Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-26

three former IN favour Of the later hour aud
the two latter gentlemen OF an earlier hour,
when the question was taken on hlr Lsighs
proposition. aud carried
Aud then on Mr. Doddridge's motion, the
Convention adjourned
THURSDAY. Nov. -.
The Consention assembled at .lo'clock, and
was oprned with prayer by the Rev. Mr. lay
Tor Of the Baptist Church.
The Pres,jent took the Chair--when on hT.
Powelps motion. the Convention resolved itself
into the Committee Of line Whole Mr.. Powell
! IN the Chair.
The resolution hom the Legislative Commit
tee on the Right of SuGrage--and Mr. Wilson 5
substitute, enlarg'ng tina, Right, were rea AND
he question WIS about 10 be proponnded,
when
| Mr. TrezVant rose TO address the Committee.
| lie stated, that II had not been his intention 10
address the Committee on this, or perbap, any
other question, which might be presented fOr
discussion. He found. however, that the quts.
Ton was about 10 be put, and though he
unprepared for the debate, he fell himself i'm
PEELED TO address them This was certainly one of
tho most important subjects, which could Come
before them. IL contemplated radical change
IN our political '.s'if"tp,s I, ,.,as i,nnn.s;i4
,ls,- mi ion of people could be expected
suddenly 10 accommodate themselves 10 such
an important change. This constitution had
been ~ operation for more than fifty yehrs !;
aud were the people to have this new order oil
things introduced upon them3 It i, true tina,
there had been some complaints in certain
q ,ar'crs Of The State--bu' VIVA practical ms
chiefs had been alleged Ha FOR MS own part,
had the good fortune TO bflong 30 u part Of
the STATE where these complaints had not pre-
vailed, lie contended that the amendment be-
fore the committee Contemplated IN effect IL
UNIVERSAL suliiagc the extelsibn Of the right to
every man, who carried arms and paid taxes.
Aud was this the change which we were called
upon Ia sanction Mr.. /. ask ed what stronger
evidence OF attachment could he given 10 the
community, than the ownership OF the soil
lie conirovsrled the positions which had been
laid down by different gentlemen II had been
said that the p esent system of suffrage would
promote emigrdnts and dapopulate the State.
Bot he denied the fact Would men emig cate
from the state, from sense OF political PRISE
CO i'n. when the Right of Suffrage could DE
so easily purchased by our ciizens' Ani who
ever hearl of any of our cilizens, who had gone
- other States, cnmpIang OF the political pet,e
cuion which mad btn,,hel them from Flrgl.
nm On the contrary, they always looked baHk
to their naive State win tine deepest affection
| aud gratitude
WI II W SHOW lnHt Itis hIneHi-
mcnt coniemplat Ell an entire changr-an uni.
versa suffrage, with the exception # panpers
nc. and asked whether we were prepared to
encounter ii.
lie confessed ha, he had Yesterday hea d
with surprise the defamation OF the gtutleman
from Loudoun Mr.. henderson Bot this com
mil,ee was not 10 be affected by any "nray
eloqrence. liza showed how far this ampad-
| mcnt would estend-how many III ,usands il
would introduce OF persons Tho COnld not Civ
| sufficient evidence of their attachment To the
| Stdte-Not thai he was opposed to some ex-
tension of the suffrage, but he wished still To
adhere 10 the soil 1t has been snit by tue
gentleman from Loudoun tnal II was u hardsh ip
on the mllilameu who fought for the State, Lot
| TO have SHIRE IN The administration bat that
| gentleman WIS answered truly that the tree
holder was also subject to militia duty. besides
paying heavy contributions To the treasury.
| lie contended, thar an universal suffrage
would always terminate III despo tism--oiher
! gentlemen had drawn degAdmg comparison
| between our condition aud that of the other
| States. Though he had not come here 10 praise
! ms own State. yet he asked where was this
ioieflority Was Virginia deficient IA pat l.
otsm--in devotion TO the interests of oar Coun
try ? For his own pat, he would not exchange
her character for that ofany other sister atns.
| Which OF her politicians has ever betrayed thel,
| country And wuhoul speaking OF the ealasy
! Of distinguished m"n whom she has produced
he would say that in her polil zeal character she
| stood pre-emincnt over the others. And -
what cIrcums'an was this character owing -
| Was II not certain that the cha dcter OF "A
people Is moulded materially by their civil in
| slitutons
! lie denied tina, there vas nuv analogy b.
| tween onr situation aud thai of France ahicn
| had been introduced by the gentleman flom
| Londoun. Where was our king, or clees,
| our peers, or our nAhohs, as they had nov
| IN fraace His kn wldge Of TINS side o the
noun ali ron,anc"d him that there were ~
uabobs among as: and from allhe had heard of
| the character of or elbow citizens beyond =
mount ans, he was satisfied there were none
! thrrc-fet what parallel could be drawn under
such CT cnmsiancrs between our uualions aud
| thu OF France ut the lime of her Revolution !;
Mr.. concluded with apologi'ing foi the de
au'tory Character Of his remarks. He said. that
he WAS perfectly willing 10 extend the RICH, of
suffrage toa certain degree. having always regard
TO the soil aud this extension, which he was
wiling 10 adopt, wnuld probably ing in u
few thousands of new voters, but not the 6l 900
! which the gentleman from Loudoun sp Ike of
lie commended, that if too manylnew #ers are
admitted you was, change your np'n, mani,
mode of yn'in2 pirl rOce, a0 resort 10 the bal
lot boxes.
The Chair again stat ID the question.
Mr. Doddr'dge hoped that the Clerk would
call the ayes and noes.
The Chair suggested, thai il was not usual
10 take the az es aud noes IN committee--it was
Prior ipaily rnIeGded 10 produce mere comps
rlSon OF ideas, by going into the committee
| Add such, lie sald, was the pride OF opinion
that gentsmen might think themselves com
mlited by a register of their votes. He threw
out his suggestion, however, for the con-idera
ton OF the comm iitee.-An they would esli
mate il for what il is worth
Mr. Bayly then rose TO address the commit,
tee in favor ofthe amendment. He said he
came from part of the State which had been
50 universally and zealously in favor of an ex
'ensi IN OF the suffrage. that he felt it, his duty
TO speak on the sub ject-And he hoped he was