Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-21
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VEE2GENTA CONVENTION.
WEnHnsnAY. Nov. l8.

time the resolution which offered Yesterday, but
subsequently withdrew, | now submit to the consi-
d"ra not the committee, the following substitute for
III thiri resolution OF the Legislative Committee
tlierc NJ. W read his proposed resolution on the
subject III lie right of suffrage, which being report
ca by the tRar-he resume in substance tollows:)
u must be evident sir, from the various objections
which on yesterday came from every quarter. to this
resolution ttr Legislative Comm tee, that 1t meets
the views of worry small portion of the members of
this Convention have therefore thought it proper
TO rid the committee at of the abour a,id troU-
bic of itnumeraG!e amendments. and notifications of
that resolution by placing before it the subject OF the
right Of suffrage on ITS broadest ground. wish 10
march boldly up 10 the question, and meet it once
and present it III such shape that there will be no
room Tor the imputation of ambiguity, or nsncer,y
The substitute propose, is short plain, simple and
"asy TO nc understood This proposition at least is
rot liable 10 the mputution uttered Yesterday BY the
Gentleman from Charlotte (M-. Rant,ulpl0 of being
"a snake IN the grass
The scheme here proposed for the regulation of
right OF suffrage, is not open to the objections
5ed yesterday by the gentleman from Chesterfield,
III. L"igh,l TO the resolution OF the Legislative Com
y C.: 1t does not exclude from the polls the ow
of small frecholds, whilst it admits the payer of
''pt cent horse tax, who, although he might even
: C se-holicr, under one OF those small freehold
$. yet would be entitled to vote whilst his land
"a S excluded The substitute includes both these
rsE-es Nor is 1t open to the objection of the gem
man from Charlotte (AJr. Randolph( 1t AIMS no
- DOW at the rights Of the freeholders, for it in
"Tles them all. Nor is it liable to the objections
SGD by the gentleman from spotsylvania DIR Sta
- a. yesterday 0ganst the resolution for which IL is
tended to be substitute. He dwell strongly and
y or the difficulties attending any attempt to
- mate the value OF a mans property per annum,
'he purpose OF measuring his right 10 vote. The
an now proposed, looks not property as the test
mans attachment TO the community, and. there
tpre voids the difficulties which must nver attend any,
scheme OF property qualification 1t seems to be adj
'Hs.fd that the arbitrary limitation of the r.ht of
Suffrage TO the ownership of any fixed number of
o5ss OF ana' IS absurd and unjust because of the
inequality of the value of land. 1t is therefore pro
posed that the property Of the citizen either real or
personal, or both, shall he valued, and his ripbt ia
vote be tested by that value. This scheme would
'nuei be liable to great objections arising out of the
difficulty of carrying it into execution and TIE fraud
Crnegllgence of the valuers.
Two quahhcatons seem to be required by the
sixth section Of the Bill of RIGHTS in ever, nerson
before he shall be entitled to the rirbt Of
And notwithstanding the acerations which this Vene-
raoe instrument has undergone, in the course of our
aS1 ueoates' sun feel disposed to take my text from
IT, whenever am about to discourse upon poli,ica
subjects, and matters of government The first qua
hhcatons required BIZ that instrument is that tho
man shall furnish sufficient evidence Of nerranent
common interest lth the communicated secondly
nat he shall furnish sufficient evidence of att, CHI
nent to the Community. In other words we should
'e cohf.nced taat his interests and affections bind
I'm to u.s. before We admit him to a-v share in the
government OF our state. The que ,tion hen arises
o. "i'at means can we ascertain where his inter
esSS ana attachments arc centercd What test shall
so dPpiy' What requisites sinai! W., demand with
OUT WHICH the man shall be- excluded from the eycr
cSa Vi TINS thH most honorable, and precious OF his
itt"TaI rights! ana here SIR permit tn
fhaf Notwithstanding all the riicuc which has bcan
cast upon the natural rights of man hv certain cen-
Eerej Notwithstanding the repeated denial Of their
Existence, except - the brains OF u,oon-strrct rc
f3finers still believe thasnature or natures Cod ra
'2r, has conferred certain gnal rlrs upon man;
@:lu among them, none appears to me more clear and
''dsnlaOic than the right OF appointing our own
'geHts. ana TINS right may exist apart from and
r'terior TO, any regular social compact The fact
ny having authorised certain Individual 10 Transact
Pecc OF business ,oT M does nct necessarily imply
ny sociai compact with him, any other individual
of my race. But although this riobt of onDoinIing
our agents exists IN mau by nature, yet when he en-
*ers INTO society, that right becomes limited, and
tught to be controlled, by due rerard TO the in,er
csts of that society, if the gentlemen Meas nv
'diency Private and individual CONVENIENCE 1nu Z
.l'li to thc good Of the whole We must give uD
2ortlon OF our natural liberty III order to enoy the
ntages OF social union, aud be secured in h; I'M
. lrbed enjoyment of those rights which are not
''er'u' ana which I'll" necessity ofthe case does
9Ire Us 10 surrender. But s, this surrender
90 not DC required to on extent greater than ia
57ary ana c%pcdIcnt for the good Of the whole
luniIy. l! you require the citizen to yield up to
5o' ernn9nt' larger portion of his ma ural ihde-
~. etce ana irec agency, than is necessary for the
@1HiTiY OF the community at large and it's members
a- ticniar' then SIR, you take from him that for
'..-' you rshueF MN no equivalent The momeut
50 0 the ctlZen-yield to the government more
20 " natural liberty than is requisite for the seen
LIE comnunlly-you pass ont Of the field of
10. Hna enter upon the domains Of TYRANNY
-,"celve TO TIC the true r;:ic. And the appli-
a' 1t viii producce very different results ac-
ling Inc virtue, Intelligence and patriotism Of
aoH,o o whom 1t is applied When applied to
cor tp. and ignorant Italian, the result viii be ab
g. narchy When applied to tie more viru-
1i 1ign'cncd inhabitants Of England, The rec
- be limited monarchy. when applied
FI'u5us, Intelligent, and patriotic people
ma the result Will free representative re-
ne en- the administrators Of pubic affairs
-'r gents OF the people, aud chosen by those of
"Do nave; "r are supposed to have, free
1atured intellect, and an interest in and an
= ny 10 the community. With regard to free
Will ana maturity Of intellect, have only TO
that u gent cmcn do not already perceive
'Iiely of excluding women, children. pauvcrs
"od save from the polls, vain viii be any at
~ my part TO convince thcm oft. The beams
monday sun ~'ll be useless to hun who shuts
against the light
ecur to the question. what is the proper