Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-13

~ 'as 10 uc' upon the principle oil original equal
Such condtion, real or imaginary, .necessari-
y excludes tho iica OF ordinary legsla ure with
Iowcrto Prescribe the mode ofclccti ms. Upon the
idca that the people, in their primitive elementary
capacity, are to -modclthc Government, the Le-
gisature mere creature the existing cnnstitu
ton, can have no rghtfm authority to designate a
particular description of individuals, who are TO APP
point agents Tor this purpose. Such an act would
convey the Impression Oft paramount power, which
could unit and control inherent sovereignty. If the
Gencrai Assembly then admit the doctrine that the
election OF members Convention is the exercise of
equal natural, and malicnabc right, they must, of
courses abandon all claim of determining the qualifi-
cation OF voters The only course, free from enibar-
rassment, which can be adopted is TO pursue the ex-
listing regulations.
The first efor, to pass their boundaries involves us
III ahsurdty and usurpaton. The Legislature there
by eHoncraes itself from all RESTRAINT of law and sub
stitutes It's own arbitrary discretion 1t may extend
the privilege not only TO males twenty. years OF
age; 1t may also extend it To all capable OF bearing
arms to all who have sufficient strength of mind and
body to eXtrcate themselves from parental controu
nay may go farther, and initiating the late example
OF, at least, Sister State, may net discover any
good reason, why females should be excuded-A
provision, that minors and females might exercise the
right OF voting, would certainly be obligatory, as
provision extending the privilege to any other class
not now enjoying 1t under the existing constitution.
The very absurdity growing out of such claim of
power ought to be taken its conclusive reftation
Nor could the Legislature Justify the extension upon
new government is not natural right, it is
conventional trust. The trust could not practical
ly be lodged, Unfortunately every member of the
communlty-lt is therefore the province of the fun
dsmenal law, which creates and organizes the socie-
ty, to designate BY whom, in representative roy
eminent, the delegates are TO be elected. Noutcs-
qucu, some where in his Spirit of Laws has, in sub =
stance remarked that the regulation of the quaiica-
ton OF voters exercise of Sovereignty. But sir
perhaps ought to apologize to the gentleman from
Monougalia Mr. Morgan) for introducing the name
of such writer Alas! MIR. Speaker, it would seem,
that Montcsqueu, Locke, Sidney, Price and Priestly,
with all the writings of our own revolutionary
authors, were TO be totally disrcgarded and in
thch room, the antiquated notions of Lvcurcus and
Scion, and lsocrates, were TO be revived. We must
now aluuse ourselves with an effort to realize the
dreams OF Plato, II the formation OF sperect Re-
public" Harrington and Sir Thomas Moore will no
longer be considered out OF the reach limitation bv
practical statesmen. The General Assembly cannot
provide or stpuate for the extension suffrage with
out usurpng a sovereign power without committing
deed Inconsistent with the constitution and laws
1.-THE non-frecholders constitute majority land il
has been established by arthmotic,) then the per
mission to vote places 1t IN their power to elect the
members of convention, & thereby virtually control
and defeat the Will OF those, who alone have voted for
the call otconvention and alone have determined the
propricty OF revising the constitution If it were
right to take the sense only of those who enjoy the
right OF voting ut present. If it right 10 per
init them to decide the question of convention; il
cannot be wrong to permit them to elect the menu
bers. The act of assembly must have designed to
consult those who had the right and power of defn-
ltlvey and peaceably settling the question without
violation of the existing constitution. The advocates
OF reform in the Legislature have generally by their
votes, encouraged this view of the matter When
has been suggested, that il it be contemplated TO
act upon the principle Of the majority Of the ,ohole
community having the right to change the govern
ment the provision for taking the sense of the PEG
pie ought not to be confined to ree-hoIders onlv or
III case 1t Is designed that others shall vote in the
election of members, then that they also OUGHT to
be consulted; and when propositions have been Iada
to take the opinion at least, of all free white men
over twenty years ofage, has encountered uni
tormly the opposition Of the conventionists. Phey
cannot now, consistently, claim that Others besides
the freehoders, shall parlake IN the election of mem
berS TO convention.
But if this Legislature possessed constitution ally
the power Of lmpartng the right of voting every
man twenty-one years ofage, do not hesitate to
declare that should still be opposed TO the extenton
The idea that those who excluded from the polls
Invested of their natural rights cannot be main
tanned. That the same power VIII ich Institutes row
ernmeut, which creates offices, may declare by whom
the ncumbens shall be elected, admits not of dues
ton. The man, who is qualified to vote i'm elections
discharges duty and trust confded TO him by TIM
fundamental law; and the person who does not DOS
the requisite qualification who male or female is
excluded from the polls, is deprived OF no right or
liberty naturally appertaining, and cannot therefore
be said TO be DISTINGUISHED. The right of suffrage
or the function of an eector, exists not natural
iy, it is created by government. That there shall
be So re discrimination ofpersons, to whom this rus
shall be confded, Will not presume be contested
for no man can be found so altogether demo-
cratic as to advocate the proprety of retaining
1t III the aggregate mass of the population. Phe
mode of designating the individuals to perform this
duty, and the security 10 be required for filth
ful execution, matters of eXpediency and policy
The direct agency the People is excluded in almost
all EXccutiveand Judicial elections. Tho electors
designated generally Intermediate agents. and are few m
number compared TO the whole body Yet in these elections il
has seldom entered the brain Of the romantic politician
that the natural rights Of violated Offices are crea.
ted for the convenience and welfare of1hc society," and the
members have equal natural right Oh the right NATURALLY
10 elect every incumbent Some designation Limitation
na odabc Inc restriction Of the elective trust to the male
part of the community generally but universally adou-
ted That the shall BE- free man, shall have arrived 10
age when by agreement Of society he considered possess
maturity aud Discretion aud isemancpaed from a Obedience
is generally required That the individual designated 10 dis
charge DTS Duty shall have evidence Of permanent and
common attachment, has scarcely been denied And that the
duty OF elccmg may be discharged according the spirit and
INTENTION can hardly be doubted that the cccor should pos