Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-16
RICHMOND. DECEMBER ls. iaal.
FnR TIE ENQUIRER.
No. III.
CONVENTION.
Richmond Memorial and Mr.. Leigh's subsli.
ttta.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.

s Erery mta has right ~ vote rho bears drms'
Particular grievances were in the first in
stance complained Of, and the public attention,
poiAt-d u the expsdisncy Of calling a Com
ventiou, merely Tor the radical removal Of such
grievances.
I, now seems that the primary object, is, to
form a new Constitution Oh new theory,
never before tried in Vrg mia, and wherever
tried, il is we'll known to have produced ma
nv incalcuable evils.
We are now apprized how vain it will be,
to make an attempt at calling convention
with limited powers, or, of binding the dele
gates by instructions.
1t certainly doth appear to be a PROPOSE
ton founded on reason and Justice, that those
who Own the nation, principally sustain the
burthens Of taxation and expence of war,
ought principally to govern that nation.
The convention Of 1879 no doubt well
considered the right of suffrage in all lis bear
legs, which we ought always to d.
ii readily occurred to such wise and virtu-
Gus body, that although the sovereignty re-
sided in the people, territory was necessary to
sustain the people. Territory and people were
5, idenIiied, that in the couiemp lation of soye-
reisny, the idea of territory could not be well
excluded hence we derive the phrase Of ter
rii"rlal sovereignty, by the cession whereof.
Jurisdiction both over the land and people,
compared With the extent of our lands. The
population at that period was still more weak
and sparse. Our ancestors found il necessa-
ry, In order To promote settlements, tn annex
II new condition to the tenure of lands that of
forfeiture for not seating or planting the land
III certain time. Experience early proved
10 them, that a settler living in his log Ca
b'n una little plantation, was more To be re-
led on for aids in taxes and services, for
defence against the incursions Of an Indian
enemy, THAI a transcirnt person, who ON a
sudden alarm, would fly tn the citadel or on
hoard such Il person ha ing no habita.
iiun or interest in the soil To defend, had no,
the same sympathies with the settlers he
would not assist in their defence without be-
tnS paid fOr II ; he could have had land. only
tnr seating aud planting it, he cared nothing
Tor the land pr vote, hue preferred an English
guinea or 50 many pounds of tobacco. for his
services Dependent ON The tilIaas of the
earth and the spontaneous products of the
forests aud waters, the people Of that day be-
Came early attached to the suii, and were
deeply impressed with notions and habits Of
moral domestic aud agricultural life.
Although they were all subjects Of Great
Britain, yet because Of nativity, an English.
man had no right TO vote unless hr held the
ao OF Virginia aud with fond prediIections,
they elected the native freehelders to serve
as BurSesses in the Grand assembly at Vii
iiamsburs. They complained of the mer-
chants and traders from the parent couu
try, because after they had accumuIat ed
mach wealth, they RENTED it home and re-
turned there To live whereby the colony
lost much strength and weaIlh.-They Ii, ed
IN sort of communion with nature, and from
their peculiar situation acquired lights OF ex-
perience & virtuous knowledge, which guild
ed them with safety under great trials aud diff
hrul'ies. They had not forgotten their Sax
OIL ancestors like them they low ed the soil on
which they were born and la defence of which,
they had shed their blood like them. they
duly appreciated the rights of prv9ertv ~
we'll Nh the rights of persons and th-y prGvid
sd The best possible protection for both They
could not dissolve the association of soye.
rei5nly anh territory, or of people and terrific
ry. They based the right of suffrage on this
great asSocialI0D as permanent ard ndissuIu-
Bile. la layios the first foundations of IL great
republic 10 an agricultural country with vas,
expanse OF territory, they showed their wis
dom and foresight, by resort 10 sound
principles ana permanent materials. They
decided that tlose who owned The soil slio,,ld
govern Vt, and what Is worthy Of rcmai k. aye.
have rolled ovel since the establishment ,I
this principle, yet The records and history nj
Virginia do not furnish an example of nm.
preston or insecurity IN relation 10 the rjehi, al
property or the rights Of persons, as arising
rom me reehoid system of Jurisprudence
Therefore, our Revolutionary ancestors ,,,.
IN a ist decision when they declared h., ,h,.
Bill Of Rights, " that all men having sofI;cir -,
evidence OF permanent common in;rres, ,yi,t
and attachment TO, the community Lor, a. -
right Of suffrage" Without any explanat,.n
we shall certcIny understand the words .Der
nidnent common INTEREST," to mean an ntrres,
IN permanent subject, or in other words. AN
oSIate IN land, the very interest which /, com
nlSp Vih The community.
I'VE convention making this declaration. in
a few days afterwards, obv;aled all possibl.
doubt as 10 their meaning, for by the present
STATE consul u''on, they ordained the coninu-
aDce of the freehold qualification of suiTr,gs
What fond nature had always Indicated
they by the Bill Of Rights declared, that men
bad certain. inherent natural rights, namely,
" the enjoyment of life aud liberty, with the
means of acquiring and possessing property.
and pursuing and obtaining happiness and
" safety" sWe all well know, that for The be-
neii's of civil society, We give up portion of
those natural rights, aud agree 10 conform our
conduct to such rules and regulations as the
form 0i government established, shall pre-
scribe, Ihe right of suffrage is not a natural
but cHl right. IL has its origin and exist
ence rom cih government In natural soc-
ely, no man had a vote or confroI over fine
property of another ii he had. il ccr,a;nlv
would have inter(rred with the I" ueaus If
possessing property and Of obtainiag happiuess
and safely" la Thai state Of society. If one
individual had attempted TO exercise con,rol
over the property of another, he woud havs
received the tomahawk or an arrow. So IN
clsil society, 20 confer the right of snfF,are On
citizen, whereby he ceuld exercise ,ote or