The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-05-07

s-st resolution say our constitution is na
.atitled to thai appellalion. This Is Gentt
\, gentleman How shall 1t he drtermin
ii except by reference 10 history. Very
few of the present generation had thel
drawn their first breath. Mr. Jefferson l.
one them and what does he say Why
mat it was " al ordinary Legislature" Il
he gives this account where are the ground,
of the denial II was formed III '7G, b,
men who elected for the purpose Of proyi-
alpc for the general welfare. produced an
instrument whie,!they caiieda constitution
But the people haze never recognized II as
yach. and il Is therefore not Oue. A con-
.htntion, framed ug.C by Convention,
would not be entitled to that apprIlaton,
until recognized by the people. Bot tbs
constitution was formed, say, gentlemen,
ma time of peril and danger. Jsty, there.
fore. said Mai. p. that appointment is the
more necessary, because II WAS impossible.
n such time, Ia bestOW upon 1t due de-
liberation. will not act upon the rIdicu-
I1us idea, that because a shed has shelter
I'd me from passing storm, therefore
will ever afterwards make II my habitation
viii rather, sir, when the storm has pass
I'd, repair the defects, to guard against IA.
rother aud a greater, which may COME
say again, sad MAJ. Z. that this resolution
is based upon an assertion Of Mr. Jclier.
sons, and it cannot BE- cuntroyerted.
Mr. Nelson says that representation and
taxation should % together. | will meet
him On that ground. Docs not the mer-
ctant aud Mechanic, pay taxes, as weIl ~
the landhnlders Ought not they, there
fore TO be- entitled to vote Isay they ought
IL have the right. Mr.. Anthony says, we
have no practical evils to complain of--lhat
all is visionary Is it visionary that a
mans life shall be exposed in defence of his
country, and that he shall be denied a
voice IN the laws which dooms him to this
exposure Was every man Who barred his
treast TO the bayonets of the enemy during
71e last war irreholder No, Mr.. Char
man, they were not but yet they gave
e.idence of attachment to their country,
more powerful than the possession of few
acres Of sterile soil. Dat Mr.. Anthony has
taken the strange ground, that one non
freeholder ought not to complain, because
he is only on the same footing with Others.
But sir, to what will such doctrine lead
Shall we go to Europe, and tell every
slave with whom we meet, that ven have
30 right to complain, because Your whole
country is land of slaves ? Shah we tell
them you should not complain that Your
rights are taken from you, because YOU are
in the same plcdicament as your neigh
Dor For my own part, Mr.. Chairman, II
is my firm and unatcrable opinion that
the restriction of the right of suffrage IS
wrong. Other states have discarded and
excluded this feature from their constilu-
tons and arr they not republican ? They
are, sir aud this feature has been exclu-
,rd, because it is arstocraical. If those
who framed the instrument which ZOE now
wish tosc amended, nor lived, they would
exclude it too. They formed it in an hour
oiperl aud therefore preciPltatelr.
inanswerto the objection that the system
representation is unequal, il is urg. d thatit
Leyercan be otherwise & that the iluclua-
ION ofpopulaton would again create some
80 years hence the very same EVIL even fiji
were now partially remrdied. But, sir, if
IT cannot he tqualizcd wilh mathematical
precision, II can be placed on more Just
footing tbanit now stands, rs To The repeti
ton of the evil, il can never again occur To
the same eXtent--such a. the disparity be
tween Warwick and Louaou, York aud
Bedford, &c. sc.
Mr., Antnony contends that the rcsop-
ton relative To Mr.. Jefferson is irr,layent
!, SAID MAJ. T. thiaz otherwise. Mr.. ].
has written upon the subject, and his re
roarbs are well tuned. I'hr gentleman al