Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-08-04
EuR TIE WII.G.

I<SSeT uittI mug " queen .'IcH9JFltt.
Al an adle6rned meeting OF sundry citizens, free
holders and free holders of the county OF Essex
together with some Of their friends from KING
Queen, held in rappaa lnnock on the 2Oh july, 1879:
Or. James Hagau, one of the committee appointed
at previous meeting to draft memorial to the
conventions reported the following, whic. was adJ pit
Cd with only one dissenting voice
THE MEMORIAL
Ofsunlrv citizens. frccdoiders aud non -fr,choldcrs
OF the counties of Essex and King 81 Queen. friendly
I, the excns on Of the light OF sHIfag" totla con-
VENT N authorized 10 meet III Richmond III October
mkt, to frame constitution for the state of Viz
gnia.
In obedience 10 the dictates of that great princi
pic implanted IN every bosom which urges the pur-
suit ofhappincss; IN accordance with the republican
sHirt ofthe age " country IN which we live aud Yield
ing to the impulse of common Justice aud humanity
presume to address You in behalf of class Of
!Zcns, who have long labourcd under what We consi
der an unjust and odouS prescription.
The history nations and states, like that Of iudi
Nidua - aprdS particular periods III which comb
nation of iOrtuitous circumstances arising, nan is
presented with opportunity of improving ia an un
usual dcrrcc, his moral conditions of promoting the
harmony and happiness of the whole community; and
Of adding strength aud security 10 is country In
tho history ut Virginia we are presented wiki two OF
ihesa memorable epoChs. The revolution which cft
hc United States free and independent nation pre-
SCENTS TO the huuinn mind OF the most sublime
subjects OF contemplation TINT the history of tho
world affords. IL has proved what drspOLs and the
udvoC1tc5 Of inOnnrChicnl governments have always
Gcridcd OF cndcavourcd conceal, that Is capl-
bic Of self government. In wrestling from the grasp
nf tyranny this inmuablc truth, this narra ught,
this nestmahlo privilege. people class of poo
pie contributed ecly than tic non frcchOdcrs
vi Virginia. Like the oppressed cbjvalric subjects
CT "A certain European despot, they have been the
foremost to march TO the defence Of their country
when invaded by foreign foe, and TO shed their
blood ~ oteItlbg tic ives aud preserving the lbcr-
ties that domestic afstOcracy who would rlvct tho
chains and perpeuatc the slavery OF thor brave aud
,rcnerous defenders During the history OF our
try the non .trccholders every OCCASION which call
cd for the patriotism of the citizen or the virtues OF
the soldier. have displayed "a much diyotion To the
honor and interests Of their country, as those vino
deny them the rights of irccmen Two saugumaIy
wars have proved them faithful patriotic, and gone
rous ofthcir blood. But those mighty efforts which
achieved the freedom md independence ofthrr coun-
ry clothed not the n-frech0tcrs of Virginia with
the naturnl rights of lrcomcn. The sun OF liberty
arose above hc horizon ouy to iiuniuc the paths Of
apriycgcd class, and to cxhiht to the non-fcc-
holders the deep gloom in which tho iiljbcrglly ol
their fellow sufferers III freedoms cause bad invcl-
opcd them. For years have they ondcuvonrcd ~
inries. Sill We are told that II is not expedicnt [,
cmancipae them--thot they are unfit udlciouslv {,
exercise the right of sufira co-hat it would be un
" 0f frccoidcrs, the Of the soil the prnc.-
NV of the statc that they have Tor upwards q
exclusive privilege Of legislation, and that the,
have therefore acquired right to enact the law,
BY which the whole community shall be governed