the seeds Of po-
litical rofruptioa aud influence are
ala avs asset lated with Ncalth,& when merit
Is cslisaied by the acquisition OF property,
every Effort 10 prevent national dcgeneracy
will be uugatory and una,aiing. But We
are taught To believe that unless a man pos
sesses real estate, Ne havr not u sufficient
evidence Of his patriotism To Justify our
committing Ia i,is ehaigc the vital concerns
of his country How strange II is that We
never hear this urged rs an nbleciinn 10 his
hearing aims in dtftHce of that country io
uhirh nc have nH evidence of his attach.
mrnt, Property, real nf personal, IS not
essential 10 eligibility for the highest office
in our military department. The man who
aspire. To the rank Of Major Gencrai-lie
who is entrusted with the Unlimited CON
trout of thousands Of his ielIow-citizens in
arms, IN times tao. when the salvation OF
hi, country depends on his 'alor, skill and
fidelity, is not under The Necessity of mani
Testing his attachment 10 our soil, by pur-
chase of fifty acres of lis surlacc--but when
hc comes to exercise the right of a solitary
individual and give his vote for rcpresen-
tatye TO the state legislature, his freehold
must be the voucher of las merit and test
of his integrity
II u further urged by the friends Of lint
ted suffrage that land IN our country IS 50
abundant, and can bc purchased So cheap,
thai every one Who wishes 10 become n
frceholder can do so. II cannot be denied
thai ldud can always be procured and IN
some parts OF the state perhaps at low
price bm II we purchase merely for the
purpose of obtaining our rights, We buy
thai which IN justice belongs 10 US already.
That liberty i always sweetest which per-
mils man " To do what M will with bis
own.'-A, conccivts II viii promote his in
trrea 10 purchase laud-B, is persuaded ii
will BIZ more profitable for him 10 vest his
capital 10 some either species of property.
Here A has all the privileges Of frerhol-
der gratis but should i wish 10 have the
same privileges, lac must pay for them by
the purchase el an article he would not o.
therwisc want But there are MANY hon
est citizens who have il not in their power
10 procure a freehold, for The honest are
moi always thu most successful in acquiring
property. J A Slight examination into the
circumstances Ola number of tie poor aud
lthorlng class OF onr citizens v i'll br sufli-
Gent 10 con, ince us that there are many 10
whom II would be as difficult to procure
fifty acres of land, as it would be 10 many
others IN opulent circumstance 10 obtain
five thousand. Fake for instance the con-
dltlOn Of a Tailor, Shoemaker or "A Wca-
yer He can rent thop wiih room for
his family attached 10 il in any OF oar
towns, say for SEQ per anHum, payable in
his own line of business. Suppose him 10
have wife and clgbtsmal children; he is
as honest as his landlord, and somewhat
more Intelligent, aud but for his poverty
would be capable of giving as judicious "A
vote Tor representative either to the gen
eraI or state Legislature yet il requires e.
very effort of industry and economy to en-
able Mm to pay his rent, support his faml-
ly and educate his children and how is
this man 10 purchase freehold? The
house and Shop which he rents for $50 IA
year, would cost him TO purchase il $1,000
Il greater sum than honest and RATIONAL cal
rulatlons permit him 10 believe, he will ev-
cr be able to9cquirc. Hence the inevitable
consequences is, he mus, forever be debar-
ed of his rights because it is his misfortune
To be poor.
Every citizen IN the community IS com
PEELED TO pay taxes for the support of gov
ernmcnt, This support raises IN obligation
on the part Of the government TO protect
the rights of every individual, and promote
The general welfare by enacting and admin
isterns wholesome laws. And who are
the makers of these laws They are
made by a jdc OF the mang ON whom th.y
arr 10 operate. II the legislative, judiciary
aud executive departments be under the
influence and ControHl of Il minority
where Is the guarantee thai the rights of
thu majority will be held sacred, should
they cun'ilctwIth the interest Of those who
have the power To violate Them ? Love
thy neishhdr as thyseltn is Il prrccpt wor-
my Tie divinity of lis author; but its ob-
serfance requires Virtues more pure than
are allotted 10 crrlng humanity. They will
ever be disappointed, who expect meu 10
consult thr interest .ol others, before they
have secured their own.
Thr principle of universal suffrage, 50
objectionable in Virginia, and SO dcstnc-
tive ot dignity and good order, is exercised
IN many other states Of the Union, whose
constitutions arc as old rs ours, and has
produced none of those evils in practice,
we dePrccate so much in theory. So far
as occurs TO the writer, for their constitu
ions are not at hand the following state
ments shew the qualifications for electors
OF representatives in the several states:
.iiaiat-All citizens of the L. S. who
have resided three monthsinthc county or
district
Men Hdmpshire----Allm aies ofthc age
oil Il years, residing in the district or coun-
ty.
.hussdchRSetis-Nal"s fnll age, and pro
perry t. the value of Eco, Or freehold of an
annual income of Is.
'ermonf-Males iullage. one years resi-
1Gnpp 81, 4.