Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-25

i1asw they can fully enjoy the socit rights Of CT.
tizens of the resabts, without having their feel
mgs, asfivs men, outraged by an odious exclu-
s'oa from the elective franchise |; A convention.
by adopting this measure, would take one inn
Iortant step towards reviving the dropping en-
-ergies OF the commonwealth ) towards prevent
ing her march 10 prosperity and true greatness
from being arrested or retarded. They would
also contribute greatly to relieve US from the
pernicions, aistocratic prejudice, against Ia
6oas', unfortunately too prevalent in Virginia !;
they would elevate and dignity the class of
mechanics and iaboa'ing acAite men, among us,
and encourage our citizens to bring up more
OF their children to useful trades, instead of un-
q probably multiplying the exorbitant multitude
of lawyers and doctors, or sending every year
asvarm OF valuable young men, out of our
state, never to return. By giving to the class
who are not freeholders, sliare in the govern.
lnent of the state ;--by treating themno as sub
Jects but as iSeas;-they would be rendered
more respectable in their own eyes, and by
natural consequence, would probably soon be
improved in morals and intellectual acquire
ments,-lt is certainly true, las the unhappy
case ofourf free negroes ah m.lltt toes demon
strates,) that the most edectuaI way to debase
men, is to degrade te:n.--lt ,nay be said, that
frecholiers, who hare the right of suffrage, do
not seem TO value it much; las manfestiy APP
pears from the frequent thinncss of our polls y
this right is withheld arc, probably, not, in any
degree, prevented from migrating into this
state, or induced to forsakei it, by that circum-
stance. But every person acquainted with hui
man nature, must know, that men are generally,
much more apt to be c0e'aief and chagrincd, at
being denied any thing which they consider a
right than to enjoy and uatue as they ought the
thing itself, when they possess it.
The dreadful mischiefs of corruption and I'm.
due influence in elections prognosticated by
ahc enemies of a convention if the right of suf-
&rage should be extended, appear to my mind,
an great degree imaginary. The fears they
entertain are excited, principally, by exag-
Is Grated representation of few disgracef1
scenes which have occurred in some of the
large towns of other states, where the class in
silingly dcno;ninated the rabblc," is much
more numerous than in Virginia, that class
being here, in great measure supplantcd by
our slave population. .fuch alarm is thus
occasioaed, in the minds ofinany who do not, at
the same time advert to the god order, peace
aud purity which generally prevail in elections
throughout the Union; as generally as under
oar vauutcd restrictive system. Mr.. Jefferson,s
remark, that the difficulty of corruptiug would
be increased in proportion To the addition to tho
nlntber of persons to be corrupted is also cnti-
tied to great weight. A large proportion too,
inthi country, even of the poorer class of per-
sons who were not freeholders, can read and
NftS, dut iIuca IiOre lntclllTent than the |
same class la other countries. They read the
newspapers, understand their rights, and cannot
bc imposed upon, or improperly influenced.
tits remarkable, that, tn Y:rginia alone. TIE |
restriction IN emery case Of Inc right IF suffrage
fofrechotaerS only, no,c ccists. In North Caro-
Ina there Is such restriction in the election of
Senator's, but not of members Of the House Of
Commons. In al other states, the elective
franchise reposcs on the broad basis of general
right, with jn,iicia aus regulations in some, (Which
f,isht be adopte here) to preceat the abuse oil
that right. In many of them, it has been placed
on that basis, ever since the day of their deli
verance from British tyranny. Wherever the
system of free elections, upon the principle OF
general but regulated suffrage, is cnjoyed it has
been approved by experience, and cherished by
the people with atIectlouate delight.-Shall w I,
then, the republican citizens of g tie or. Do
D,iaion,n cling with infatuated fondness to HE
4enan1nt IF aristocracy? Shall aoe be so con-
ceted as to fancy that political wisdom exists no
where but among ourselves THAT the con-
of all our sister states, are foolisfly man.
aged Notwithstanding they are all advanciSr in
tiiecareer of prosperity wt!unexarnpleI rapid
ty?-lfindeed, we. arc determined to clasp to our
bos,ns this pernicious delusion ito be forever
mislel by the syren song of pride and vanity
we shall richly deserve 10 have applied TO us
the sarcastic remark of JOB addressed TO his un-
charitable friends
re No doubt, Jutye are the people, and wis,IcnA
shall die NTH you''!
1t is asserted in the Substitute. that &c the OBJ
lection to the freehold qualification of suffrage
is Go1csdty founded, not any abasc of their
power, committed by the freehodcrs of Virgin
IA, il time past, or opprchended from them in
future but on alleged abstract fright.n
By ,phoo, this nUotoat was made we are not told;
and it cannot be admitted to be true, as / will
shortly demonstrate. But if such were the fact,
the objection, though supported by abstract
praictples Of right only, would be substantial
enough, TO demand irrcsistibly the call of CON
vcntion.-For, in free government, one part of
the people ought by no means to be the Subjects
Of another, part-dependant on the virtue and
moderation of their rulers, for the enjoyment G.
ven of their natural rights. The tax on tea I'M
posed by the British parliament on the American
Colonies, was not oppressive u, amo,mt:--y CT wa.
IL violently opposed by the patriots of 1875, be-
cause it nfringed their abStrtctPoiticai rights.
and was regarlc' as a just cause of resistance
ec5a unto biood.
Bal the trIth is, that some Of the laws enact
ell by the representatives of the reehoidcrs, hue
been, a'Iay ptipably oppressive and injurious
20 t:e interests of that class of society to which
the right of suffrage is denied. Look, for instance
attic unjust principle ofcapitation, according to
which all tittuJies are charged with county le-
pies and poor rates, not in proportion to their
means of raising money, but &c IN equai I5-opo,.-
tipns." without regard to wealth or poverty -
tile small property Of the poor taboWing man,
is often taken from hin, for the purpose of sup
pofdug others not much more INDECENT than
lipscf, in sloth and idlcness. There are taxes
which bear harder on the poor than the rich;