Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-08-04


ing states that have admitted nonieeholers to suf-
IaSe' we have referred them TO the principles laid
down IN the memorable Bill OF Rights an. supported
our Claims by arguments drawn from the first prin-
clpes OF republican government but TO no p,rDose
! Tue combined powers of reason, Justice and magma.
! mnlty have still plead for them in vain When we
appealed to just principles, they have been ridculed
as idle distractions the ashes of depa greatness
the spirits of the llustrous dead have been appalcd
10, and their opinions distorted order to shey The,
Inherent right of the freeholders To govern and TO
prove that nontreeholdcrs are not people," and OF
course have no just claims to the rights of trermcn
~ Is not unworthy of remark, that the trecholders
III their constant resort To tavourte argument-tle
ofguenttnt al cerecundt0n, have always overlooked
i the opinions OF the iliustrious jefferson.
Indeed some OF their most distinguished advocates
nave LATELY gone so tar US to declare that they would
never yield to tue claims of the nonreehoicrs I'M
less compelled by superior physical force; and an
Eastern Virgnlan argues that ''nonev b. the sin
ews of war, the physical force may be in minority
tonc. ref oal possessing great prepondc-
| that 1t is no: money, bat men who consti.
| tute the wealth and physical force of nations;
0hd particularly so when engaged in domestic
war But we will pass this over: the paucitv of
their numbers, whom compared with our irresistible
power, leaves us nothing fear from threats of vio-
ence Resting secure IN Inherent enerpips and
reposlng the utmost confidence in our oyerwhen; mr.
force, we disdain to reply TO their threats or to OK
4 pose the Pnery of their idle bravatoes. We are
desrous only to meet them the merits of our cas,
to narch up to the strong points" of the ARGUMENTS
they have adduced i'll their defence and to shew the
aliacy OF the reasoning from which thew cian, FIR
themselves exclusively, that moral intellectual and
political virtue which cnta them lo the col, ,,r;,
ges of legislation.
The only plausible argument they use AGAINST tlo
pretensions OF the nonireeholdcrs is that in which
they complain of the injustice of permit inv i.nfree-
holders to participate, either directly or INDIRECTLY in
the enactment Of laws, which may in nose taxes o.,
a species OF property not owned Nv many OF these
who would lay them. They tell us in substance
that tile avocatious Of nonreehoders EXEMPT them
.tnn nf land 81,
were permitted to eglsate participate in lersla-
ton they would, by imposing the whole burden of
government upon the shoulders of the freehodcrs
Cypress tat very Glass OF citizens from whose profits
the revenue of the nontreeholde is princnuIv deri
we'd Now after making all due allowance for the
p'uSioIhy OF tins arguments and adni,ti ur that
!. the nontrccholders disposed to retaaie nm
those WAC have so long unlustly deprived them of
their rights, still we cannot conceive that the evils
predicted ny our opponents would follow neces-
lsary consequence of a indicous extension of the
right of suffrage Because the nonfrecalIers beiuu
what IS generally denominated the nnnproluctve
class or the community, the thew Cypress the
irecoiders or oductive class, from Whose. profits
tcr own subsistence is necessarily derived the more
they would curia the source OF their own revenue
1t therefore app"ars, that i'll proportion as the ius
OF cn,tlvition discouraged in tho same nro
portion will tie "eehoidcrs be driven from their plr
suits and forced jpt0 competition with the nolD-o-
dlctives: so that b. ufUosinr undue proportion of
thepabIic revenue or the frccI .lers inc ncnrcc-
holders would create i''iVots compe;uioa in their
can take OF the shhect, 1t app T eyIdent that it -
Il not only the duty, but the into re-; II tie noreuho
dcrs as Wei as every ther class Oh citizens, to extend
equal protection and to met eunai i!stcc every
class and every member of the whole POLITICAL
Thus in the political in world on rig and
our duty are iuscparahy connected: ~ when
eneavor TO take uniue advantage Other hroug,
erroneous views OF seineres, that finally njgc ours
are The elements of civil s iG Of 1f 2 81
whole system ultimately suffers equal liberty equal iusc
equal protection Is withheld from any class any member
OF the whole community.
There another argument e1ucny used by opponents
that perhaps worthy of notice. In the OF their
beraity they that they placed the Qualification
possess himself of the necessary qualifications that
to do so proves conciusIvcy, that unworthy enjoying
opponents take for granted what the many of
our most useful citizens renders extremely
true, we deny the legitimacy of the conclusion
place. many OF our mechanics would uiurc their
extent runouS 10 their families by Withdrawing
capital sum sufficient purchase % of land
improvements while resources others would
prove entirely inadequate TO the purpose the OF the
State and the OF Justice shcv that many
wne nave long exercised rights of trec!ca did nicely
through TIC iorpearance'or creditors and in disc1 Tn
then debts they have been not ouy legally deprived of
property but Invested of the right of scllgovcr,cn- ri.
idea Of Republican, Institutions Bu even admitting that The
non eehoes ha tue means OF qualifying themselves for hc
regal exercise OF tie right OF sIif".=, sii question tic
sou',tnes OF that policy which would urge The
purchase of % Of land Of log cabin
tne charn' winch yields qn1nt"n s0'ei OF patriotism
would, at tue most moderate calculation 80 dollars
The yearly premium, this is ; dollars. The unnhabcd
Pefpiccuy require eiiher to DC rebuilt or repaired
the annual expense of which may reasonably estimated
annual INC OF = tiDlldfs on all
avocauons did necessarily lead them own cultivate
the soil Now tire number OF nonieeoders Virginia tie
6OOband Is believed he moderate calculation
would be compelled to advance capital Of about millions
dollars, and TO forfeit annual income Of 24OOOO dollars
before their feelings and patriotism sufficiently subnnaed
10 enter the portals ol freedoms temple in company
freehold brethren The needless expense,
OF such policy, evident We would ask Opponents
word the Wondering ruins of 900 cabins improve
the county, contribute to the honor interest peace
State increase the patriotic devotion of Citizen
nm with reverence for the superior wisdom and justice
which flow from her political institutions?
But another consideration which
opponents 6 yield 10 Wishes aud that the
country haveOr the
The ssuary effects of their timely aid experienced
IN two great struggles for liberty and there yet guarantee
that the feet OF nerccnary and ruthless may again
pOiute country, and carry death ard Ges5,lion
peaceful abodes of civil life Under such circumstances with
what Hthetie emotion would they appeal the finer ccl
te human hearL aud nmpIore the eeholIers