Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-24


ny, wanton, malicious caumny, attempted to traduce
his fair fame, his spirit remains unsubdued: and his
mind, self balanced, like the eagle on Norway's
rock, looks calmly down, upon the storm that still
continues to roll below.
abe thou chastc ice, as pure as Snow
Thou shalt not escape cauinny,"
was prophctcaly spoken by the great master of hu-
man nature in one Of his most inspired moments
and though the reputation of HENRY CLAY has been
most unlustly vilitied venture to predict that it
will "come out of the cloud and the storm such in
substance as it entered in"
TO The FrceholIers of Iatta3, Charlotte, and Prince
Ediculd.
Fellow citizens: In obedience to the sovereign
will of the people of Virginia, Legislature has If
forded you the facilities for forming Convention.
It is entirely unnecessary for me to recaptuate to
you the important provisions of the bill enacted by
our Legislature; no doubt you will examine them
sufficiently to understand your duty voters Ii de-
wolves on you to select four suitable persons from
your DISTRICT to represent you in the approaching
Convention. 1t seems, from the newspaper publca-
tions in Richmond, and the pfoclamations at the
Courhouses, that there not less than twelve
didates to represent you. This multitude of cani-
dates must necessarily create much embarrassment
and electioneering strife in district: Nay is to
be apprehended in this way, the popular will may be
entirely frustrated, and representative fostcd on
the district, contrary to the wish of majority by
plurality of votes.
Under this state of things, we should devise some
plan calculated to remedy these Inconvenience
and harmonise the votes of the district. therefore
propose. that five discreet treeholdcrs be selected
from your district; three from the county Of Halifax
from Charlotte and the fifth Fl ON Prince Edward,
meet at the ensuing Charlotte court and that they
he empowered to choose Of the twelve candidates.
four for whom the district are vote that two of
the candidates thus fixed on be of the county of Ha
1fax, of the county Charlotte and one of the
county of Prince Edward a representation thus
called, will doubt, be in perfect accordance with
the wish of the district We should pursue among
ourselves the principles of concession and compro-
mise, which the Convention bill is based. Let
then, feow-cizens, accommodate each county of
the district with representation proportioned 20 its
population. | hunby apprehend, that the plan pro-
posed will ensure this desirable object.
- Let act on those enlarged principles and feelings
which should ever accompany the actions PATRIOTS
and discard from our bosoms every thing like section
al partially and prejudice. Let u.s. feov Citizens
choose of integrity and practical and useful
lents and who have considerable acquaintance with
the prominent in the district, to represent us in
the selection of candidates. Select men who are
above prejudice, and confidently anticipate from
their selection able representation i'll the approach
ing Convention. JUSTlTIA.
numerous meeting of the non-freeholders and
freehoders friendly to the extension of the right of
suffrage, was holden at the Franklin Hotel i'll the
town Of Lynchburg, on the 18th of March, 1929,
for the purpose of consulting to the means ofres
toring to the former his civil and political rights
John Hancock Esq was called to the chair, S S. l.
Watt appointed Secretary.
The following gentlemen appointed Com.
nittee draft resolutions expressive of the of
the injecting, to wit, ). d. Urquhart, Richard H. To-
Ter, D. R. Edey, Samuel Schoolield, NJ. Il. Lynch
and F. F. Bowen, Esqs, who having retired, re-
turned and offered the following preamble and reso-
lutions which unanimously adopted.
The non-freeholders and portion of the freehold
ers of the town Lynchburg and Its vicinity, assem-
bled to take into consideration the Law passed al
the late session of the General Assembly of Virginia,
for the purpose of ''organizing convention, deem it
unnecessary to make labored attempt to dem n
srate the injustice Of that provision which excludes
nonfrcehoders from the polls and confines the scec-
ton of the individuals to whom the remoddellng of
the fundamental law of the State is to be entrusted
toa ssprjuiLeged class of the community 1t needs
nothing like denuncation to kndle in the bosom OF
every man who recognizes the political equality of
all classes of his feoso- citizens, feeling of lndgna
ton and resentment, which nothing but strong and
confident hope shat the question may be settled,
without disturbing the public tranquility, could res
train fr ON manfestng itself in acts OF open violence.
Such O feeling springs spontaneously in the mind
at the bare mention of the degrading fact. Yet the
non freehoders will continue, short time longer as
they have heretofore done, to bear patiently the
wrongs ofwhich they complain.-The wise men to
whom, the destinies of the State will be entrusted
will have much penetration to be alarmed by the
saadoYy dangers which tlnlld minds have conJured
I'D as the inevitable offspring of the extension OF the
right of suffrage-and it is to be hoped, they will
be too prudent needlessly to exasperate majority
ofthe free white population of the Staeb by adenial Of
clam, founded in proprety and justice, that they
NAV thereby crafty the lust of power which long pos
session has only increased of the landed arstocracy of
the Commonwealth. The non-freeholders possess the
agf-a right of which they cannot be deprived by the
Legislature to make their voice be heard in the for
nation of constitution destined to endure for ages
and by which, if they be not heard they may be depri
we'd forever OF the power to exercise privilege, which
SIS inestimable to them, md which can be fornida-
bic to tyrants only."-In conserving therefore, to
abide peaccably the issue of the effect about to
he made to give to Virginia constitution which shall
he republican in pracce well as in tteoryiH fact
as well in 1,ne, the nonfreehoders do not
der the opinion that they have in1ubltabc right
act otherwise. They are anxious, however, to alay
excitement, rather than to produce ito preserve
the public tranquility, rather than to sow the seeds Of
strife. In exhibiting this spirit of moderation aud for
bearance they furnish the strongest evidences of the
patriotic motives by which they influenced, and
give triumphant rebukc to the asporsions ofthose
denn1rcn tha nEtnnsinn Of the rimht Of snrane