Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-08

freeholders, held at the courthouse. in Leeshur9
on Monday, the 9th inst. in con, piiance viii,
the 9th resolution, beg leave to submit. the fol-
lowing
ADDRESS.
TO Die .Non-FTeeholders
ofthe State of Pirg6lia:--
When, IN the course o! human events, Il be-
comes necessary for portion OF the citizens of a.
ny state TO enter their protest against the usurps-
Gon OF political power-and 10 claim those riqhts
TO which they are entitled by nature and nature's
God, decent respect for the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the grounds of
their claims, and the causes of their complaint
We hold these truths, derived from tho noIiti
cal text books OF our fathers, 10 be self evdent:-
That all mankind are, by nature, equally free and
inoePendene-1hat the enjoying and defending
NE and Notwithstanding, possessing, and protec.
Ins properly are the essential and inherent rights
OF man. mat government is instituted for tho
common benefit and protection of the whole com
munity, and originates of right flom the people:-
1hat all officers OF government are the substitutes
ana agents OF the people, and at all times amena.
nie 10 tem:-fhas when the primary objects Of
government are perverted, the people NAV, and
OF right ought to reform the old, or establish a
new oDe:-That all elections ought to be free:--
That every white male citizen of lawful age. who
ifas obtained residence, is liable TO pay taxes g.
bear arms, has an equal right TO elect, and be- q.
iee,ed, into Office, uni % he has forfeited that
right by crime or other misdeme anor:--TIat no
man can be taxed without his own consent or that
OF his representatives:-And that frequent re-
cnrrence TO fundamental principles, is indspensa-
by necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty
and good government These are orthodox re-
publican principles. universally acknowledged, and
generally carried into practical effect. Virginia.
10 her bili OF Rights acknowledges the theory
but in her constitution, repudates the practice.
Notwithstanding the acknowledged fact, Chat
tue original powers OF government are vested ex-
clusiyely In the people, and that they canuot of
right be deprived Of them, except By their own
consent; yet we have been stripped of every yes.
uge OF that power; we have quietly bowed our
necks TO the CALLING yoke of despotisrn during half
century; we have peacesbIy submitted to on.
pressiye laws, which we had no more agency In
forming than the wild Arab, or the swarthy Afri.
cam we have been taxed in our persons and our
property, without our own consent; we have been
compelled to attend on juries without fee or reward
we nave been required to spend our time in mus.
tefIng, and working on the high way, or TO pay
our money tos refusing TO do so. When the Fri.
umph OF war - s0unded--when martial music
neats to arms--when our country is assailed by a
foreign Toe, then we are dragged to the tented
held TO risk our lives in defending not our fiber
1gs,Jor zoe hovs none, but the liberties Of those
VINO mold US in servile subsection.
These are some Of the causes of DIR cornolaiot
gbese are burthens 10 which we have LONG and
patiently nbmittcd-fondly hoping that the dsy Of
our emancipation was not Gar disisnt--and conf.
IDENTIFY believing that increasing sense of poIit.
tcal justice would, one day, compel even our fide.
gpdieT Legislators, 70 yield some Of those high.
handed notions Of aristocFaticaI power, acquired
~ circumstances altogether foFiuitous But the
DAY TO which we anSousy looked forward with
cherished hope-~the day when we anticipated an
equal participation in the formation Of that gov
S's'''snf % ThiCA ouT liver. OH liberty, md our