Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-08

cumstances under which they be called into &C
ton.
"In word, if I go to the convention, ] must e,
entrusted fully TO do. what may then think tina
4 the interest OF the country requires.
Sincerely and respectfully yours,
| c. JOHNSON.
al have been so interrupted, that l have written
this letter in more haste and with less care than
intended
| Extracts from Letters of Mr. Johnson referred
tom heprecedi,lg letter.
" DO not mean TO say that the present limit is
precisely the best that could be devised, that any
serious mischief could result from requiring lit
lie little less land OF from embracing ten
ants for term OF years, from extending il to
such heads of families were hOusekeepers and
and residents, conducting business for themselves,
not dependant on landlords or great manufac-
turcrs, or other employers.-Nor do l mean to
say, that 1t IL indispensable to measure the qualiti
cation by number OF acres rather than value Of the
land"
"I deem 1t of the very last importance that the
'abours of this Convention should result in plan
oil reform acceptable to the people,-one which
preserving the essentials OF good practical go
verninent would be calculated to allay excitement
| remove prejudice, and restore confidence" =
land no one can doubt the
danger ofrreparable mischief, from an abortion of
their labours.'' y
" 1t would be subject Of not the least re eret
to me, to know, that the convention. in their wis
could extend the right of suffrage as to embrace
those heads of families mentioned in my letter to
Mr.. Kinney. Indeed, if such rule were now
offered 10 my acceptance, should not hesitate to
adopt it, IA the basis on which this question should
be settled. My great object in regulating the right
OF suffrage is 10 exclude, as far possible, the lille,
the worthless, and the dependant,--and 10 confine
the power, essentially TO those, who have a sub
stantial interest in projecting the rights of pro-
perty as well as the rights of person This would
hnl sfa ly in vic
member Of :he convention, and the means
should adopt to attain IL, would be those which the
collected wisdom Of the state should devise as best
What object to in your proposition then, is not
the limited extension OF the right Of suffrage
toned in my letter to MIR. Kinney but tie prin-
cip'e of giving pledge or inviting instruc ton
neither of which can reconcile to my sense of
duty
Mr.. D. w. Patteson of Augusta has withdrawn
his name from the contest He says in his letter
TO the Citizens of Rockbridge. .Pendleton and Au-
gusta " There are other reasons for my present
course, but will mention only one more, which
IS this The enemies, or rather the friends
OF reform, are actively and.powertuly engaged in
the boldest stratagcm have ever Witnessed; and
see nothing doing to counteract it Some of
their gelperS and tTGiiers have been set upon me
to chase me off the course; or, by baying at my
heels, to silence and check me- I Weld to their
recommendaon-I decline the canvass. | de-
cline the honour of seat in one of the most inn
portant and august assemblies that the present
generation ever has, or probably ever will, wit
ness-so'ely 10 promote the cause of reform, TO
concentrate the support OF our friends, and to
free myself that may engage our opponents in
the battle field of political contest, without being
suspected ola desire TO aggrandize myself a. the
peoples expense
A meeting of large rumher OF the Citizens OF
Amherst on the 2lst ult. (Nr. David S. Garland in
the Chair, and X. Tinsiey Sec'ryD have nominal
ed Lucas c. Thompson a Delegate to the Con-
ven.ion in lieu of Landon Cabell, Esq. who de-
clinss an election
Col. j. r. Wallace Of Fauqnier has withdrawn
from the polls for Conventiorr-His letter to the
Citizens of the District will appear in our next.