Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-24


the compound ratio, he would have been willing to
vote to the utmost extent of numbers, in order to
balance wealth. but the basis of the hite popu-
lation has prevailed, he should be opposed to- too
great an, extension of the suffrage. He wished to
guard against the charge of inconsistency. His fl
nal vote would depend the character of the basis
which would be adopted. BY that he would rcgu- |
late his course rs ,be extension of the suffrage
Mr.. SCOTT asked what would be the conditiopl
of any who have the qualification, if they have not
paid their tax. fhe who has the property aiadis
sessed should be reformed the pay books dein
o,ent will he not be entitled to vote. If the man
who is not assessed in any property, may vote, VIII
not the man who is assessed but who has not paid
his tax, be entit'ed,to his. vote?
Mr.. WILSON said II was his inteniionto incl,idcl
those who not ASSESSED for any tax, provided
they were subject to any OF the disqunlihcaions
which were spec flied. But as TO the who has
property. and fairly assessed, yet refuses pays he
4 evlnces such disregard for the Community that he
ought to be excluded from the privilege CT giving his
vote "a
Remarks of Mr.. MORGAN, in COMMITTEES of the
Whale.
Mr.. CHA1RMsN: Before the question be put to
til Commit ee wish to submit few remarks in IN,
vor of the adoption of the amendment now under
consideration.
The subjcc, isvery properly dcelncl by every
member ofthis body one OF great Importance. 1t in
wolves the sovereign rights of the peope-rietts too.
wiiicb when restrained, ought to be restained with
great care. We retoli By able wers OH the sub
ject, that the RICH, of voting III the appointment of
Legislators sovereign right, and ono of the first
Importance in free goverinenis, 1t then soyer-
4 ign right and must be cons terel here. presume
tes sir that it only be abridgedso far as shall be
necessary for the public safety and the pubic good
And o 70 inquiry Is, how far can this right be
saifty extended! what is proper restraint up
on it! We all ag ee that good government de-.
ponds very much upon the aete mpalion of this qtes
! ton. 8 81 (
believe Sir, that the very hest form of Govern.
ment for the promotion ofhuman happiness and sais.
ty, is dictated by the natural love OF liberty and e.
quality, implanted III every human hea 81 and in eve
1 rV of min MS T III
this notion. shall pursue that course which think
best cacula ted to he eoynent the preptcs
possible portion of the rights of the people of
this commonwealth. 6 Yerntnont js or ought to be
iStituted not for tile restraint of those rights bn for
their seclwity and en!a cement We are not TO look
for man by himself tile forest but in society," where
he canonlv be found. Ire, social being by nature
he made toliyS nsociety--&scannot live without
it. In my humble Judgment, (which however / do
not presume to put in competition with The Judgment
of this body, society may be ordered as 10 enable
man to enjoy all his natural rights, in much more
4 perfect and ample manner, than be can possibly do
j alonein The unhroken forest.
In the few remarks whchI propose submitting
4 tor the consideration 1.-THE Committees shall en-
deagour to argue from facts conclusions aud net by
Il mere defamation, think was The course OF
d the gentleman who preceded me in opposition to
! the amendment of my colleague, Mr.. WILsoN.1
1t Is from facts we are to look for correct coDclu-
sions, and know of no better course of reasoning
the affairs of government than to look into facts aud
j circumstances connected with other governments
! similar to those in our own and the effscls and 70
conclude that similar facts and circumstances here
& would produce similar effects.
III The. gentleman of Sthe city of Richmond Mr.
4 NicHoLAs) yesterday from his course of decIama
ton came to the conclusion that non fl eeioaiers
tcouid not love Virginia. His principal argument con-
sisted IN the fact that the holders of bank-socl in
TINS city might so to the offce-transfer his stock
and IN few hours have himself conveyed To the state
Iof Maryland 1pray you sir, cannot the landhoder
40 tle same oy gong to another Office clerks
orncet ana there transferring his land? This soyer-
egn right never can ought to depend upon The ess
or facility ofthe mere alienation of property No Sir
1t ,nnsi depend upon higher considerations.
u he gentleman across the way Mr.. Trezvant)
seems alarmed at the amendment, because it contains
what he calls unicersat suffrage. / would call II
eral Suffrage 1t Is possible, however, that his OBJ
IJectlons have been induced by an intimate acqnain-
lance with the improper exercise of the right of
suffrage by free negroes in the elections in North
Carolina believe the gentleman resides near thar
state Or perhaps his argument is drawn from the
lgentieman of his acquaintance raisedsin Virgna;a
who removed to some of the western States Where
the suffrage may be said to be generaI-resled there
a. years-agan saw the genteman--and told
MN that he still loved Virginia: ergo the riohf of
suffrage as fixed by the Constitution of yiroif6a i.
the very best in the world. This NAV he q coeI,,
sive argument with that gentIeman-t is not vii h
me- beforeI enter upon the argument IL will he
| proper to observe to the committee thai 7 had Tho
honor few days ago of laying upon the table
scaeme Tor the regulation of the right of SUFFRAGE
| dlHerlng somewhat from the one now under con.7d
e'"tioh IL requires the citizenship of every free
W.Il'e man. End one years residence in his county
S'ty, or ooEsngh' and the payment of all taxes or
upon MIN The two years next preceding
the one in which he proposes to vote, and also that
taX OF twenty-five cents shall be levied OIL every free
whte man. 10 be collected and paid into the public
treasury m such citizens. having so paid their
taxes, would be entitled to vote It also Teo'rns
mat portion OF the property taxes equal to the
wn0lc amount Of Tire taxes sorequred to be- called
@ Pu in' shaii DC set apart and these two sums an
9uaty appropriated and vested in the permanent
| Literary Fund for purposes of education Ths
amendment now un!rr consideration requires two
ycurS residence III the State, and one in the countv
IIy' Or borough; and the payment of all taxes and
evles, levied on all such free white men within th
year next preceding The time of election, as omalif.
cation 1t requires no specific tax to be levied bn,
the payment OF those which shall be levied T'bi
amendment meets my APPRECIATION as f,jv ~ nv, lis