Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-08-18

OF sunjry citizens, freehoiders and non OF
tho counties OF Essex aud King s. Queen. friendly
TO The extension of the Right OF Suffrage. 10 tho Con-
venon. authorized 10 meet in Richmond. in October
next to framea Constitution for the State OF Virginia
In obedierce to the dictates Of that great ?rncple
implanted IN every bosou which urges The pursuit of
happiness-n accordance with the republican .pi,i, of
the age aud country la which lve-and yielding to
the impulse Of common Justice ond hunaDiiy, We pre-
sumo to address you in behalf of class OF cizeus
who have long iaboured under whatw consider an I'M
just and odious proscription.
The history oil Nations anl States, like that Of inl
y'duais, affords particular periods. in which combiua
ton OF ortuitous circumstances arising man present,
Ell WIN an opportunity Of improving. in unusual de-
gree ms moral eonditonof promoting the harmony
AMI happiness OF the whole Conmunity--and OF adding
strength and security his Country In the history of
Virginia we are presented with two of these
oie epcehs' Ihe revolution, which lett the United
States free and Independent nation presents 10 the m
man mind one OF the sublime subjects Of conte
uon mat the history Of the world affords IL has proved
"ha uespo's ana the advocates OF Monarcicai Govern
menus nave always derided endeavorcd 10 conceal
That man Is capable of self government In wrestling
rom ne grasp OF tyranny this iumuiablc truth, this
natural right. this inestimabe privilege, people, or
class OF people, contributed freely than the non
irsehoers OF Virginia. Like the oppressed chivalric
SUBJECTS OF certain European Despot, they have been
'he foremost 10 march TO the defence OF their country,
when invaded by foreign foe and TO scd their blood
projecting the lives and defending the liberties Of that
domestic ariStocracy, who would ryct the chains and
nerpe'uate the slavery Of their brave and generous de-
lenders During the history Of Conntry. ihensn,
Heenoiucrs on every occasion which called Tor the pa.
w VIC ciuZch, or the virtues OF the soldier have
displayed as much devotion to tho honor and interest of
their country, as those who deny them the rights OF
Teemen. Two sangunary have proved them
faithful, patriotic aud generous OF their blood But
those mighty efforts, which achieved the freedom and
Independence of their country clothed not the non free
nod"rsoi VIRGINIA. with the natural rights of freemen
Inc sun OF Liberty arose above the horizon onIy 10 H.
iniline the paths OF privileged GLASS; and 10 ex.
hibt TO the non. free holders the deep gloom in which
the ioerality OF their fellow sufferers in freedoms
cause, had "nvcoped them For years, have they en-
dcavored to awaken their opponents TO lust sense of
'her injuries Still told, that il is not expedite MT
TO emancpae thenthat they are unfit, iudco,,slv N
execcise The Right oil Suifragetat il would b. unjust
70 allow them to participate in taxing tn. property of
'rechoidcrs the owners Of tho soil, che principal sup
poreTs al government the bone and sinew the Siate
'nat they have, for upwards of half century, exercis
ed ths uninterrupted and exclusive privilege OF lega
non; and that they have, therefore acquired gh to
enact the laws, by which the whole Community ab all
DO governed. We have reminded them of The blood
shed IN defence of common country--we have
pointed 10 the unparalleled prosperity and happi.
ness oil The ncigoouring States m have admitted nom
reehoders to sufrage-wc have referred them to the
principles laid down i'm tho memorable Rill of Rights
ana supported our claims by arguments drawn from
the rst principles ct republican government. But 10
no purpose!-Tho combined powers Of reason iustice
and magnanimly, have plead for them in vain When
we appealed 'orss principles they have been rijculcd
as die distractions The ashes of departed greatness
me spirits OF tho liusirious dead have been appealed TO-
and their opinions distorted order 10 shew the inhe-
e' gm n o. he ree"osrs to e5vern, and TO prove
ua' non ierhoiders are not people"-and Of course
nave no Just claims 10 the rights Of reemen II is moi
unworthy OF remark that the ieeholders in their con-
slant resort 10 favourite arrumen-the 1ysuneuf,y,
y" ve'rsHh@dm--have always overlooked the opinions
OF the iliustrous Jefferson.
Indeed somo oil their most distinguished advocates
nave lately gone far 10 declare, tina, they would
never yield 10 the claims OF tho unless
compelled by superior physical force and an Eastern
sMsmian argues, that il money bs the sinews Of
war, the physical force may he in minority possess
ing great Preponderance Of wealth. History would
inform them that it il money, hut men, who con-
s'ln'e me wealth and physical force OF nations and
atrnIi in efi.
we VIII pass this over the paucity Of their numbers
"hen compared with irresistible power leave us
nonS 10 idar rom hrepts0i violence. Resting secure
ID our inherent energies, and reposng the conf
uencs IN our overwhelming force disain 10 rcpIy 70
heir threats or To expose the pueriy OF their lille
oravadoes We arc DESTROYS only TO meet them on The
merits OF cause, march UP TO the strong poin,s
OF The arguments they have aiuced in tl,eir defence
ana 10 shew the fallacy of the reasoning, from which
"ey o"Nn Tor themselves exclusively. that moral intel
iectua and political virtue, which en,,o them To the
sole privileges Of legislation
lie only plausible argument they use against the
professions OF the rechodersis that in which tbev
complain OF The injustice Of permitting reeholders
10 participate, either directly indirectly in the enact
nieht oil laws, which may impose taxes on species of
property: not owned by many OF those who won.d Law
them Ihey tell in sub ance that the avocations of
non.irechoiders, exempt them from the operation of
anu FAX, ana mat, they were permitted legsiaie
"I participate IN legislation they would by imposing
me whole burden OF government on the shoulders OF
le esoders, Cypress that very class Of citizens from
",ose Pto'' the revenue OF the non-irpchoiicrs is
ance Tor the plausbiluy OF this argument and even adj
ml,'ng that the observation-disclosures were disposed 10 reta
iae on those, who have long unjnstly deprived them
OF 'heir rights, still cannot conceive that the evils
Preuicted Oy o'r opponents, would follow necessa
TY consequence, o audcious extension of the Right of
Suffrage Because, the on-ireeholders being what il
generally denomnated the productive class OF the
community, the more they Cypress tire eeholders or
PI""uC"'o CLASS nom whose profits, their subsst-
,ce - necessarily derived, thc they wonld curail
we source oil their own revenue IT, therefore aDpe ara
'a' IN proportion as the business of cultivation il dis
couraged, in the same proportion i'll The frechoers DO
o'Nen rom Their pursuits, md forced into competition
WIN The non-reehoders So that, by imposing an un.
due proportion OF tho public on te eeiolders
'hc hon-ireeholders would create ruinous COMPETE
uon IN heir own svocaions Upon every liberal view
Whch we can take of the subject, il appears yident
mat 1T IS not only the duty, but the interest of the non
ethoi"ers as wen az every other class Of citizens 10
eSteho equa projections and 10 out equal us.
uce 10 every class and member Of The whole political
Noinh1hhy Ihiis, in the political az in the moral
"oFin, our interest add duty iDseparahly con-
nected-and, 1t is only when endeayour 10 take an
undue advantage OF each other through erroneous views
oil seit-inercs., that finally injure ourselves and dis
iurb the harmony and happiness Of Society So happ
~ are the elements oil civil Society blended Thar every
part OF The whole system ultimately suffers when equal
nneFy, eqnai justice, or equal protection s withheld
IRON any oIdssor any member Of the whole Comm uniiy
ihere is another argument, frequently used Nv our
opponents, MAT W perhaps worthy Of notice In the
abundance OF their liberay they say, nat they have
placed the qualifications OF voters i0 that any c
ZEN oil ordinary industry, may easily possess himself Of
the necessary qualification; and that his falling 10 do
So proves conclusiyey, that he is unworthy of enjoy
,ng that nesiinable privilege In the premises here