Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-26

| sincerc-hut
all mitigate the evils and desolaons, which it has
often inflicted mankind.
Sir, know il has become fashionable to represent
those, who are opposed to many of the which
are contemplated. as the enemies OF the people. Whe-
Their am their friend shall endeavor TO manifest by
my actsIand not by my pr9tessons-No denunciations
have any terror for They will pass by me "liks
| the idle wind which regard not" There is what /
consider very strong and decisive argument IL, favor
OF the rule lay down, Tor suffrage 10 be drawn irons
the act of the trainers Of Bill OF Rights which con-
temporaneous with it, Ii ia that part ofhe Corst ution
which declares "ihat the right OF sHage in the cleo
ton Of nbers both houses shall remain as exercis-
ed at Present. Now, the freehold suffrage then
the established mode The trainers OF your Consitu-
ton declare to you. in the most emphatic manner, that
the rule which they lal down in the Bill Of Rights as
to suffrage, could ony be complied with, by requiring
permanent in'eFesin the soil Here then, is con,empo
raneous Exposition always deemed the best. Nav more
here Is declaration of these wise who Il AIMED the
Bill OF Righs TO what they intended twill gem
tlemen contend after their splendid eulogums on them
| that they did not understand their words and in
entions, but that the of the present day are bet
ter expostors Of bob? But the intelligent, NIL man
from Frederick eneavours TO ohviate the force of this
argument ny insisting that thi, part of the Consiitu.
tioa Is not to have the same authority other parts.
because the trainers OF the government did not for the
hrst time, establish the rule OF sufrs ge merely left
it as they found it. This be specous, but in my
poor Judgment, not solid. The trainers of our govern
ment were employed in establishing a system adapted
10 The changes produced by the revolution Ii was not
incumbent on them TO change every thing-It was on
y wise and proper abolish such parts of our former
system. as were irrcconceabie with the republican
form we were about to carry into effect. Thus we
Ind in several parts OF the Constitution. portions of u
old institutions were retained But they retained
upon due considerations and by adoption became Just as
much the act OF the trainers OF the government the
parts which were created by them. IL the trainers {
the government had said the suffrage shoud Re con-
ferred on the freebooter, il would be admitted pre-
seme, that in every sense, il rule established by
them. Now, can il make any difference, Except in mere
orin that phraseology is used, which retains the rule
OF suffrage which had previously existed But the
same gentleman contends, that the retention of tire
Right OF Suffrage, as Heretofore exercised resulted
probably either from the Don stitution being made in
haste and amid the noise OF hostile cannon, that t
was sacrifice made to propate rather avoid the
alienation Of the feeholisrs. Both these hypo,heses
appear to me 10 be incorrect. As TO the Constitution
being the result OF hasy mid councils, the gentle
man from Chesterfield, (Mr. Gles) in former debate
has clearly shown the best evidence il was not the
case. And TO this provision being oblation to-
the freehoders, find trace in the Constitution it,
self, IN the history of the times in any tradition
which has come down to u.s. 10 justify the idea be-
lcve that at the period spoken Of, there such de-
voton 10 country, such love OF liberty such disin-
tere'ednsss, that the Convention might, with perfect
safety, have made any arrangement which they be-
heved would contribute TO sustain free principles
but they wise and practical statesmen, and
they knew and felt, that they hsi established rule
which was perfectly compatible with Republican in
situations The force OF the argument derived from
their authority, we'll from the experience under
1t, remains complete and unimpaired Gentlemen arr
que this question ii il between the Satraps
Che existence OF whom they choose to suypo,e) and
the poor OF the land Instead of making upon the
nidlng or even the poorer classes believe we are
defending their best interests. We go for the utter
e'is OF wealth, when we say, that we OF opinion
that interest in the soil il the best evidence OF per-
mansnt attachment. This idea of an arstocracv of
reeho'1er' is not only incorrect but ludcrous. Are
we coniendiGg for giving wealth in the distribution of
suffrage, weight in proportion to its extent? The an
swer Is, that freeholder, whoye farm is worth ffty
dollars has as available suffrage one who ha. land
worth two hundred thousand dollars Are for Ak
Ing a high property qualifications We reply, that it.
appears from this debate, that a get freehold
in almost any county in the state for fifty dollars and
in some Qndeed many for twenty FIVE dollars. or for
at ae'
ireehods acceptable they to the industry and ex
ertions OF ALL constitute an odious arstocracy Sir, we
do not require that these freehods should be pro-
ducye, las many Of them noD OF one cent of re-
venue Sir, the beauty of this system. its republican
feature, ~, that the humbest freebooter ia put on a
ioong with the richest man in the state. IL lit
tie remarkable that the report of the Legislative Com
mittee proposed what conceived 10 be violation OF
our Constitutional principles this subject by reuuir-
ing that in addition TO the quantity Of required by
law, there should be tax a certain amount paid.
voted against this restriction, and | glad it was
stricken out by a large majority am for depriving
no man oil vote now entitled to il. not whes
Their mans freehold be productive Otherwise Ii 10
his all, and is dear to him. the freehold OF the
ers oil thousands OF acres is TO its proprietor But is
said that every man who pays tax ought to voenow
what evidence ofnt.rest in the community is furnished
by the payment OF four upon horse or paying
poor rate, and county levy Is il the sembIance
Of testimony that the person paying IT,, intends to re-
main in the commonwealth! 1t is also contended that
service in the militia, is proper and valid claim TO
vote. 1t is said The nonfreehoder fights your battles
But does not the freebooter do too? does he no,
10 anotler hlng, Tor the support oil the non.fTee
holder? War Cannot be carried by men alone: You
require munitions OF war, provisions and every thing
necessary to equip and sustain army without th-se
numbers of avail, indie ed injurious. Your ar
my would soon he diSorganized without them-In time
of peace, the militia service which is free.
holder and aon-Ire rholder il light, IL nominal In
time of you draw heavily the property Of the
country, and iheE the treeholder is only bound
fight, but 10 pay. We have strong example of this
during the last During that war, Virginia was
thrown very much upon her resources, and hav-
ing found that the keeping very large bodies OF mi.
lis in the field, very harassng TO the people,
very expensive and not very eiilcient-he Assembly
deter min ed raising ten thousand mon Tor the defence
Of the State The law provided, that the expenses OF
these troops should be assessed the property OF
the country, AMI it would have fallen with great and
Oppressive weight the land and slave Hap
the severe burhens which the property holders would
have been subjected But it serves to shew, whatever
will be the case, when exposed to the caanies
incident TO
| The gentleman f ON Loudoun has stated that he
knows Of particular virtue attached TO the soil. that
should select the owners as the sole repositories OF
political nov. rr All Professions par in hs est-
nation do not pretend that great virtues may not bs
found In all The prjc ssons and walks of life But do
believe il there any chosen people Of Go /, they
are the culGvaiors Of the soil If there be virtus
IN b. found any where, IL would b. amongst
the Iniddling ftmers, who constitute tbe ycornan|
~, the bone and sinew Of country. Sir, they
are men OF moderate desires, they have 10 labor for
their wishes bounded by tie limits OF their small
possessions; they ate not harras'ed by envy by the
love OF shew and spendor agdtei by We restless
anil fnsatiahIe nassion Of ambition. When they lay