Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-11-04
THE COMMITTEES.
THURSDAY, October -.

THURSDAY, October -
: In tie Legjslafice Committee, Mr.. bod
dridoe offered am amendment 60 come be-
/ fore the proyso, as fourth qualification
ofpers,ns entitled to the Rghr ofSOhrage;
ooing in substance to admit to that right
tie sons of lreeholders.
/ II eas opposed by Mr.. Johnson, who
/ thought that the sons Of freeholders were
the very last class Of the community, who
/ had a right to complain Of exclusion from
the polls.
3lr Mercer proposed to amend the a.
msndmenl, so as to extend the right to the
sons ofhouse-keepers. &c. which he de-
Tended on the principle that theirsops.resl-
! deut in lheir native county, bad the same
interest with their fathers in the welI-belng
lor the community.
Mr.. Doddridge accepted the amendment
Of Mr.. Mercer, as d modification Of his
own. Which ne afterwards withdrew, and
offered Mr.. Merccr's as substitute.
Nh. johnson thought the amendment 81
this form suIl more Objectionable than It
was before
It Wis defended by NIessrs Doddndee
and Mercer. ou the ground that tie SONS OF
a termer had the same sort ofeXpeciauce as
to their p1rcn's property, that the son OF "
/ lreehoder had. though in less degree
/ Mr.. NJ. insisted, that education was prefer
able 10 wealth as a basis for tie Right Of
Suffrage
Mr.. Broadnax considered the PROPOSE
ton As equivalent To universal suffrage;
nay, as gong. possible, still further. u
the SOILS were to vote on expectation, why
not grand sonsl and why not nephews and
neces?
Mr.. Joynes took the same ground. Were
all the SONS of man who owned a horse
and paid tax OF I'D cents upon II, 10 b..
thereby entitled to votel aud why not tIr
sous ola widow lie preferred 10 cut the
,notat once. and allow every body to vote
over II wears.
Mr. Mercer replied and referred to cer
tain anomalies in the existing rule of
suffrage. by which. ia some cases, one
man uwuing a hundred acres WAS exclud
ed. while another owning >, was permit
ted 10 vote. lie wished 10 see the plan a..
dopled which is pursued 20 MasSachu-
sets. VIZ: To have a registration made OF
qualified voters, and exclude all others.
After some ia ther remarks from Mesrs.
Doddridg and Brolduax, the amendment
was usi-iyes ,
Mr.. Doddrldge then offered another re-.
olutiou, extending the former principle not
quite 50 far, winch was also rejected
Ayes Z:
He thercuoon offered a third resolution
still more restricted which shared the same
fate
Mr. Doddri3ge then offered proyiso as
.ollowS:-
Prooidsd, bo0ersr. That the said right
Of suffrage, not nghlfilIy belonging to,
shall not be exercised by, any person be-
longing to any one Of the following classes
10 wit:
l. Paupers;
2 Persons convicted Of any Infamous
offence; the enumeration of such Offences
10 be made by law;
3. Ciizens born without the hunts Of
The Com Ionweaith. unless they sh4ll have
resided within llle limits Of die same for
i've years immcdlate, preceding the cleo
ion at which liey shall offer 10 vote. llhe
mode Of proving tins previous residence,
Shea disputed. 90 be prescribed by law. J
and shall possess. moreover. some one or
more Of the qualifications above euumsra.
ted;
4. Those who shall have been returned
delinquent b. the collectors ofany revenue
AK, levy, or any other due 10 the common.
wealth, or to he local authorities estab-
IIshed By law for the purpose Of internal
police;
D. So'diers. seamen or marines in the
service Of the United States or Oft Com
nonwealih, except COMMISSIONED officers
iossessing some one orInorc Of the qual!-
dca6cns above eaunesied