Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-16

hat
upon declaring themselves independent, and procee-
ding to the work of establishing freer governments
than they had been accustomed to- some Of the states
should retain some of the features of that arstocracy
which they and their ancestors had been SO long
customed to view with appreciation; and, accordingly
some arstocratical features introduced into the
Constitutions of some ofthe States.
propose to review those features in each and to
trace the course OF public opinion in relation to the
topics thus presented, from the period of the Revolu
ton to the present time, and thereby efectually cs
tabsh the position, that the friends of the Bill under
consideration are vainly struggling against that ire
sstible tide IN the opinions of their countryrncn
which Mr.. Jefferson is reported to have said at the
time OF admitting Ohio into the Union would shortly
render each free man in these States equal in all no
litical respects, to each of his fellow citizens
In Virginia. solid, well defined and local aristocra
cy already existed, and the Commonwealth took
the most early and decisive steps to preserve it and
perpetuate its authority. Under the regal govern
men, it the policy of rulers to STRENGTHEN their
hands, not only by subdivisions of counties around
the Seat of Government, but by retardinp the srowt
of the western settlements. The proclamation of
Governor Dnwiddie of 1868, is an evidence of this
policy. The charter of Virginia extended to the wes
tern ocean, yet this proclamation forbade settlements
ON the western waters, or the issuing of grants for
onds there 1t even announced the intention of mis-
Majesty to dIsmember the old Colony by the establish
lneh OF new governments In the western part Oft
This would forever, as 1t was supposed preserve the
balance of power tide water. That the regal in
cnton iii this respect, entersnedan enforced by
Allegheny there existed two great sub divisions of
country IN the actual occupation and under the row.
eminent of Virginia; West Augusta and the county of
Yohlgcny The latter was settled under our author
lty IN part before the peace of 1863 and its fortress
Font Duquesne, Pittsburg was delivered into
our hands and garrisoned by troops. This ceun-
try, now composing nearly half of western epn-
yvania was recognized by all, part of Virginia,
but the charter of Penn covered uearly the whole
and was supposedto the whole efit qihe char
ter orPenn was about y years younger than ours
yet the convention of July 1775 had already SO far
determined OH the ACKNOWLEDGMENT oftbe wcs nc Tho
King had dermined before them | suppose for the
same reasons, that they gave to old Yoreny no rem
resentaton IN that very convention which in the
year following, made the Constitution under which we
i've. They gave representation to West Augusta
which not organized county; but to Che other
they gave one. In the convention there was no DEL
ese to Claim protection for that beautiful country
1t was to be cut o-sacrfced to political considers
TONS and accordingly its separation sealed by the
following clause III the constitution-to wit: aFbe
territories contained within the charters creating the
colonies of Maryland, Pennsylvania, North and South
oarenla, are hereby ceded, released, and forever
continued to the people of those colonies respective
W &c. &c. All that any colony claimed from the
oicee.sshayter was given away. In the convention
en t, Of Se Wer s ba 50 early for the iseber
to observe the means used for securing the ascend N
cy oft the tide water country. The ordinance of their
election mad said that each county should have two
members--yet (see commencement ofjourna of 776
they permitted Nestmoreand to have three Ricbard
Lee, Richard Henry Lee, and John Vashinoton.
York had also three, DodIey Diggcs, Thomas Neisop
ana Nlilam l'lgges; jamestown and other CORPORA
tlons including the College, had member each: and
where member was absent, they permitted him to
serve by deputy. Thus, Thomas Jefferson was rem
resented by George tsimer--and, in copy which I
nave seen the Key Hugh Blair is stated the dcp-
uty of George Wythe for the College Phc con,
vrnton, thus constituted, did retain in the fullest
vgor the ancient aristoracy the COLONY inst as thnv
round IT, and LETT no means in tseir power, unempcy-
Ell, to perpetuate 1t. This Constitutional provIse,
gaze the charter OF Pennsylvania preference OYER
ours and when the 'yestcrn boundaryi ofHiiat stat.
was rum it yet left to Virginia an organised conniv
which retained its lame, Yogeny, and by an act of
1853, that county added to Ohio on the EXPRESS
ground that it WIS too small to exist as a senarafe
county and this at time when equaed in TERRITORY
and population Elizabeth City and three udioinin1
couhties. Inc whole western territory WINS next
gwen away, and Kentucky was soon after made gu
independent State
As might have BEEN expected less cfthe elements
of arsocracy will he found in the constitutions ftbe
other states than in VIRGINIA The states of ry s
ticut and Rhode Island lived under the MIRO da,no
craclcs created by their charters. Tt NAV be said
generally, that with the exception of Virginia the
old thirteen colonies adopted their constitutions on the
principles of perfect equality of rights in all persona
and ofpocul pooer privileges and cnpactjex in ali
Irec white male citizens twentv-one wears of a1e
liable to the payment of taxes and to the performances
OF military duty, unless under military subordnatjon
or some other durance and not rendered Infamous NV
the commission of some crime. The following sre
the exceptions to this general outline, as accuyateJv
as can, from recollection, state then:-In Massa-
ctusetts, property qualification is required of the
voter, OF freehold estate of three pounds animal
value, or sixty pounds in personal estate, and the
senatorial districts to be laid oaccordng to the taxes
assessed In New Hanpshre the senatorial DISTRICTS
are aia on IN the same manner, and the Senator must
be treehoider worth Ea0o- The suffrage is uni |
versa and so is that in Massachusetts, by their ote
amendments. In New York, the Senate was for
merry the representative of property TO certain
d:gree Pie new constitution ofthat state removes |
TINT distinction altogether and the suffrage is made
universal. In New Jersey, Senator must possess
ireehoid worth GlOO0--a Representative freehold
worth $500; and the voter one worth ESQ. Droca,na
ton money. do not know the vuIue but / have
these qualifications, practically amount to
nothIng In Delaware, and in Maryland the Repre-
sentative must be the same The voter must have |
ESQ in chattels, which. by subsequent amendments,
las been reduced to nothing. In N Carolina the
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