Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-20

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versal suffrage"
Your memorialists will not under
take to determine the precise meaning
of this oracular enunciation of its au-
thors, that the public mind in Virginia
! is not yet prepared for the name of uni
versal suffrage-their own disposition
to abandon the present limitation on
the right Of suffrage-and their ingenu-
ity somewhat bungling to be sure) in
covering his progress beyond this point,
by studied phrase, equally applicable
to the timid reformer who has been
barely seduced beyond the limits OF the
constitution, and the more daring inno-
vator, who would introduce to parti-
cipation in the management OF our pro-
perry, every individual, provided with
"a musket and two spare flints." Such
are some of the objects, which the meet
| ing at Stanton have been induced to
avow. Such, perhaps, are the princi-
pal objects aimed at by the most zeal
Gus advocates Of the projected conven-
ton. 1t remains for the constitutional
guardians of that community establish
ed bv the wisdom Of our foreiathers, TO
determine, bow far it would be either
just or prudent, at this moment, to a
bandon principle deliberately adopt
ed in times Of tried and acknowledged
purity, and hitherto sustained by the
approving voice ofnearly three genera
tons.
The present Limitation in the right Of
suffrage grew out Of the fact, that to
the freeholders as the owners Of the
soil, belonged of right the authority to
determine, who (besides themselves
Nigh, reside within the limits of their
possessions, and what extent of privi-
lege they should enjoy. BY them the
door Of admission has been widely o.
pened, and all who pleased, have enter
ed to the full enjoyment Of all the rights
pertaining to themselves, except the
single one of enacting laws for the 60
vernment of the state. From this they
have been excluded, on the ground, that
possessisg no free-holds, they had no
common interest with tree.holders; that
having no property, they were unsafe
repositories ofthe power for regulating
property. But our modern reformers,
it seems, have discovered that this ex-
clusion is unjust-that he who is liable
to be taxed for the horse on which he
rides, to labor on the road over which
he is 10 travel, and TO defend the coun-
try whose protection he is enjoying,
has fair claim to enact laws for the go
vernment of soil, in which he has no
participation. The fact that both his
person and his property may, whenever
he pleases, be transported beyond the
reach of the laws-that for the mode
rate share both Of money and labor, he
may be required to contribute, he is a
once admitted to full participation in
institutions reared by the labor and sus-
tanned at the expense of others; and
that for the bare possibility of being re-
quired, once or twice perhaps in the
course of his life, to aid in defending
the country in which he resides, he is
not only to be paid for his time and la
Dor when actually employed, but is en-
loving through his whole life, the con-
tinued protection of that very country.
These and thousand other considera-
tions that might be urged, are totally
unheeded, and nothing will satisfy the
greedy spirit Of innovation, but the a.
abandonment of our property to the m "a
nagement of those, whose interests in
relation to it, are directly the reverse Of
our own. AS well in the estimation Of
your memorialists, might passenger
claim to prescribe the course Of the
vessel in which he is sailing-a travel
Ter to participate in the direction of
company, over whose road he is travel
ling-or a merchant TO regulate the
concerns Of bank, whose money he
has borrowed.
For the general effects TO be appre-
hended from the proposed change, your
memorialists might very safely refer
you to the actual condition of several
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