The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-25

ana conh niS0d by pn} seal Upcfalt"hS' -
As combustion " II explode with The gfea
ter violence the longer II IS confined in thu
bowel of ,ulrano f: 80 in government
revolutions are the nnre desperate .RDd
dangerous the longer the evils are tolerated
Inch jfr"dnrrd them. This was excm
plifrd IN the French resolution. Ii wat
not AZ dnst il,e mid and gentle adm'n'stra
tim of Louis Nsi. that the mutton reYoltet
but against TIM desro,e rrincipips ef III,
gosrrnmen principles whIch had thrll
orgln in prec. dug resns, and had grow
into system of oppression Hud abuse NJ
longer ~ be borne or tolerated by the PEG
pie.
The author of the Substitute" aficI
tracing the history, aud exhibiting the pre-
sent state ot the right of suffrage in Virgin
/ -, concludes, " tina, If this be arlstUcracy
" ii is the most open and the most uuguhr
j" ded that es,T existed every man II tree
" To acqnir. the patent Of nobility" Tn n
government where poverty ~ thought con
lempiIble, and merit IS estimated by the
acquisition of property, wealth Is more rs
! lmahle than siriu. or religion. Power b
influence are always associated with opu
hence, and the acquisition aud accumulation
of property create distinctions IN all coun
| tries. Every man in England IS free 10
acquire plum :" tii, would procure its
possessor a seat In either house Of parla
nent i; but does II follow that every man
has il in his power to obtain 100000
sterling There is material difference
between the privilege of cxerting power,
aud the power Itself. by the laws of ma
lure, every man, when assaulted, =" is free"
Ia a. ht,,a...T h., hna
power To do So his goods and his person
are safe but when Il stronger than he
sh, i came upon him aud overcome him"
his privilege of self defence ayals him no
thing.
Extensive territory, sparse population,
aud the consequent chrapness of lands III
Virginia, have been urged rs circumstances
10 prove the facility with which every
citizen IN the state may become "A freehoi
der. Land, il is admitted, cap bc procured :;
but il must b. IA Casdr procured men,~iih
money and IL a man has to- purchase land
merely for the purpose of obtaining aud
exercising his rights, lle buys that which in
Justice belongs TO him already. That gov
ernrneut is most congenlal 10 republican
principles which permits man IL do what
he will with his own. Que man conceises
II will promote his interest aud accord with
his disposition To purchase lands and apply
himself to agricultural pursuits, another is
persuaded il viii be more profitable for
him 10 vest his money in some other spc
cies of property, or employ il in trade
Here The former has all the privileges of
frceholdcr gratis, but If the Latter wish 10
ENJOY the same privilege, he must pay for
tLemb by thu purchase If an article he would
not othtrisise want. "Instauccs being rX-
"irem'ly rare of mems purchasing free
E." hold IN oydcr IL qualify themselves 10
s." vote III elections, is sure proof with
the author of the =" Substitute" that the
g" frechold qualification is not felt rs Il real
" grievance by those who happen not Ia
8" possess H." An mdi,dual must be un
commonly tenacious OF his rights, and more
than ordinarily supplied with money, Who
would give the price of Il freehold To avert
The general calamltlrs incident to any VIC
lalinn oil public nights which would only
Affect himself IN common with large por
ton OF lls follow citizens, Aud should a
nan attach but "A moderate estimate 10 the
va,ue III his rights, this ls no sufficient reason
why he should bc deprived Of thcm with
Out his consent. Bat Ia order To qualify as
aD elector, a man must not uniy be a free
holder, but his land must lie in the county
OF district IN which he gives his vote. lie
may possess 10000 acres IA the county Of
Washington, and reside IN the city of Rich
tnond-yet he has no vou,, unless hG leaves
his family aud his business, and travels 800
indcs 10 the election in Washington !
a. Ii has indeed been suggested" says the
Substitute, 8" as probable state of facts,
tl,4.N1 Al II . -
majority of the freemrn OF Virginia. -
This suggestion seems To be doubted by
the author'of that document, even it we
take into calculation all the tree white males
between the age of i6 and 81, together with
iiIncr1nis and non-freeholdcrs from liz
years Old and upwards, aud his conclusion
~, that the fact does not exist, because il
has not been demonstrated by an actual
enumeration and comparison of numbers
IL Is presumed that an unpre JUDGED and
impartial mind, may he convinced of the
dill.rcnt proportions Of numbers aud mag
nltude, Independent Of mathematical de-
mnnstratlons. No man requires other
proof than his own observation To convince
him that the persons in Virginia Who live
Ia the age of 90 years, are less numerous
than those who die before they attain the
aye of6o, although an estimate ofthe num-
bier of either has never been made. The
altitude of Shockoc Hill may never have
been asccrtr;ncd by actual admcasurement
yet a bare ,jeW OF that cmnence, unas.
sisted by a quadrant, would enable Mr..
Leigh himself to affirm, that It's elevation is
less than that of ChinboraGSs. The most
ce sual observer, bot determined, like Tho
mas, Ia he taithless, would Ire easily salts
fed that not more than two iiths of the
free white males of full age, who bear arms
aud pay taxes, have a voice al the polls, or
the least agency in framing the laws by
which those bnrthcns are imposed But
suppose For moment, that the qualified
voters constitute a large majority Of the
free white men over 81 years of age, and
settled residence, (Which, according to Mr..
I -. ..,a.,..t -. .l..l.. - ,,A ...l