Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-21

equally valuable to BOTH ruther, the poor
more Interested IN the security of these rights be-
cause the ment of these furnishes to the poor
man his only defence, against the overweenng intu
ence aud power, which wealth coners upon the rich,
and which we know too often tyrannically exer-
clsed Beside this, however poor man NAY be,
unless he be absolute pauper land paupers are
eXcluded he ct possesses property and sir, the
poor mans p'ttance is Just dear him, the rich
man treasure because it Is his all; aye, and
dear to HIM, because it is but a ptance, and there
lore more liable to be exhausted. Surprising there
tore that the rich and the poor have equal virtue,
land this imagine, will not be dened) the poor
must, and does take greatau interest in the good
government or the country the rich man.
Inc truth 's that permanent residence is the best
eV"ehce OF attachment to the community, and an in
terest IN ITS welfare The value of land is fuc
tuaihg ana Its tenure too uncertain furnish this
evdenc" 1t may be said that If man loses his and
ana II passes IN other hanis that other persons viii
posses this evidence, and will be entitled to the vote
and so Oh through every mutation of nropcrtv: bu
from his It would scen ihat ll.a right of sufrare is
IN the land and not i'll the people! Suppose u vir ,a
Gus and IN eligcni to day possessed of farm up-
on winch ne resides with his wife and Children sur
reunited by large circle of beloved friends and relu
tlves Every body viii say he is entitled TO the right
OF suffrage Well; suppose that by one of those sud
den reverses of fortune which, in the uncertainty of
human anars' are continually occurring, he should be
deprived of his farm the day; is be to be depr
we'd OF the right of suffrage? He is vet virtnous in
teigent, patriotic. He has yet in this State his re
sldence, his family his friends, his all that is left him.
Z
State and his interest in IFS welfare is less now than
before? Certainly not. Being now deprived of the
discriminating influence OF wealth, he is still more
concerned In the procurement OF equal and Just laws
ny WHICH nc dad all that and dear 10 him shq
be protected from oppression.
Do you measure Il mans right to vote bv the sgfue
OF bis landed property How uncertain and unjust
test will his also be ola mans attachment and inter
est. Will you say that he shall own real estate Of
the value OF twenty-five dollars, was suGrrsted bv
one gentlenan' Surely We all know that piece Of
land winch tins year may be worth twenty-five dol
lars may by some of those causes which re produ.
eng continual changes the value of land and its
produce, be next year reduced far below that value
ANA yet you viii next ear deprive the owner of his
ote'ahhough he owns precisely the same land which
TINS year conferred upon him the right of sufra re
Ii you don't do this you abandon Your principle Of re-
guating the elective franchise according to the value
! of mans landed property. And if you do this.
man may always hold the tract of land the Same
portion OF SOIL and yet have, have the RIGHT to
vote, according to the variations OF the price of his
land and its produce. ~
Upon your own principles, Sir, this standard is un
Just fou propose to measure mans right to vote
by the value Of his land and in the same breath Won
give To man owning twenty-five dollars worth of
iau one VOTE ana to the man owning SIS 900 worth
OF iahd M more than one vote! Is this Just on your
own plan But 1t may be replied that though the dis
parity OF fortune great vet the interest IS tho
that Though there IS not equality of interest vol
cach mas an interest IN the welfare of the State If
TINS De So then you do not measure mans right to
vote by the qan,um OF his nterestthe existence of
an interest IS sufficient. Agreed-Thrn he who ha :
no property in the State but resides here has his "a
iniy me-; ana Is here pursuing business TO pro-
cure livelihood is intercs ed in the good
of the community a man NAV own TWEEN. five dol
lars worth of property in his State and vel cnr lii
tie or nothing about its general interests Yet man
VINO mas nol property valued al twenty five dollars
but VINO has al! ms relatives, friends and associates
In the cnuntrya his affections concentrated in its
welfare, would b deprived of his vote and it would
De given I" the other, who happens own as much
property as amounts to twenty five dollars in value
such IS the result OF your real properly ouacation
II we advert to moVeab'e property as the basis Of bo
iSht Oh Suffrage 1t VIII be evident at first sight chat
me same objections apply to 1t with accumulated
'orco; Tor we ali know that personal properly Is If
p"ssIn.e uncertain III It's Tenure and subiect +n
or alter ana more frequent mutations in its value than
ldhued estate. In TACT, whenever you attempt to
prescribe Stch standard, you will always find it i'm
peiect. admit that no perfect rule can be prescrI-
bed on the subject; butI confess think khn GENERAL
rule too imperfect for practical application Tho ev
ceptlonS TO which are numerous thnn the cases
winch 1t includes. There can be no perfec standard
Dat tAInk, at the same time that there can be- none
found more worthy of adoption than residence hear
ing arms and paying taxes. The possession of pro
p"Fty furnishes not an exclusive, but probable evil
dence OF attachment to the communitv and INV nro
position includes all the posscssors of nronerty
reside here; and presume gentlemen do not intend
TO permit non residents to because thew NAV own
tract OF land here But some period Of residence
must be hXed. 1t will do 10 lei every bird of
sage that fits through our State eniov The riobf of
suffrage What shall that term of residence be,--
Gentlemen may differ in opinion on this subject. bur
appears to me that residence in the State of two
years duration, does furnish sufficient evidence IF
mans present intention 10 continue resident of tbe
State->o far as outward acts can furnish such owl;
dcnce. Ii gentlemen think this too short a period
St mem amend the resolution by inserting three or
Tour years residence, any other tune nrovidad tb
do not consume too much of the mans life. in ascnr,
tanning his intention TO spend his life amonrst ne and
thus deprive him Of the right of voting during con-
SIR a lDrgt cfi
ascertain that he will exercise that riobt ,,;l ~ ~
ing The remnant OF his mortal career All th,3k no
cesssry IN this that we should be satisfied re
ms present intention TO reside amongst us-that he
years residence in the State, and one in the
suill'lcht' When you have mans person here vo;,
~lll IN general have his property also: and This to-
gotAeF WIN every thing dear to him, will bind him TO
the country, and deeply interest him in IFS ,rIflr
TT me put case MI Chairman by way Of ilIustra-
tioA Suppose two men embarked on board shin