The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-03-27
ron THE viR9IEIAN.
To The People " KirE,n,a.
CONVFNIION--No II.

q me ffoPft " tHEihld'
CONVENTION--No.li
IL seems 10 me, contrary TO reason TINT any
one should reject Oh the following features
IN the Constitution al Virginia. without I'm
mediately pronnunCiUg them contrary TO the
~ incIple, oil our Government, AMI exhibiting
tuults for which almost any rejecting mind
could point ontin some degree remedy.
! he most prominent ufthose detects, 10 which
lallude, nre the right OF suffrage--the power
aud nnre afthe Judges--the system OF Coun-
~ cnnrls--the Executive eounctl-lhe me
quality of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT the mode Of
eIectlng certain ministerial officers
l. The Freehold Restriction. seem TO he
favorite provision in the ConsttutIou--no
only with the opponents Of Convention, but
with many who are its friends. Ii hns Often
BEEN u matter OF surpri2e and regret with
M, thai snch An arlstorrHtic feeling still eE-
ist. III Virginia as causes that mast important
rignt Of n trsemHn--the right OF n share ~
The government of his country Ito be gestric.
lie 10 the possession Of n certain quantity OF
land A celebrated veteran al liberty IN
England remarks, with his usual force and
good sense, F." that he could SEE no greater
hardship III giving every citizen n right t.
elect than there uas IL has being taxed ~ the
minulest article ot food and rnimeui / hr
10 taxes on his ohdtt'ts, makes rs u -tnl II
contribution rs the freebooter that pays THE
same amount OF tax on hi land Here, then,
IN point OF justice, the right to projection
aud privilege should bs the same. Bot, how
docs The case stand, when one man both pH}s
aud fights for the support II government, aud
another only pays, and yet the latter en- oys
most important privilege from which he
former ~ excluded 1hs, MS naked Iropo
sihon must to every cardid mind rem Inrea
sonabls and unjust But when one IS told
that such principle IS recognized III a rcPub-
lie, he would be ready 10 ekclalm, TINT sueh
government = republican only an Hame.
Many monarch has been characterized ~ u
tyrrnt Tor the passage oil lnWs les unequal
than this and II III has not become oppres.
siye as well us unequal IN the present in
stance, it has been on account oftbe yirtue OF
the people and not in consequence OF the
pfine piles OF the government.
Bnl the advocates OF the freehold system
say that the possession OF 6oacres o baud, or
70 acres with a house " feet square, Is neces-
sary 10 give man n permanent interest IN
the country Can am nun brh,ve thai the
merchant or industrious mechanic who tor
twenty year has been established III Ger
'aiu town or county, dOrs not feel deePer
md more permanent interest IN the welfare Of
int place thsu the wealthy msn Who car
ptfpTd 10 buy 81 acres of barren land in he
trict, SIX months before an election tn
lr desman has no business with any olhrr
nd ol property but active capital. Inc pun
cbase OF land is just 81 much taken from the
capital with which his commercial cnitrgfi-
zes are supported. merchant, Therefore,
mas no inducrment 10 I,vr III country witch
yieldS him So lew advantages HIS taxes are
greater, aud yet hIs rIahls hrr ever thau N
Other class Of men. lie pays more towards
the support OF government, and yet he has
no voice, either directly or by his repr, sen
tatiYe IN thai government. Thus, that ntoH
important branch Of every countryside com
merCal branch is here discourage. um
merce IS necessary IN The prosperity OF hGiI-
culture, aud Yet no proyl.ion are mod" IN
Virginia Tor IL promotion. II u, therefor,
As lfnp0iiic as Il UNJUST aud illbefal n HI
r. ehoDder, 10 withhold ,ncn privileges rom
his mercantile fellow ei'izeus.
But, IN reply 10 these arguments, the free
holder viii tell me that th provision u the
constitution can never Operate oppressive y,
when = irepooid may br purchased fora moro
trfle. Although THIS is not the case in every
county md town in the state, end although
many an honest and Uatfl. TIC CiiizrH IS UNA
bic 10 raise even hi. uifr, | will admit I'll
proposition Ia be true and then, what force
or reason does II rontain? Why, surely, II
there Is danger in allowing every man 10
vote, aud a freehold is So eaiy Obtained
thai every man may pnrehase one, shi, dan
per is not averted by the freehold restriction.
H. with mca' tide, every one Gay become
possessed o. a freehold, this pc moncR utter
e,l would soon become very hitting ore.
II man feels 10 attachment TO the state until
he laws out few cents IN 90 acres OF land
90 some iratkless and barren mountain,
should be very much disposed 10 doubt hls
patriotism afterwards
SO that the advocates OF the freehold
qualification consider il necessary that every
mans interest should become Identified with
the soil before he can vote with SAFETY to ihP
state. their object is completely defeated by
the very acquisition Of the present qualiica-
ton. Bul ii a freehold IS necessary 20 gain
one attachment TO the county in which be
votes, let rs make snre OF il, by increasing
the quantity aud value OF land necessary +"
give vote, III such manner thar II he vote#
there, he can feel no greater Interest slsf-
where Make him hny so much Virginie
! land, and build such fine houses on ii, that he