Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-03
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DEB1I'E ON THE RIGIfT or SUrFR.4GI
MIR. TUOMPSON'S SPEECH.
SATURDAY, NovEMurR 81.

ny entitled to the floor
tlis morning, hs"ne for the prescn, waived his right
se 10 solicit for short time ihs attention of th. Com
hi,tee, whilst ondeavor, in poos manner, to dis
charge an obilg alton OF du'y, which owe to the con.
suucns IN part represented by in this Convention
/, Is, as you well know from personal experience, Mr.
oha man. painful and cmbarras.in duiy l would
10 God II had been committed 10 Other and ADLER hands
Anen consider the time. place, and circumstances that
surround me, the n.omentous interests involved 10 our
uehoeraion', and this weighy responsibility tia, rests
cAeh ana every one OF US i'll ciion with the hu
m'iy oil lay own pretensons, almost shrink from the
task that lies before but On the other hand when
ea' 10 mind That am the representative in part ofma
ny thousand iree-lsn who u.s. and without
any solicitation OF niue, have clothed me with this
hsh, delicate and responsible trust all personal cons.
Ior"ons vanish, and resolve icaIcssy to speak their
sentiments on u' iioor, regardless Of oil the
wit, rilicule and deri.ion with which principles
they hold dear and sacred have been Sssacd in the
progress oil the debates OF this Convention HID not
mpericus duty ia my humble estimation forbidden ii.
enee, my lips had hsen sealed, dramatically sealed,
dur'nk The session OF this angus, assembly. But
should forever despiss mys H. whil. AN the repre-
sentative oi ieemen could sit by in silence and husr
the sacred aud uuaicnabs rights of man drrided and
fshould tsms'y shrink from their defence under the in
tuence oil any unmanly f!sr Of criticism Of any per-
soma! consequences whatever.
feel 'ha shal! need much of The p.,ite attention
and kind indulgence CT hi. Committee 10 sustain me
IN the task have imposed myself; and the woutsd
magnanimiiy AMI courtesy OF Virginia Assembly
an sure, will always accord it member Of its body
50 long that member shall mcri, it, by courtesy and
decorum on his part Like an honorable gentleman
who addressed you former day, Of this Conve non
l. too may dscaim any intention OF entering the lists
TO break lance, with the redoub,abr knight. who
have contended FOR victory on this arena have nci.
thcr the proves 20 impel the strength 10 sustain nor
the panopiy 10 protect me in % unsquA a coilic In
common with this Committee, have participated in
the delight of listening the luminous and cloruen
arguments o gentlemen that have add essed YOU on this
aud other questions And alter so 10 >. ro,ng tho
rich banquet they have spread b. fore IA, but the
more regret that have nothing but the homelie. fair
TO offer IN rsiurn Lament my inability to reciproca,c
light for light have the however to know
l.tet,, Il. -
the widows mite, has dictated this poor attei mt of nine
and Therefor trust that my Offering however humble,
VII meet similar fate, from the b~nigny Of This Com
nitee MIR. Chairman, 'o.n-what regret that in the
order OF debate l. my lot follow III, talented and
eloquent gentleman from Chesterfield. have not the
vanity TO suppose under the most auspc,ous circu,n
stances, that could iutsss this enlis htened commit
tee by any view could present oil subject much
LESS when preceded in ths debate by that gentleman
Believe me- sir. have not the vanity TO contest with
hm the palm OF victory in The fields Of rhetoric of
dillon or OF wit No, sir. As TO ,hsm 50 far as am
concerned, leave him the undispn'ed victor of the
heh do mean, however, in The of my no.
mark 10 question many of hi, facts rather a.sunp
TONS and the conclusions lac has adduced from. the facts
| assumed.
Mr. Chairman, ssrupe DOT in Ijmiue 10 avov ,h,,
am one OF those visionary politicians who advocate
general suffrage what gentlemen pleased 10 term
mrefsW suiirags. Aud, in tla avowal II beiisve I
speak me sentiments OF large majority OF my consitu-
ents What mean by general suffrage, is the exten
sion OF ,h" nesmable right Of vong The election Of
ali public iunc onar-:, made eligible by the pcopie 10
all white freemrn OF the age Of 81 wears and UNIV
who are citizens by birth residence for certain time
ana who have discharged all the burfhens personal
including militia duties aud pscuniary such a. taxes
imposed upon them by tie laws OF the land, and ex.
eluding such as rendered Infamous by the commits
sion OF crime In o,hsr words, wish 10 establish a
qualification that is personal and respects age and
dence and to abolish forever TIE freehold
which TO me has always appesrsd invous and anti
republican test. Like the gentleman from Charlotte
(Alr. Randolph did come here TO vote for the dis,
reimbursement OF enc human being qualified to vote us
DER Tue ola Constitution, but 10 aid IA the eniranch-
ment OF all who within The fore eoing description
came here To- contribute M feeble aid in The great
OF non freet0id emancipation, but no; initiate an X
ample set ~ -l-c where OF difanchsng he 40 shil-
ling irethoiders. am, therefore, Numerically oppo.
ed TO the 1meDdnent propo-ed by the gentleman from
Chesterfield, a. am 10 all amendments that go 10 ,e
strict the right of suffrage; and upon thi. question
viii meet and take issue with the friends OF freehold
qualification, amongst the strenuous of whom tn,
gentleman from Chesterfield, has proved bimselC bv
the argument which he yesterday addressed to tbi,
committee. am willing 10 rest this argument upoa the
authority of reason and common sense the Bill OF
Rights, upon he doctrine of expectancy or upon ex.
perencr, which, visionary az I am co,sid, or ,oore
valuable than volumes OF speculation and theory is
with me perfectly Indifferent, whether this right be
regarded as natural, social civil, political one
the conclusion az which arrive saii,,ctorilv At Ia
to myself, is the same
Before proceed with my argument, mus, trouble
the Committee with few general observations sng.
gcsed 10y the course of this debate. cannot forbear
10 express my surprise and regret of the prn.
cplcs avowed by gentlemen OH Thu floor, and the
change which public sentiment seems TO hays uodar.
gone IN tlis ancient commonwealth Ia the opnion
Of gentlemen, government has no princirIes
The ilea Of patriotism ard virtue even are exploded
ard stlfove and seli-in'cres afe the only sprngs n
human action. The rights Il men are a mere chinet,
of distemper'd uaginaon., and in this debate have
been made the theme OF ridcule and deri,ion .athe,
han eulogy. Against this, sOlemny p,s.estl There
WAS lime when this would not have been endured
when such language would have been offensive 10 re-.
publican In the whole progress Of this dsbat,
the nam. of Thomas Jehr-on the great Apostle nj H.
berry, has been invoked nor has one spnr
been made 10 ho author OF the rights OF man :, hose
immortal work, in The darkest days Of cur reyolutioo
served as political decaiosuc and operated a. tails
man TO lead arme. TO victory. There wac fine
when it was houourable TO profess the fail, of u,e.s
great fathers Of the chu eli. whsu it perous TO be
a scepic, when the name OF Fox was vensrated and
the principles Of Burke abhOrred-but the sentiment o
the Latin roe quoted in Ibis debate are hut too true
g tenpora muautur," &c rendered into English
Men change with manners manners Change viii cncs.
"Tcnots with books anl principles with tines"
Then the authority OF the sage Of Mondce Ito would have
stood sgAiust the world there "none so moor
a. 10 do him reverence" Then was Burke regarded az
the enemy cf human rights anil the rmest defender of
aHstocracy aud mOnNchy-bu Bu,ke, Fiimsr
aud Hobbies judging from their arguments have be.
come the text books Of our statesmen.
Mr. Chairman, have spoken of political faith and 10.
iincs churcIit recalls fny inind an observation
have often msIe, aud doubt has often occurred "a
the mind Of every member OF this Committeeman that
the great similarity in the conduct Of the votscs
religion and politics. In these days YOU find no atheist
and few pofssed dcsts but how many practical on
men Who whilst they yield sort Of historical belief
assent 10 divine truths. live the aud daiv die
regard al them aud utterly refuse all practical ohed
ence They cannot impose upon Themselves hat Tor