Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-12
RIOHMoMD NJ Az "a.
CONVENTION.
RIGHTS OF NON .FREEHoLDERs.

was ueiu dCCOTuhg 10 adjournment.
Col. James b. Mallory was called to the chair
and Frederick w. Green appointed Secretary
The committee appointed at the last meeting to
draw up amemorial to the Convention, made tlleir
report. Whereupon, it wasss
Resolved, That said memorial be deposited with
capt. Dggs Poyner for the convenience of those
VINO may wish 10 sign the same; and, that the
names OF stockholders and nom eehoders be signed
in different and distinct columns.
Resolved, That the citizens of the other coun-
ues composing this district, who may wish to
sign said memorial, be. and they are hereby per-
United aud invited TO do So
Resolved, That the non-freeholders throughout
THIS state, should adopt some mode by which they
may produce concert among themselves; and for
that purpose,a committee of correspondence should
be appointed in each county.
Resolved, That the committee of correspon-
dence Tor this county, be, and they hereby, re-
quested to communicate with the committees that
are, or may be appointed in other counties, upon
the expectancy Of each conventional district de-
putting four representatives TO attend upon the
Convention, about TO be assembled i'm Richmond,
IN order, that in case the said Convention does not
extend the right of suffrage to many citizens in
tms commonwealth, as, i'll their opinion, ought to
enjoy the same, they may adopt some mode by
which a fair appeal may be made to the people Of
this Commonwealth. And that said Committee in
their correspondence, suggest the expediency OF
instructng the representatives deputed, that if
the Convention of Freeholders do not extend the
right OF suffrage to areasonabe extent, they shall
forthwith have meeting of their body, and draft
constitution agreeing, as nearly may be, en-
cept in the article Of the right Of suffrage, with
the reehoiders' constitution, and submit the same
to the people of Virginia for their consideration,
and adopt such other measures as will ensure
fair, candid, and full expression Of public opinion
thereupon.
Resolved, That the Chairman of the correspond.
ing committee, may, by giving public notice 10
that effect, call meeting of the citizens of this
county, who are friendly to the extension of the
right OF suffrage, whenever, in his opinion, their
interest may require it.
Mr. Thomas GhoIsOn moved the following reso.
luton:
Resolved. That the Editors Of the Richmond
Enquirer and Petersburg IntelIigencer, and other
Editors in the state, friendly to the object of this
meeting, he requested to publish the above pro-
ceedinss, together with the memorial adopted by
this meeting.
JAMES B. MALLORY, Chm'n.
f. w. GREEN, Sec'ry.
The memorial of certain citizens of Brunswick
and others, TO the Convention of Freehoders
in Richmond, assembled for the purpose OF al
teringtthe Constitution of Virginia
SHEwETR-That your Inemorialists deeming the
call OF Convention by the freeholders alone, for
the purpose OF altering the Constitution Of the
State, az unwarranted by the principles OF our
Government and Bill OF Rights, and unwilling that
their silent acquiescence should hereafter be con-
strued into a REIMBURSEMENT of those rights and
powers, which appertain to freemen, and to which
they are entitled in common with the rest of their
fellow citizens, take this method of LAYING this,
their solemn protest, before their assembled fel-
low countrymen. Your memorialists consist of
those who are excluded from the polls, and others,
who, enjoying, Tue right OF suffrage, are, never
theiess, willing TO render justice to Others and
who, moreover, feel deeply interested in the pre-
servaton OF that equal participation oil political
power, upon which they conceive their own secu-
rty, and that OF the republic, ultimately depend
POWER IS always stealing from the many to the
lew and they know not how long it may be before
their own rights may be sacrificed to that princi
pie OF political grayitation, which usually finds its
centre In the bosom OF despot. The claims of
your memorialists rest no less upon political expe-
diency than upon natural rights. If constitution
means fundamental law, prescribed by the peo-
pie, defining the powers OF Government, and none
hut the people eau make such law, then your
memorialists cannot but remark the incongruily
attending the call of Convention of FreelIoders
for that purpose. Ii the non-freeholders be por-
ton of the people, in whom resides the sovereign
power Of the state, the exercise of that power, by
Freehoder5 alone, can only be justified upon the
idea, that some conventional arrangement, TO
which the nom freehoders were originally parties,
had conferred That power
Your memoTialists contend, that none such ex-
lists. The manner in which the psssent Constitu-
ton was formed, cannot be relied Oh as a prece-
dent, for that resulted from necessity, and the ur-
gency of the times; (see the I'd clause of the Vir
GINA ConstituonD in which there is an aIlusion to
ty being speedily adopted, and to az recommen-
daton of the General Congress to that effect.
The Virginia Constitution, though irreguarly
formed, received its sanction from the tacit con.
sent OF the people, and from that source alone, is
derived its validity The people adopted il; il be-
came their act. The restriction OF the3rigbt of
suffrage was introduced for Legislative purposes.
The non-freeholders, portion of the people, by
whose consent the Constitution allowed TO go
into operation, cquesced in this restriction for those
NM hua innrl ira
the sovereign power OF making Constitutions
That was still reserved to the people. II the nom
treehoders parties to the present, and right
full parties, any attempt TO make Constitll-
ton, alter the old one, without their concur
renee, is an injury TO them, and an abuse of that
concession, by which they voluntarily, and as cir
cumstances have shewn, mprudently consigned
TO others the power Of ordinary Legislation. Ii
tends to narrow down the doctrine Of the right Of
self-government 10 degree inconsistent with re-
publicanism; its benefits extending only to those
who, by birth, wealth. some fortuitous com
bination Of circumstances ind themselves under
thefunceTtan profession Of mantle, whose folds,
contracting with every succeeding generation,
are finally gathered around the person of a single
ruler
The possession of the SOIL which, but for the re.
gulatious of society, would be the common pro-
perty of all, gives to the owner no inherent right
10 greater political power than he who has none.
If anybe conferred, ii il in virtue Of fundamental
has no greater power than the -freehoIder. And
TO this fundamental law, he is as much indebted
for the uninterrupted enjoyment and possession Of
bis land, for his political privileges the exsr.
else of the one, and the possession of the other be.
ing subject TO such limitations and conditions, as
majority Of the community thinks fit TO impose.
Your memorialiss beg leave to refer to the Bill OF
Rights, as containing what they conceive TO be the
true principles of Government. The natural e.
quality of all mankind, is there recognised. And
with respect to the power of altering Govern.
ment, il is there declared that " majority Of the
community hath an ndubitable, unaenable and
indeieasible right 10 reform, alter, abolish il n