Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-18

Indeed 20 deeply Imposed were the legislature n,
Que ttnse Oh the Importance oftis CHANGE that they
attempted IN defiance of Constitutional letters to
give the Judges Of the General Court (uner the old
(. I..s sys'em/ Cbaucery jurisdiction; but the
Judges having taken oath to support the Consti,u-
.ion very correctly disczmed H. and s the matter
has ever since rested
come now, fellow-ctizens, To the last tho no,
least deficit in the CONSTITUTIONS upon which aha
remark, il is, the right OF suffrage The C,ns,;,,
"on declares thatthis important right shall be e.
erciscd as it was under the regal government ~,
which large class ct the citizens of ts state n, ve
been deprived OF the enjoyment of those canal
rights and privileges, which ought to be euaranieea
10 every FREEMAN What it, would ask, that dis
tlnsuishes the freeman from the slave, II is ,bc
right TO participate in the election of those who 90
vern him without this, no matter what the form oF
government, you may call it what you please tho
people are absolutely slaves. We saw we live in
hep"olic, which nom the very term imports COM
'hohWeai waere all the citizens possess and cnioy
equai fgn's aud equal privileges; ard yet in this
state, III the state OF Virginia. where we are loud m
our ptoicsSens ct republicanisn, large portion of
our ieow-citizens are absolutely disfranchiset and
spufhcd from The polls al your elections as f they
were the West male factors and culpri,s I hold
'ht III nee country, every free white male citizen
twenty years old, who pays his taxes and bears
arms, IS entitled TO the privilege Of voting Tor those
who make laws to bind his person and proper,y-I
hold as our fathers held in the revolution tha tax
md
that no power under heaven should have the RICH,
to take the money from the pockets of any citizen
or require ms personal services to fight the battles
oil the country, without his consent or that of his
REPRESENTATIVE: Any other sentiment is at war with
every principle of the revolution and those prcat
maxinis of civil liberty which have been copsecr,-
ted and held sacred in this country(at least in ,hco-
ry) Tor nifty years. l am clearly of opinion that
not only the principles of ura Justice but sound
Poey requires that these men should be restored 10
hnIr aftt1 Il ,nt,t
on whom does the country rely, for defence in times
OF difficulty and danger? Upon the lort,ly propric-
tors o the soil who have been raised I'm luxury and
ease? whose cfcminatc souls anG fcc5lc hands cam
NOT sustain the tolls and privators of camp, nor
brave the danger of the battles shock NO like
the richly mushroom the delicate flower. that
springs IN the shade, they connot bear the witIcridr
touch OF tile solar blaze 1t is then upon these very
men whom you rhus unjustly disfranchise-uuon
the poor, .he labourng classes, who from their ha-
bits arc Injured 10 toll and fitted to sustain the ia
uSues and hardships of u campaign; many of whose
Sons and brothers, during late glorious but for
awhiie disastrous war, rush like torrent from your
mountains, TO meet the invaders OF the country and
many of whose bones are now bleaching on the
bleak fields ofCanada, or recklcssly rnoulderne in
SAND NILS at Norfolk--ucn who have devoted their
lives, and sealed tho covenant with their country
and liberty with their blood. Why are YOUR SOL
ders nd sailors the braycst in the world Is il he
pause they suppose they belong free country
lfSemCu! III
the principles of our government, in theory merely
can produce such astonishing moral results what
would be tho consequence were we to reduce them
10 practice: Guy armies ami navics would be in
vincible. If our soldiers knew, when they were
called upon to defend their country from foreign
asgrcsspn that when they had subtued the foe they
should return to the bosom Of their families and
friends and there peacefully enjoy all the privileg.
of fteemen, those reflections would fnrtify their
hearts and nerve their arms in the hour of peril
and led by the nobest impulses of patriotism and
DEVOTION TO liberty, they would look danger and C.
ven death i'll the face they would pour out the las,
drop of blood that in their veins in defence of
their country, her honor and glory.
t-sce around me at this time, many of my respec
| table acquaintance, men Of solid and industrious
habits, with as muck intelligence, and with as much
capacity to make distinct selection, rs the grca,
body OF the land-holders who absolutely riebar
red from the exercise of this important privilege
But think the time will soon come when thew
| shall be restored to their long lost rights Yes
dare believe, there is rcaceming spirit in tine pood
seuse the berality and Justice of the reope of mi,
state, and that long this stain vii! DC wiped from
our character, and this blemish from our Cousttu-
ton.
There are many other mnuter defects in the Con-
stitutIon which, for the want of time. shall forbea
to mention. l feel that have already tfcspasscd
too long upon your patience, but before conclude
must ask your Indulgence 10 notice few ohlec-
tons TO a Convention.
1t is objected by some, in regard to the topic upon
which have last remarked, $ that there is i'm fact
no inequality of rights, inasinuct. every citizen
mas the right TO become ireeholder, and that in
ny event (as the landed interest is the most n,Dor-
tant and substantial i'll the community it would be
dangerous 10 extend the elective franchise The
hrst part OF this objection is specous than
10, ana although II may appear feasible in theory,
YET when we come to reason and plain matter of
tact, will be found to be utterly fallaco,rs for it
must be at once admitted, that every country, no
matter what may be its form of government, there
VIII OF necessity be large class of its inha
toat cannot possibly he land holders; there mr,st he
merchants, mechanics, and professional men, whose
services are essential and important to the state,
ana ought therefore to be represented and protected
II there is any thing in the latter part of this objec-
tioD (and am in inclined believe uot) it ca be
easily o5vIated If the iandhoders do really appre-
mend danger to their interest by the extensioIIof
suffrage, to prevent all cavil upon the subject let
them still retain the public qualification in the Sem
ate In every state there will necessarily be differ
ent classes and different interests; and it seems to
me, That plan must surely be the best, when the
powers oil the Legislature representing all casses)
are so distributed, checked and balanced, that il
will be restrained from passing any laws, but those
which VIII operate most equally and favorably for
all. For instance, if the Senate should represent
the landed interest, while the House of Delegates
represented all the other classes Jointly, as the Sem
ate can pass no law without the concurrence of the
House of Delegates and the House of Delegates can
enact none without the assent OF the Senate, a
perfect compromise would be produced in legisa-
ton, and every class and interest be represented and
protected.
But Others, while they argree that all the defects
which have enumerated do exist in the Constitp-
ton, utterly refuse TO make any reforna ron. They
say they have got along very we'll under the pro-
- nj nf 81 81. 81.