Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-24

upon the homogeneous population of that State az
senng the proportion against the State OF New York
arising as he presumed, from the mixed character OF
e population OF that Sate Mr.. q. replied, that there
was smaller dsp.oporiion. which he could ascer.
lam pfeeisey but he was confident il at least to
to against the Massachuset,s' population: and was
above that proportion in every o,her State from which
ne haa received authentic information. Mr.. C. SAIL
his enquiries into the relative numbers of co,victon.
for Penitentary Offences had led 10 Tie ,;scoyarv off
another Fact, which was unexpected TO him: ,,l Ia.
presumed would be 10 others-rhat there ,vsre e. M
convictions for Penen,isry offences BY slayes ,h,u H.
Tree white population OF Virginia according their rela
i've nnmbers-doubtiessly arising from the comfortable
condition OF the slavcs-That although slaves not
punishable in the Penitenary; yet all the records of
convictions for capital and penentiary offences by
slaves are laid before the Executive, and registered
IN tue Penitenary-and except in capital cases, the
convicted slaves were brought there for the purpose
carrying into effect their Mt by sale aud trans
por'aion The number who suffer death for capital Of
fences, Is SO SMALL, as not 10 make any difference
IN the relative results. Whilst the number of the
convictions OF the free colored, is about four times
greater, according to numbers than either the free
white, colored slave population. Mr. g. said
that he impressed with the strongest convictions
that the superior moral condition of the population of
virginia over that OF other State, from which he
had received information, was produced more from the
unfortunate notion which had into prac.
uce there. OF electng universal oicers-egislave ju-
dicai, ministerial and militaryby universal suffrage
than by any other whatever. Mr. G. said that
the extension OF the right of suragenot only to per-
sons but TO ofceshad Introduced the baneiul election.
ecring SPIRIT which had produced. and always would
produce, more general corruption in society than al.
most any other cause whatever. IL had introduced an
increased waste OF whskey, waste OF labor, waste OF
time, waste of money! aud increased aste of morals
as necessary and indispensable OF all the
other ruinous wastes he had mentioned Mr. @. sait
that he had doubt Whatever that the ased
oil whiskey in New York, since the extension Of the
right OF suffrage there, would be than all the saw
mss, from all the temperance societies put together.
They were ephemeral in their aud and
might, perhaps,pa's away before Christmas Whereas
the extension Of the principle Of suffrage the Cons,i-
tuition, had heretofore been uniform in its effects and
he feared, would hereafter be eternal Mr. @ obsery-
ed, that he had heretofore confined his remarks TO the
state OF New York, in consequence of her Convention
having been frequently held up precedent TO guide
our deliberations. He would now beg call the at,en
ton OF the Committee 10 the effects which had been
produced in the State Of Alabama in eauence OF
the Introduction into her constitution, Of this popular
notion OF election 10 universal Offices by universal sui
rage He stated that he had no inviJous feelings to-
wards the State of Alabama, nor the State of New
YORK, but entertained the best fellow feelings 10.
wards both. The account he proposed 10 give was
taken from Huntsville newspapers; and related to the
election before the last. He said, in forming the Con-
siuton OF Alabama, 10 avoid the onerous burtl Ems
which would be imposed upon the people, by the FREE
quen recurrence OF the days Of elections for such
multiplicity of Officers, il specously provided that
all the elections should be held the day. The
consequences was that tue Governor the Judges oil the
Superior Courts Justices of the Peace Sheriff. Con-
stahles,&c. Sc. trampoozing the whole State
calling upon the People TO attend barbacues and froc.
oil all kinds for the purpose Of qualifying the
exercise the great elective franz hse to the best avan
tage; and for three months before great day
ton, great portion OF the whole people of Alabama
were seen Frustrated through the potent influence OF the
delicious iunes oil whiskey. When the great jubilee
day arrived for exercising the great elective franchise
by universal suffrage, FOR the advantage of the State
and the honor and dignity Of man. vast number of bot
Ties OF whiskcy, arranged in fantascal rows, with
anascal labels around their necks, were exhibited in
Huntsville, by the different candidates and the unycr.
sal suffrage voters called upon drink d.ep of
heir Pyrean contents as the hes, qualification for the
discharge oil their political duties And so freely
anu generously did they obey these calls, that when be
nor OF Young arrived II was said, there scarcely
sober voters enough TO take the the drunken
eecnr e1s s III & Sgas notion S
Alabama constitution, the trainers had detcrnncd
that there should be as many public officers there
voters. and that each ;ht himseif:
they would have found themselves precisely where
they started, when they commenced the formation OF
their social compac--How far their present Constiu.
ton falls short oil this extreme the Committee may
Judge. From this view OF the consequences Of the
extension of tho gh, OF Stuff age in other States how
cautious ought we to be against bing the camness
and deliberations characteristic Of our elections by the
introduction here of such scenes Of revery, inoSca
ton and corruption!
MIR. c. said that he had already extended his re-
marks greatly beyond the limits he had marked out for
himself in the commencement; hut he could resist
the desire lac felt, TO present 10 the Committee, tor its
dispassionae consideration observations upon the
most obvoms and deprecated consequences, of placing
Ahe powers OF Government, into the hands of the
tremes of society," For this purpose he beg ged leave
10 present Great Britain the view Of the Committee
as examples for illustrating the case, of placing all
Governmental powerin the hands Of ile rene rich
both in regard to the moral and political condition of
possessed population, estimated at 81 100000 souls:
That out of this vast population, $780, 900 possessed all
the property including the vast public debt in EngSnd
Wales, ScotlIni, and Ireani. This most wonderful
aud important ac was asceraincd by number OF PHI
losoplca gentlemen in lonon from actual inspec-
ton OF the returns OF all persons, no paid the late in
come tax. Add 10 this number the unprouctive labo
rers in the Army and Navy, the tythe and taxgatber
estimated at 220 900 more; and IL would appe
that all the fiscal laws Of Great Britain, made Tor
900 unprouciive aborers and against 81 900 900
OF productive Iaborers. This is effected by The dis
buton Of the proce eds of labor tro ylhe and ga
herers taking from the productive labor the whole pro-
cceds Of their labor and transferring them the unpro-
dmcye aborers. The effects resulting from placing all
government power into the hands OF the extreme
rich, thus to be, almost 10 annilate the mid
ding class TO deprive great portion OF the labourng
class Of sufficient. portion Of bread for their mouths,
and covering for their backs, and to panper the
treinc rich with luxurious iudugcncies, 10
debiiitae both mind and body-rendering The body al
most universally equity, by the artificial relnements in
co kerry and dehilatipg the mind, through sympathy
with the body. Such, he believed, 10 be true and
just picture OF the moral and political condition Of the
People OF Great Britain; and yet this condition is often
and strange TO tell. the reeent policy OF the Federal
Government, is driving them TO the like lamsntable
and depre cated. condition. Mr.. G.. sad, that lac would
then turn The attention Of the Committee, to the stato
OF things, which took place few years since in Ken
i lucky; when the electoueeing demagogues awaiting
themselves Of the principles Of General Suffrage "trip
ped the creditor interest Of half Of their debts IL
favor Of the debtor interest This done by the
ablisbent Of about 80 Banks without any capital Of in
irinsic value, and forcing the reccgon Of the paper
which they issued, upon the creditor, or snbjeciinP