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


transmitted Il 10 Ci,iifs. fpr re,isui.
9th
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
TIN subject of the following coipmuui-
cation is uf much importance. aud comes
home 10 the business ard bosoms' of us
m. The feature of ouT state constitution
which deprivcs large portion Of is citi-
zens from participating in one Of the dear
rst privileges Of freeinen, has ever been
Justly obDoxions i; and ". are glad 10 see
that the prejudice winch gase il birth, and
which has continued 10 sustain il until the
present day, is fast recedng before sober
investigation, and the force of Justice
We hope We shall hear from Aristides"
again--as we'll on this subject, ~ on some
of the many ether anomalies which distin-
guish the Consultation Of Virginia from
those OF most of her sister states aud on
che proprety Of calling Il Convention for
the purpose Of amending 1.-THE subject
Is one otdeep importance 10 the people, and
merits al least calm and FREE discussion
ron Tur vIR0t,TAS.
To The Ciiiseas Of rirginia.
Ii is with no small degree Of satisfaction
that Gnd an attempt is making in the Lie
glslature of Virginia, To ascertain the sense
OF our citizens, touching the proprtty of
convention for the purpose Of amending the
constitution, SO as " 10 extend the right of
suffrage Ia all men, having sufficient eyi-
dcnce Of a common interest with, and at
tachment 10 the community AgrreabIy
81 the resolution submitted by Mr.. Sexton,
" the sense of the electors qualified accor-
ding 10 law, is to be taken al the ensuing
election"
This effort, so laudable in itself, and cal
clatad 10 reflect the highest honor on
hose by whom II has been made, is a d.
rect and rational appeal othc liberaly and
mhgnanlmIty of that part OF our citizens,
WHO al present ENJOY the exclusive priv
iege of free suffrage, and | sincerely hope
the appeal will not be made in vain.
The rights and privileges OF (recmcn, so
much the boast of Our country, and The
pride of republic, are exercised in this
state, IN very limited degree. Perhaps
nOtmorc than one third al our citizens have
"a voice either directly ar indirectly, in fra.
ming or adopting any OF the laws by which
they are governed. And whenever the
right of suffrage is limited, or committed
70 the bands of minority whenever the
legitimate privileges andpmmunitics, COM
mon by the laws of natureto every citizen,
are exercised by the fer, to the exclusion
81 ihcrsSt, a taclt sanction and support axe
gwen Ia principle OF arlstocracy, inconsis-
tent with the spirit and subversse of the
foundation OF republican government
The difficulty Of ;sccrtaiuing how far the
right oi Suffrage should be extended, con
sIsteatwlih mora, aud political Justice, in a
government modified on democratic pfin-
eipies, acknowledged 10 be- great but
mas always been magnliicd by sclt-mtercst.
aihbfloh or ignor2Ace, or perhaps all OF
those together. S.lf-htcrcst, in the rulers,
Invariably lnclines llem to curta the pr-
ttcges az the ruled, to monopolize THEN
rights, so long as they can support the mo-
hepoly. Ambition Isa universal principle,
and sls aiways increased by power, and
power assumed is continually Jealous Of
rtghf, aud IS ever on the alert 10 find out
some plausible protest 10 impose upon the
Ignorance OF the multitude But whatever
cAl'ees may be assigned 10 account for the
pheaomenen. tits only necessary to observe
me Inherent nations off the earth IL be con-
Aiheeu That weakness universally prevails
over strength, and the rights and privileges
o. the many are enjoyed only hv the for
should reasonable heing, Nlacqua;nted
with the history oi man, b. admitted into
oilr world to take a survey of human soei-
ely and government, what would appear
10 hsn more Inconsistent anu absurd, Than
10 sec physical power overcome by impo-
fence, aud moral dcpra,iiy ? to observe
millions OF ratioual beings prostrating the
dignity etfher nature, submitting To the
Dictates "i an nsurping tyraDt, or the wan
Jon capr'ces of maniac But we are
told that these Inconsistencies and alb
surdities do not prevail in our country
mat theleiter and spirit of oar constitution
nfc NE legitimate progeny of yirtuous, sure,
ana rational principles that tyranny and
tehaiity Rave taken their flight from our
sh0res, ana resigned the sceptrc to Justice,
lberaNty, and The rights of nan-We ad-
mi tlatthls IS partially the case, and are
forced to acknowledge that America has
done more than perhaps any othercountry
since the foundation of the world, for the
cause of liberty, the Pcrfectihllity Of civil
government, aud the happiness Of the hu.
man race. But has she done all that can
DE done has she attained the summit
OF human perfection /? Have all the free.
born sons of Virginia, fun exercise OF
fb9se rights and privileges to which by rra-
son, natere and justice they are cniitled ;
ihcse are questions pregnant with impor
ia'sce to every citizen of the community
Questions which cannot be answered in til.