Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-04-21


4he Legislative body ght DC reduced in number,
no doubt benefcially, both in relation to economy
and the dispatch Of public business. But the extent
OF tins reduction. must depend upon the concurring
opinion of the several parts of the Commonwealth;
and upon proper and equal apportonment of repre-
scntation to provide well as possible that no
part be subject to unequal burthens by taxation or
otherwise. IeHpect 1t will be difficult. to adjust this
subject 70 the ctre satisfaction OF all; and he who
shall have to act upon 1t. being representative o.
one part ofthe Commonwealth, should not expec; to
be able TO dictate to the other parts to any of
Them but should carry with him disposition candid
~ to consider the interest Of each and every part
and to accept that which should appear best calcua,
ted to promote the general good of all. The riuh. OF
suffrage iscsnnected with this subject
The right OF suffrage, as regulated by the present
Constitution, has been source of unceasng com
piaint for many years All the improvident Legsla
ton OF the State has been attributed TO it. MANY
imaginary evils, well as benefits deferred have
! been ascribed to It. But think the eviIs ii any
have been masniticd aud fear that the benefits an
ucipated rom an enlargement of re right Of SUI
irage. so far as the public concerned it may hot be
realized. On the other hand, am inclined to thinI
that the fears of those who lave been opposed TO
Convention, generally on the ground, that The pre-
sent Government, though not perfect vas too goct
70 hazard for theoretical perfection and TINT the cx
tentIon OF the right OF outrage would tend to i'm
-r the rights and security ofprcperty, NAV prove
to be groundless,-fthe right Of suffrage - extend
ed but yet iudcionsly limited according to the bill
OF rights, TO those only, who can give sufficient CIV
Idcnce OF permanenttco interest with and at
tachmcnt to the community aud if by the Con,
stst"on, which will be law in restraint Of Lerisla
1--WE discretion, every part of the community be pro
tected IN ITS exact rights and privileges and dend
cd from the imposition Of unequal burthc,s
In well regulated community every citizen is
or should be Interested i'll the laws which prot.-c
the rights OF persons and of property. Every man
has original and indefcosibe rrh to his faclt;ss
I constitute hwy, i'll
| peTty and distinction He cannot be riphtt1Il,
deprived oil the use of these means Ent we knoyS
that The faculties of are naturally UNEQUAL their
means are therefore unequal, and the use of them
though left Tree and unrcsraincG, will produce cor.
Responding results TO one is uivcn one talent f.
aIio hoF five, and to another ten talents The rinht
tllrl who has ten talent. to them is precisely euuaI
ana no more than cqua! 10 the right Of him who has
one talent to that ore each has rights to UNEQUAL
things. The right Of each member of the conmlni.
tyfhould therefore be precisely equal one to anober
as to those things which properly belonr to each
every citizens right to personal liberty AMI security
ana 10 ire use OF h,s faculties is equal; but as
'hese last are unequal and produce uncous]
results 100 the proprietor, it happens that men
nave rghtsto unequal things. Hence the difference
between the poor and the rich, which IS not dif:.r
ence IN their rights but difference as to the tpps
TO which they hove rirhts. Il requires no reasonno
to Justify the assertion that the poor (not the dest
tute) Constitute tie majority in every communty
they therefore numerically constitute the ,iysicc
power OF every community. But wealth is also Dow.
or, winch is generally confined to minority and b.
Its influence, frequently balances, and is often an
oyermntch Tor the power of numbers IF the CON
stituIon be such to give TO wealth an improper
influence, the government will be artist ocratical md
the poorer classes although the most n,erou, NAV
ne oPpressed 1t is their riglt that this should moi
be allowed by the constitution. On the other hand
as wealth 5 the legitimate consequence of sup,-n,
faculties ard OF Industry, and the proprietor OF it. has
right to 1t, equal to the right of him to his own
who has less property, such proprietor has an eoia
right also to have it protected bv the
and If this ne not done, the exercise Of sJDerior 6,
cues and of industry Will be discouraged; and tba,
part o. the community which! has less of oocrt, ~
provtent care and OF industry, may by force of its
numbers; ard through meens Of elections and Lois
latlTe enactments impair the rights of proper;v
whlcn would tend directly to anarchy and 20 rnvoI,i
ton. Ihis should be provided against The con-
stltution should therefore, regarding the rrhts OF
every portion OF the community, equal Us to what
DeionGS properly to EACH provide, in restraint OF
Legislative discretion that the rights of no ore mart
could be invaded diminished b., another Irhs
being done, lapprehend there would be 40 dan1er in
extending the right of suffrage according 10 the
bhi OF flights But What ought to be rcger-
dcd as sufficient evidence of permanent com
aor Interest with. and al ac;:.: 20
ain not prepared to say-beCause could nana n,
standard which would not be subject to some ok, r.
toas--i shall be willing TO cot,sut the 1udgniept
and opinions OF every part Of the State and endca-
~ n
pear to be most free from well founded oblcct;onss.
The freehold qualification is the most certain, but il
cannot be regarded as the only evidence, of perrna-
hent common interest with, and attachment 20 The
community aud, as 1t now exists it excludes too GREAT
a portion of the community from the polls have
no idea that it was originally selected as standard
with view to support or encourage arstocracy.
Our ancestors were at that moment contepdjnp n
gainst arstocratsal and unequal government. II
was probably selected because it had heretofore e
listed, was most obvious and one to the use of which
the people were accustomed, and might be regarded
as sort ofsecnrty for the Feto against the Manu-:
whilst other principles asserted in the Bill Of
and sanctioned By the Constitution, protected tho
''!any against the power aud Influence which wealth
might otherwise accumulate in the lands Of few.
Blu, if the security of every portion of the ccraTo.
nifty in all ITS rights be otherwise provided for bv
the constitution. there will remain 10 necessity for
the restraint upon free suffrage.
Many things are complained of as evils under the
present government which if they exist, MIGHT be
remcdiodby ordinary Legislation. Thcy mnst re-