Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-22

Il.
you will give power but where cannot be
abused, you may shut your hand ils.. q oaea
The gentleman has told the Committee that the frcq-
holders Of the County Of Warwick not In tina market
that they arc not TO be ghthat the wealth of the
Union cannot purchase them. Sir, have never da
pu,ed the integrity Of the frceholers Of warwick:I
have heard mo other gentleman dsputing III yet can
never admit that the total of the gritty and v-
tue of that county is in the hands Of the frcchoers
Sr,i VIII not admit. however the gentlemans areu-
int may seem to imply it, that the rccloiders Of
warwick are In the markcthat the non eholdcrs
may be bsught-tha all tho wealth of the Union can
oay Them DO not believes Mr. Chairman, that they
are marketable commodity: And, sir, If were to
look through the various grades Of the community to
iind the men I'm whose virtue may conlide In the
oil my liberty, or my life. would go the
no keepers as to the land-hoders admit sir that
there may be some who accessible the approaches
oil corrupon some, IL isvcry possible may be inlu-
enced through the power Of wcalth but so are some
among the frcehodcrs too and, for myself, have no
hesitaionin conessns that apprehend quite mulch
danger In one in the other. But what are VIC
asked to do do! Are to exclude from the exercise of
the dearest priv. &c Of freemcn an entire class and
very large and extensive class, of fellow citizens
because they are not all mmacula.e, because, per-
chance some among them might be subject improper
bias! Shall II there corrupt men In every
hundred, exclude the ninety for the tens sake' Sir,
every right under the sun Is enjoyed by who arc
or who may become, corrupt. Yet, for this reason
are you going to deprive the whole community Of all
rights We must look TO the general intelligence: we
must put trust in the collective virtue OF the State: &c
not,-wha Is our theory of republican government. IL
Is dream II the rcchoders alone have virtue enough
to be trusted with government then we have All been
under mistake ami fair idea of republic Is but
nockery am not pleading the OF universal ,,if.
iraSe-that Is not my schemc-I believe that tho right
10 vote Tor our rulers /, not natural but convention
al righanl therefore, right which to be regulated
by the will Of the majority: but while would not wish 10
goo this extreme, believe there many in Virginia,
now DISTINGUISHED, who have much intelligence vir-
true love OF country and purity Of purpose any free
holder in the State. -,
The gentleman quotes Kentucky upon W: and AT
isafr li,s.rh ar. II
them all, ALL OF course the OF univer.
sal suffrage But. sir, in OF the States fthi. Union
here no such restriction on this right the gentle
man deems a. essential. Are they all suffering like
Kentucky! Why does he take the case ony7 For
my part believe that the citizens of the other States
Asve as much virtue anl patriotism an Intelligence
among them a. the people of viIgini,; nor do fear
me least, the loss OF our public virtue from admitting
'nerorions class of my fellow the same privi.
isgs with myself
Mr.. Leigh spoke in rcoinder anil reminded the gen
tleman from Accomac, that he had never affirmed that
the hon.e. kreaers whom that gentleman wished to in.
tro'iuce 10 The polls corrup but only that OH,
their situation, they cxposeL 10 the influence Of
their lsndord'. II gentleman has d0ii6s on ,hi.
subj CT ,mmen him p.x anime tn. history OF the
New York Convention He win there find an account
Of corruption fully great exists under any Eur
pcan Government, (Iere the voice OF Mr.. Ranlop
was again heard. adding "and much grcat-r.") We
sir, fully great. II IL their account II advise
the gentleman 10 read IL t- will find il to he won
serhil account indeed On the subj however Tree.
hoid qualification shall embrace opportunity here.
alter, Of expressing my views more at iarge;-and 1
hope TO shew that the gentlemen I. under a mistake
,he mi.,ak, Il common on) when he speaks Of free
hold qnahc alton asa system OF cryon: II Is no such
ihng.-not at all. 4
The debate was farther continued by Mr. Dodiri,Ipe
who in answerto MFR. Leigh, INFO fnii and clear
ex?osion of the admitted evils in Kpuckv for the
purso.. Of showing that they had nothing whatever 10
do with the extent Of suffrage in that State but were
arihu: ahle xhnlH tao-h,I ca1,cs. II went into the
origin OF their land titles avs rted 10 their repeated
OF Imitation their celebrated occupyng claimant law
and its rever.ai by the Supreme Court OF the United
States; and contendcd that the very parsons who orig
mated all the disturbances which had for wears yet-
ell Kentucky land holders, or at least perslns
claiming TO be. He then referred their pcc,snary
genera embarrassment in business
the relief laws-the old and partes--and
the pros,r alton Of tbs latter. H. concluded this detail
by declaring II as fact universally testified by the
most intelligent men from Kentucky TIN the xent Of
| suffrage worked there no practical evil whatever.
Mr ID concluded by expressing himself in douh,
as to the expe,lieney Of adopting the OF Mr..
Joynes lie had himself thought the privilege OF voting
ought to be extended {, ermers only such had
long term OF lease, not only because such would he
more removed from the temptations Of -pen lance but
because such regulation would tend to what
be considered most pernicions ,c.c that of
ins land from To year, and raise up in The State
| more indepr n'an tenanry.
The Chairman OF the Committee now m,de some sie-
.ipn to the st orlr I'm which take up the
Folutions, with view TO the convenience Of debating
hem: (but his voice, owing some conf.on among
and conversation snsued, in which modes were
proposed II was finally concluded, to take up Mr.. Dod-
u.
The debats being than resumed, and the qus stion
.till being on Mr.. Joynss's amendment TO Mr.. Dod-
drige's Resolution,
Mr. Mercer briefly stated some gr,,in ds of
to It, on account Of s pre-supposing that's County tax
had been lad assessed, and PAIL before citizen of
that Couaty could be admitted 10 vote: whereas. in
some counties, tax at all might be laid AMI then
all the citizens Of tat county would pso acto be di-
franch-ed. ~ 10 the depenIance Of tenants on their
landlords. in his part Of the State the landlords wer.
more u?icr the influence OF the tenants, there was
much land TO let and few tenants 10 take IT, He wa.
hmsrlfin tina. very predicament in relation to his own
lands,
Mr. D@dridge s2' the thing existed In hi, part
| Of the State
The question no., take on Mr.. Joynes', anne nd.
ment ani lost, ayes II.
II was now proposed that the COMMITTEES rise hut
Mr., Cooke asked leave to lay the table aresouion
20 the following effec':
Resolved. That The Right of Sufage ought toSbs
extended 10 all who rnj,y il under the existing Con-
-fitution, and - his view being, that tie several
propositions for the extension OF suffrage should then
aided excessively to the resolution they should be
Adopted.
The Committee then rose, a little before o'clock.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
ae RIGHT SUFFRAGE.
Wednesday,, Oct. 81 = The interesting discussion In
the Go ninee on tbs Lsgi%l,tvs Department of G,-
yernnent the exient OF tn Right Of Suffrage il ,l
going on. Aud though limits VIII not admit Of
detailed report Of The proceedings OF the Committee
eontiDuc to-day The genera outline which we al.
| tempted in relation to tbs ,lcbite Of Tuesday.
The question befo-c the Committee being on the re
solution III rel by Mr.. O,IiriIgs excu ling palmer.
soldiers, f.lon &C.. he rst 6 ID, and thea offered
Substitute
Mr.. Cooke aso novel Sub'iiute.
Mr. O. without c'imng Tor his resolutions any pccu-