Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-24
WtcDtes0 st1 sga 1s6a.
TUESDAY MORNING, S:AI.cM e.. Issa.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

conceive that our brethren M Rockingham, LYNCH
burg, aud elsewhere who have determined to resort
to the course of circumstances and petition to the
convention, have given up the great principle of the
Bill of Rights, that ga maj ority of the community
hath an unacnable, indubitabc and indecasiblr rght
TO alter, amend or abolish tho constitution" The
tact being clear and undisputed that the frcellol-
dcrs are not majority of the community the posi-
ton of the Bill of Rghts,is reversed and the priv.
lege Of amending abolising the constitution. is
surrendered into the hands Of an Acknowledged mino-
rity II appears to us, that our brethren in LYNCH
burg and Rockingham, have taken too contracted
view of this great qucstiea,s s7'hey seem to limit
their wishes to aeScnson of uifrgse und4i
the new consitus sss siefe guar sfitiod to
them' to DC contcntto rclmquiSh every thing else
but are they ready to surrender their brthrirht?-
Gan they reconcile it to themselves to forego RIGHT
which Is admitted to be valid and indefeaGlaie, by
the very MEN who have deprived them OF NJ Do
'hcy vlsh to be represented in convention for the
single purpose OF contributing to extend tic rinit OF
suffrage! HIVE they not equal interest in set
ting all the principles of the new constitutions and
VIII they barter this interest and this sacred rrh for
the stipulated price Of ension of suffrage.
The non-freeholders of Richmond, were actuated
by very different considerations f'hcy did no, ron.
tine their views to procuring merely an extension Of
Suffrage. Thcy went for their rights for all their
rights They wished TO vote for members of cobven.
ton, because they had ndefeasibc and sacred rrt
to do go They wished TO be Represented in cbnven
ton, because they had right to be represented
there, and because they wished to have an agency in
constructing the government under which they are TO
live. As to an extension of The rieht Of suer,oe
fI,ir 1at 80 IL
concerned themselves about that because thov knou,
mat such cxtensoni5 necessary and inevitable They
iet more concern in other matters which are to be
sct'led by The convention of more Importance and
whose fate Is much more uncertain
OIth these views, va much regret that orr non
fTeenod brethren in >5ckinghsm and Ivnchburp
nave struck out different course from tho one srn-
gested by the Richmond meeting We regret q 1t
they have surrendered the great principle the truth
OF which they equally acknowledge with MS, and in
stead OF asserting their rgitto an equal voice in
tile formation Of Governments condescend to
beg the boon Of enlarged suffrage from the convcr
ton. Had they stood up for their rights, voted for
members Of convention, aud had their SUFFRAGE nro
perry authenticated 10 that body their voics ,vould
undoubtedly have been as potential as that of fac
holders with that body in determining elections As
it Is, they have lost tho vantage ground, and 10 re
supplicants TO the bar of an Assembly. into ,ybicb
they might ought, aui would have entered. on cou,I
terms as FREE men In our view, the extension Of
suffrage, is as pinch ofsnuf compared to the gre,,
principle thus tarncly, and We think must unf,yt,,.
nately surrendered.
With these observations, Wc submit the following
communication. hoping that its suggestions will he
Circulated by favourable presses, and cxt,,rsiveIo
adopted.
FoR THE RlcmYoSp Hnfc.
To f6e Peopie Of Pirginiq md esperiakh 10 he FER
6oteers Jriendiy TO ne ertlndbn, Of tie right or
suffrage and 10 TIE Non F}cchoIders.
The true question at this time is not who shall ~
VINO shall not vote in tho ncw government that i,
question oFpolicy to be adjusted in Convention: but
the question Is, lnow whcn VIC arc about to form a
neW government who have the r INT TO adjust that
policy The exclusive right OF tie fr6cholders n do
TINS IS denied by the great prime pIc hat man is
pic OF sci-SoyeriInent. The frcchoidcrs who are in
present constitution, the exclusive soycreipns
have reserved to themselves no such rcht nor Rae
they conferred by any Instrument that ( have rner
power on The Legislature to n The net Of son,
oy wech dsfranchises the ron frct holder is most
Iusgstlonaoly noperative--the limit 10 the right Of
suDrage under the present constitution ofthe State
Is the fundamental law, and " binding in an elc
I pms TO which II has rofe encc but any ertono,o
ofthe principle, 10 objects not CONTEMPLATED bv fLn
eonstItuuon' IS arbitrary and unjnst. An ordinary
T..
hold qualification as it exists in the present consff
toH, ms the rule Of action in elections IN the Cnrer
ton, than they have 10 prescribe any other ouafco
ton. Indeed the principle which adroits tha on,bs
hy OF The Legislature, 20 extend ono feature Of This
consifttIon 30 as 20 operate on the now one vonld
CONFER on them, authority o. extend my other fstrro
ofitN any such extension not warrgtted he eSprosg
IJh, vs. Teferable to their idros Of czpedicHey ana
may on may not be- ss they please or do not please
peIpetuated by them.
The public vote Of the freehold rs in favU Of Con
yennon without restriction, has placed us whore V,
Would stand " wehad no constitution nj al OBJ, our
natural Hghts--every free white man has an couol
rgt TO participate in forming a now compact-thel
right ct the non freebooter to vote in elections TO con-
cnl'n IS Iolnh, where tho right Of the frecholder
iound, 81 restriction Is there made be,voe,, 49,
ana The other none can be enforced r. foupd where
tDe right OF mon Is found 20 form social conpocia Il
,9ln the original uniettcrcd condition of man which
L ayes him free at his own will and plcamlre. for co.
cletys sake, TO impose upon himself individnaliv
"Iat restrictions he ploascs Thus sustained no Con-
vent'on will assume the fearful responsibility o reiec
IN! the votes OF the non rceholders. do not snoof