Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-06
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speech Of MI somsoolc, in part. we shall proceed
with ths rapd!y as our confined limits will!
permit reader will not be carried away
| ny the 81 hing Of Mr. Dromg oole; hu: tina,
he will await the pe,usa! of the wild iebac before
he forms his judgment.
Tile Legislature havng conceded the facl..ties for
taking the vote OF the people so long withheld the
great battle IS now to he fought before hc.p,ter How
II is 70 terminate, SIC have little doubt. As matter
on prudent policy, if 40, from decided desire Of re.
form, tire freehnllcrs ofthe Stale w. Gala Conveu.
ton There are considerations independsnt of the
necessity of modelling tue Constitution, of Vi,pi
MA 10 suit tie wants of the present genera and 10
reform its original npeI ecions which Se think mus,
prevail with lis intelligent opponents 10 acquiesce in
lis immediate call Two of tliese We. beg leave to
press upon the attention of the Anti Convenonists
iie friends of The bill in tie Legislature with
!iheTahty characteristic Of their whof 1Dcourse have
'enquistei the right of taking the sense of the nom
'Fce.oders. We have thought, and still .hn!s that
III 's they have conceded too much and that in their
anxiety to conciliae, they have impl cllv at least, en-
croached upon the Inherent rights of man defined
and acknowledged in the Bill of Rights VIA, is
convention but the resolving OF society into lis or,ri
ginai efcncn'e 10 constitute for itself form of Gov
erninen. Beng resolved, what power on earth
has The right to exclude any free ftoua voice in
forming the Government under which he is 20 live 1c
:eehod suffrage is regulation posterior TO the a,op
ton OF CoveInent, and to apply its restrictions 10 CO.
zens acting on the original question of government,
is substituting the deduction for the premises and is
plain violation of the equality which our institutions
acknowledge and which it is the essence of Republ
can's'n to acknowledge every TO possess at Ieas,
before he has parted with portion of his natural
rights by the organization Of society. Why cannot a
n"n ireeo!der vote in choosing his rulers. Bee ause
ne is deprived of the right by The Constitution Bat in
a question which pTesupposes that there is no Con-
suon, the original right Of every free agent TO the
possession Of the privileges with all other free agents
recurs by The inappcaby of the Constitution TO tie
case. The Constitution its,f does not nferdct Ike
right OF non ireeho!ie:s to vote on this questionable
limitation on suffrage, IS confined to the Choice M
members OF Assembly and OF Congrcss. Why there
lore, under any possible paint ofview should they be
denied the privilege Of recording ;hoir sentiments along
with the i'eeholleTs: What isa in fact, but ffechoI
de'a saying TO non ffcsolders have the power no
matter how obtained, and determined 10 leon
ii! Eut, wiser heads :c oIIs, have though, II eyoe
dent to restrict the vote calling Conven ton TO
trecho'ers only, and We acqiesce, not from concur
renee in the justice Of the exclusion but from resper,
TO Tie better Judgment ofohars and above all from
the belief that the iIechol!e:s themselves will decide
upon The call. WHAT we wish 10 impress upon the
community friends aud foes Cunven;ion is The ex
peciency of now calling one under the assa tina,
indicated BY the exclusion. of the non freehoders
that attempt viii be instantly renewed, backed BY
the whole body Of Tie latter. T.ey feel the iniustice
81 their exclusion from participating in the orjna,
a'd indeieasble right Of all isemen, have voice