Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-21

pie upon which the Right of Suffrage should rest,
and the manner in which the representatives
should be apportioned throughout the Common
wealth.-With respect to the former, agree witt,
the trainers Of the Bill OF Rights q" that Al, m 81,
having sufficient evidence Of permanent, com
mon interest with. and attachment 10, the Co,nmu.
nity," should have tho Right of Suffrage Con
sidering it tob right derived from the social
compact, and, therefore, liable 10 be limited by =
Just regard to the principles of expediency 80
pnrhc roNcy,I su opposed 70 It's universal cxer-
Csc. OlT'0refaters believed, that an inicres, IN
the soil, afforded the lest evidence of this uer-
mdne's', common Interest,"; and when we remeR,-
Der, That the great interests Of Virginia are en-
phaticaily agricultural, that the mass Of her Citi-
IONS are now engaged, and will probably long
continue TO be engaged in agricultural pursuits
ia' the rest oil the Community depend upon the
titiers OF the earth for subssicncs and comfort;
and that the laws which guard and protect their
interests. and the interests of their families, must
necessarily embrace the great bulk of our Socie-
'y,-no light or trivial cause should induce us to
pronounce the rule, established by ancestors,
TO be wrong. do not wish TO he understood as in
tending TO say, that l would sickle for the pre-
servaton OF the qualification, in the precise terms
which are to be found in present Constitution
l DO not mean to say, that would not give my as
sent to some modification Of the principle which
might comprehend Lease holders, Reversiouers,
Heads OF families, being House keepers, paving
taxes to the government and likely to reside al
ways amongst u.s. But I do mean TO say that
the principle itself which requires ssfIi Gle Mt
evidence OF this 'permanent, common inter-
esq, ought never 10 be snrrendered: So
as TO let IL upon all tho evils Of Universal Suf
trage. The apportionment Of representatives
throughout the Common w ealth will constitute a
task as difficult and delicate as any 10 which the
Iaoours OF the Cow enton may be devoted. CO.
vorDinent being instituted as well for the protec-
non oil the rights Of property of per sonal rights
l can never agree, that the superintendent of rep
rcScnta.ivcS slOuId he ma IN mi
oers only, without regard TO taxation. Whatever
ianciiu theories may be cherished by speculative
poiiticians by persons who desire TO make laws for
the government Of men, not as they are but as
they Ought TO be. il seems 10 me 10 be indispen-
sable Tor the preservation Of interests that in
hAing The ratio of representation, some account
should be taken OF property as well as Of free
white population Already the Eastern portion Of
'he State is made to bear unequal portion of the
public burthens, whilst the largest amount of the
pubic contributions must necessarily be expended
IN the West When we look at the condition Of the
state tho species OF property held by its citizens,
ana the manner in which that property is distribute
ed amongst US, is there not just reason 10 appre :
bend, that, ii the representation be arranged
with reference to the FREQ white population alone,
the law-taying power may hereafter be found in
one part oil the Common ealth, whilst the proper-
~ TO be taxed might be in another. Should such
State OF things ever occur, might not the Eastern
inhabitants OF Virginia, without the imputaton of
improper motives to our Western brethren be
Having thus presented in brief a manner as I
could, my present impressions relative to the sub
Jects which are likely to engage the attention of
the Convention, cannot close this address with
out noticing another inquiry, which has been pub
iciy addressed to and others, and whose oh.
lect appears TO be, to ascertain whether or not
voted in the last Presidential Election il true
that cannot discern its connexion with any of The
duties oil member of the proposed Convention
cannot see why persons, who voted for Mr. A.
dams ar for General Jackson, or those who were
unwilling to vote for either, should be considered
by such circumstance either qualified or dis
quahhed for seats in the Convention. 1t il also
true, that the gentlemen making this inquiry, be-
ing ireeholders of Hanover, Could so far as am
concerned in II, have ascertaned the fact by re-
terence to the records Of their county, without
putting themselves to the trouble Of addressing me
through the newspapers--Nevertheless, having
no political secrets, and desiring TO have none
have no hesitation in saying, that i'm that election
did not vote. 1t may he proper, too, that should
go farther and say, that in that did not intend
to vote. In the view which hat, takcn of putlic
affairs, considered Mr. Adams as having commit
ted so many political sins, TO render il impossible
for me TO vote for him; and, differing in opinion
from majority ofmy fellow citizens, was so UNI
fortunate not 10 consider General jackson fit
successor. The support given by the General 10
the Tariff OF 1924 was moi the least oper alive of the
reasons which induced nc TO decline voting for
him was fully aware then, as well as now,
that when parties are arrayed against each other,
neither, and may make enemies in both. STILL as
| 1t was matter for my private judgment as pri-
waite citizen. thought better to do nothing than
10 do that which, with the opinions entertained
would have been politically wrong. At the same
time Will not deny, that apart from political
CONSIDERATIONS, felt personal prefcre nee for Ge-
neral Jackson, and WAS, therefore, gratified that
majority OF my countrymen, not entertaining nv
opinions az 10 his fitness for the station thou hit
proper TO do honour 4, him rather than TO his rival
1t would not have been difficult for me to record
my vote for some other person, whom preferred
to both; but it will readily occur to The gentlemen
making the inquiry, that at the time of that cleo
ton, the actual state Of things was sHeh as would
have rendered such vote an idle parade of sim
guiari,y, without promoting in any manner my own
views OF the public good.
Very respectfully,
am, gentlemen,
Your obt sery't,
RICHARD MORRIS
COMMUNICATED
To the authors of the late Address to JVm. III
hoane, John Ronne, Robert Pollard ST.. Rich d
Morris. James M Garneft, John H. Bernard.
John BGnhhead, George Taylor, Laurence
Baftniie, and George Wright, esqrs., signed
Many FTeehoideTs Of Hanover
FELLOW cIrIzENs--By Yesterdays mail re-
ceived your communication in the Enquirer of the
7th. In this Address find myself, with several
others, called on TO answer two queries. To the