Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-02

tcfstt nee to the other branches than ia IN h. fauna,
an other, OF the numerous Constitutions of Ame-
grea, bud essential part, tho most A os
any tue Union, and placing patronage aud power
where u can seldom he misuseJ
IL " IN vain, that we have heard il objected
10 inns feature ofthe constitution, that the fact,
e"ner now exists, or may hereafter exist, that a
n'yor"y OF the Tree white males OF the country,
may nor be freeholders; and that the govern
mrnt OF the country, in that event, would be
III rue hands Ola minority. II by a minority
we are 10 understand any minor irtcresi az
society, Then the objection would be good |:
ana when such an event arrived, the argument
"ouiu De unanswerablr. But concede for :,
'noheht Tie fact, which this argument must
necessarily assume, and vet every man who
KNOWS any thing oi civil polity, mus, admit.
."a' me operation "frvery system ofia,cs, must
Do 81 Two ioiu character ; mat is, an operation
as wen upon the property, as upon the person,
VI Us s"nJrc,s. Aud 4 is a fact which never
can ne questioned m our State, that the lead
ing interest of society with us. i, its landed
interest; carrying with IL. and beorinr unon
It's snlnl basis almost every other interest in
the social body. IL is difficult, ifnot impossible
100, TO imagine any system of general laws,
whicn could nave an exclusive operation in
iaVour OF The land hcldtrs, without such an
obvious, and palpabIe violation of commnn
justice, as 10 make The trainers of them.
od'ous to all mankind. While on the other
hsnd, II would be among The easiest Operations
U, Legislation, 10 throw almost all the burthens
o' society, upon the landed and its kim
''eu interests and that too, without its be-
',s either easily seen, or corrected. IF this
view OF The subject ..-currest,- can there then
remain Il d~ubt but the present qualification
oi Tue voters of this Commune, eailb was
"'se'y conceived by the sages, To whom VIZ.
are indebted Tor our present form of govern
uent?
We cannot fnrbcar also, urging another
view of this subject, which although to some.
hlay appear ot but little mom-nt vet hy US,
IS nriieveu to lie deserving Of very great con
sldera'ion. 1t IS the effect, which "a chang. of
''e constitution ~ to have, in breaking up all
,ha' moral strength Of the government, which
Is founded IN lis antiquity, and it's being the
work of the Fathers of The Reyol,;nn !.
adopted at a period, when all selfish feelings
We're discarded, and the heart itself, chas.ened
oy the trying scenes by which they were
surrounded
lst. Resolved, therefore, that the peopI. o f
ms connty are we'll satisfied with the present
Constitution of Virginia, and desire no change
therein.
ed. Resolved, that the Delegates from this
county, and our Senators, in the next General
Assembly, be instructed TO use their endea-
yours, To prevent the call of convention
invested with either general or limited powers,
I'd alter the Constitution of the State.
5h. Resoved further, that thu foregoing
preamble and resolutions he signed by the
chairman and Secretary, and the proceedings
"' 'n's: ana the former meeting be published in
one, or more newspapers printed 10 the CT
ty of Richmond.
tSign~d)
EDWARD EGGLEsToN, Chra,.
JOHN L. LEIGH, .SecrfiaTu