Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-07

SUBSTITUTES.

EssSS TIE SUSPECT or CONVENTION, IN
LIEU OF THE REPORT THE COMMITTEE.
iCoilciUdcd.1
2nd. The objection to the freehold quali6ca-
ton of suffrage. is avowediy founded, not ON Il
ny abuse of their power, committed by the free
holders Of Virginia in time past, or apprchcnd-
ed from chem in future, but Oh alleged abstract
principles of right.
/ The act of 1856 confined the right of suffrage
/ to the freohoicrs of one hundred acres of amin
4 pfoced, or fceRty 5i.ce acres OF improved land;
aud required tUeEcc months previous title and
possession. An act was passed i'll 1868, reduc-
ing the quantity of taimproced land necessary
to quality frceholder to vote, to Gf;y acres; &
the term OF previous title and possession to ser
months hut this act was suspended for the royal
appreciation, and that never came. The const-
tuition provides that the right OF suffrage, in the
election OF members OF the assembly, g shall re-
main exercised at present" And the act of
1873, liked the qualification of the freeholders,
An respect of n;siaprocsd land, at Etty acres and
the term of previous title and possession at sic
mouths: the Legislature either considering,
that while the freehold principle was preserved,
an extension OF the right of suffrage, by rcduc-
iIEs tine quantity OF land and the term of title s.
possession was constitutional; regarding the
act Of 100 as in force, notwithstanding the
want OF the royal assent; or knowing that, in
fact, at the datcof the constitution, the right of
suffrage was exercised according to the provi-
sions of the act OF 1869. The act of 1885 was
proposed by tae famous committee of rcvisors
all of them inen intimately acquainted with the
exactstate of Things at the date of the constitu-
tpn.
Such is the history and present state Of the
right OF suffrage in Virginia.
If this be au alistocracy, il is the most open
and the most uuguarded that ever existed: eve
~ man is free to acquire the patent of nobility.
hyS in. tad ,t,,ll tat,
of facts, th,,t the frechodcrs do not constitute
majority OF the freemcn of Virginia. But this
meeting is not informed of the grounds upon
which this conjecture is founded, nor is it apriz-
Ell Of the existence of any body of information,
any where Or in any manner collected, to which
recourse can be had for the purpose of examining
the accuracy orprobability oft. ltthereore sets
refutation at defiance for the present it may be
affirmed or denied with equal safety. But, if it
be meant to affirm, that the qualified voters do
not constitute the great body of free ,ohte men,
over trenty-one gears Of age, and Of settled resi-
dence; this meeting, adverting to the character
of our population; the nature of oar tcnurcs
the agricultural occupation of the whole people;
the early marriages generally throughout the
country, ami the consequent early settlement OF
every man on land Of his own; the sparscncss
of population in proportion to tho extent of terri
tory, and the consequent abundance of land
cannot doubt that the frccholdcrs constitute a
large majority OF such freelicn in this common
wealth.
Men have been known to purchase freehold
IN order to quality themselves TO be elected in
the Legislature; but, if any instances have oc-
Currel of men purchasing freehold, in order to
qualify themselves 10 vote in elections such in
stances are extremely rare: Il sure proof, that
Lh2 tLs&iiJst qualification Is not felt as n real
grievance by those who happen not to possess
ii; and that the objection is founded on imagi-
nary hardship and theoretical rcasonings.
This meeting is little moved by the objection,
that the freehold qualification Institution
OF colonial times. This is mere Glamour. Ju,Y
trial was q colonial institution. Represaataiiue
g,s3erameat was colonial institution, and I'M
douoieily Engiist, invention. The cou94y
court system. vas COLONIAL institution and inycn-
ton.
it seems to this meeting very surprising, that
the enemies of freehold suffrage, should claim
the authority of orr Bill Of Rights. 1t is an at
tempt to force the words of the Instrument
different sense from that in which the trainers
of it certainly used therein. The convention of
17T6. declared, liz the Bill Of rights, g that all
$ men, having sufficient evidence of permanent
ss common interest with, AMI attachment to the
'sconmunity, haze the right of suffrage :" and
the sune convention established the freehold
qualification by the constitution; thus giving US
their cotemporary exposition Of their own decIa.
ration of right; and shelving us, that, in their
sense of that declaration, the possession of
freehold was the sufficient c.idcacc Of perma-A
nent common interest with, and attachment TO
the community, which entitled the citizens to
vote.
The BIZ Of Rights also declares, &c that all
''men are by nnt't3'c equally free and inlepcn-
s'dent, and have ceFtnj; elttercni rights of Which
IS when they enter into society, they cannot, by
"any compact deprive or diycst their posterty;
.'nancly, the enjoyment Of life and liberty, with
q the means OF acquiring and possessing proper
"ty, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and
'tsafcty." Surely, il cannot seriously be bcliev.
ed, that this declaration of natural rights in a.
ny sense 10 Yhc!i it can be wrestcd, has refer
cnce to to the right OF suffrage. 1t is declara-
ton Of rights and liberties, Inherent in MN, be-
fare he enters into society. Is the right of s,f-
.fjuse inherent in man, can ii exist, before man
enters into S0cicty2
Leaving the ground OF authority for that of
argu nant, the enemies Of the freehold aualifica-
ton Of suffrage, understood to maintain, that
all;ree men, being subject to tlclaws, and bound
TO defend the government By personal service,
and to contribute to its support, lave natural
right TO vote for members oi the Legislature.
Ii they mean 6y nt'H'M right, a right giuc,,
by the Lnsc Of nature land if they do not mean
tins, the proposition is nothing to the purpose y
then certainly, the right of suffrage is not ma
tural right. Ii does not exist, aud therefore
crnnyt pertain u man, in O stutc Of nature II
can only exist III state of society: it can ONLY
be conferred by society and, like all other rights
confcrroS by society, it may Justly, indeed il
mast necessarily, be defined and regulated BY
society. Thc cntirc regulation of it becomes
d matter Ct political cxpc1ieucy, of which So
ciety IS the sole and absolute Judge. And hence
IL is, that the right fsu!Trdge like all ocrmere-
~ social political rights is found to be varousIy
IL