Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-27

ded, by PARTICULAR application OF t!en, ana he woui
premonlsh the House ut this point, that he off:re
these explanations, not because he doubted of de
monStrating their ciccual operation as regards tn
right OF suffrage-but ard he would openly proclaim
what his object was) to ascertain the principle with
view TO It's Interior application.
; He would imagine county containing 500 quail
fed voters. Two hundred and iftv oftfese voter
would vote for a and the remaining fiity for B. Tel
me Which ought to be represented. Yet the House
would perceive that the decision of that question
whether with go or will! 40 oftie qualified vu-
ters, shall be the representative OF the district
county depends entirely Oh the question whether YOU
VIII graduate the votes according to The wealth o
Tue voters, or wh"thcryou will establish rule OF uni
FORM suffrage Toexpain, he would suppose that
soo voters are found for A. each entitled to free.
hold estate worth o. and 81 for who have prop
cry over ana above the qualification required by la
worth Slooo Now SIR numbers decide \ is elected
or he mas $50 votes IN hts favor to 50 votes against
MN lie Is therefore superior to by iority OF
10 l. But II wealth decide the election il propor-
W is TO determine the result Il would be elected be-
cause Tue conloned property of Ills 90 voters would
ne MY thousand dollars while that of the go voters
ior q would DE but % thousand. BY the operation
OF thus rule therefore it would be seen that Is would
oe Superior TO lii tie proportion us Q to one.
Nlopt NUMBERS therefore aaf a Will be elected.
'ue look at The other standard OF representa- ion, he
meant wealth, OF which We have heard much OF
late, and would be elected by the ratio lie. had ma
tors would he in that t.ia aggregate propcr-
ty OF the $50 voters for y.
Here Mr.. L. l,1de some calculations on t., other
GiSiS--the Union OF wealth aiiI numbers but We
dn not catch his details with sufficient Gstinctness
we refrain from attempting TO give them.
Perhaps he would be told, that reniic,ncn did mt
dier from him III this respect. He would examine
the subject which alone coul produce difference
of opinion iii the House \ low me tu i,la yipc am
argument. Suppose the Committee was ennaocd in
determining the question: o which his resolution was
10 settle the application Suppose the question which
had already Submitted, Was placed before ;huu.-
OF y. ana 3. They.luve disagreed YOU are appon-
IN =, do Tho
election. Give me leave 30 nugn the argument OF
| B " ould not the supporters Gt Bs Case, tell YOU
that government chiefly or solely established
for the protection OF property that This the sole
end OF all governments: Would they not tell YOU.
that there exist ed natural cuitv bctyveen capital
ana iaJnur' W o'ld there lot be il'Ieri,Iinabic
controversy between !ncH and wealt!i!Or, strip the
subject oi It's nlyslcation oitrrl.s, and abour and
capltai, would be found TO mean nothing more.
- oud thcy not tell you tat t ESQ., tho honest men,
never hrle.s subicc, The influence OF L,,4n;H
lniIf!mtIns, and must be tried by the rules which were
taag!!c 10y universal eXperIchcr' That cNpcrience
teaches that whenever the many have power il would
I ne eAerLed to the oppression OF the few, exhibiting
iSeIi IL acts Ut rdplhC upon t!e property which thew
coul;! rot dacnd:-ikT Whenever numbers are 10 be
referred to instead OF wealth the basis Of repre-
sen.aiO, the effect would be to give the representa-
tive To the $50, and that he, ubeyig his costii uens
would still carry into effect the system Of
pine, with this single DIFF renee, that 1t would be plum
dered by Legislation and hot by actual force
! Would they no: URGE tlut there was no qua
! r!ty OF the law, OF constitutional sanction OF
moral scn'lln nts, which sufficient for the
protection OF lie, ouid be to.uily inadequate for the
protection of property! Would they moi ina ly tel
| you that the only guarantee YOU'D be to give the
votes (of the fifty produced by excess Of wealth.
more effect tlant!c remaining Two hundred fit
lii other words to place te c4!l,.oi Of government
| iii thc hands Of the few?
| l. was no. his purpose 10 occu7r the time Of the
comiittce III making the unswcrs of y to that argu
mient. The question VAS settled i'll the mind O
2
sentiment oil Tie nation II was testified By that
deep profound, aud lie trusted changclcss tec!ir
which ATTACHES Us 10 our free Institutions, by sense
TIL just equality which they recognize and establish
If he was right, would The House lc would ask
have any difficulty iii adopting his oiutios.- a
! did they prop1se w hat do tey ask Nothing whic!
nthC practical exercise OF our gny does al
ready exist. Aye sir buttcypropose sounting NOR.
they contain In point OF fact these principles
exist but the constitution does not guarantee or Sc
cure them. He rcii.I!rd the constitution u< it now
exists 1t in point Of fact, hn said, the equality
of suffrage he cUu:1 led To-: 4 now rested u! suie
lly, bat lie wanted 10 couer upon It cous;i-
tutional considerations The only clause in the consiitu-
ton which did ii all Gear upon i; contained III these
brief expressions cline right OF suffrage in The C.
icc' ion OF members for both houses shall remain
crcsed ut present &c On the phra*euogv OF
this clause he would offer diiy hypcFcrc al
observations.
| The provision was mercy mad, for fhe purpose
IF DENYING TO tie Legislature the power TO ST rip
tiers Of the RIGHT OF s;iiragc The purpo- that
the right shall not b. taken away but has bearing
upon the question the effect OF that r@,:t being
exercised Ivy some and deneito oticrs. the clause
denies III terms the right 70 strip voters OF their
rights, but nothing further 1t does not take
from The cgls turG the right to determine the rca-
tive rights of voters. If The expressions were doubt
tul, i'll matter III such importance nothing should be
lett 10 doubt III the constitution lfLc was correct
n the opinion he entertained, the principle ourl. to
be settled now--Now was the proper time to settle
H. For these considerations, he recommended the
adonton Of the second Resolution.
! The Other Two rus.lutuns--tbc third, and fourth
referred to represent atouhat is to the effect OF the
elective franchise where it clislcd The third REQ
luton, seemed to follow as coroiary from tie first
Il aflrnsed nothing more-cspecially in its amended
form. thln that that uniformity which the first Reso-
lution proposed to establish win respect to ndyiduas
should be extended to the effect, that is representa-
lion.