Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-29

common interest with, and attachment TO the COM
munity. TO the exercise OF the Elective Fran
| enise. u Is right recognised by the Bill Of
Rights, and which few have had the hardihood 10
deny. We will not stop, therefore, 10 prove, By
! argument what 10 our view, bears, upon itsfaco
the impress ofIruth. Nor can we admit the force
OF that reasoning, which views an interest i'm the
soil-the possession Of few acres of sterile land
as the only possible evidence of 3" attachment to the
community. There are other, and stronger and
dearer ties, which bind man indissolubly and
forever. to the land Of his birth. the home Of his
kindred, and the mausoleum Of the time .blanched
bones OF his ancestors.
Entertaining these views, we cannot but cond-
der That provision, in the act for organizing a
convention passed al the last session OF the Legis
iature, which restricts the privilege Of voting for
members OF Convention, TO freeholders alone, az
Aristocrac in its nature oppressive i'm its opera.
uon, ana as an unjust, and unwarrantable en-
croaehment upon the inherent, indefeasible rights
OF the Non-freehold community--an encroacii-
Inent. against which, we had supposed their long
suffering moderation. and patient forbearance
would have afforded them an insirmouutable bar
| rier.
| For more than fifty wears, have the Non-frcc-
| holders, with patience, submitted to the violation
| oil their rights. They have bound their necks To
the yoke OF oppression, and yielded their limbs TO
the letters which power had forged. and which
time was continually riveung upon them. I'm
mindful 81 their wrongs, and regardless of every
thing but their country, when the hostile merce.
nary bands OF England sought TO drdgoom us into
submission TO tyrant's will, they rushed to the
battle held. Their expressions and their oppres-
sors sunk together in the DUST and with the
souls oil tfeemen, each nerved freeman's arm,
ana amidst the clanking of his chains struck con-
quering blow for Liberty.-The battle won-peace
restored-and independence secured, they looked
| forward to the restoration of their rights ar the
sure reward, for the blood they had shed in defend
ing those 81 their oppressors They were disap-
pointed-Stl they murmured not. Still, with
patience, they, in hope, submitted. They were
good citizens. Unwilling TO disturb the harmony
Of society just emerging from the horrors OF de-
solating war, they yielded cheerful obedience. 70
the laws, and freely contributed their proportion of
money and personal service 10 the eSigencies of
the country. Again was our Sountry invaded and
again they stood forth in her defence. For more
than hall century, oppressed, their rights usurp.
ed and their liberties trampled upon, amidst diff
cuiues, expressions, and discourage ments, have
they continued 10 confite in the liberality and
Justice OF their freehold BRETHREN for the recogni.
ton OF their rights, and the restoration of their H.
!, berries. Their confidence has been continually
!, abused--their hopes have been uniformly dsap.
: pointed. And if, in moments of great excitement
when smariing under the corrosive CALLING Of their
chains, and when their hearts were sckened " by
hopes deferred They have ventured TO assert their
claims and appeal TO the justice Of the " lords
the soii:'' their appeals have been characterised
/ with calmnass, moderation and decorum Yet they
have been invariably treated with silent contempt
or insulting derision.
This patient endurance in long .uffe ring, while
it affords unequvocal and irresistible evidence O.
: their permanent attachment, TO the commune
~ should have proved all powerful advocate
OF their cl4ms. But so far from lis thus operating
, 1t is made an argument against them, and they are
now gravely told " For fifty years you have adj
United our right TO ruie-havs acQuiesced in be-
ing our siaves-have borne all the indignitie. in
jnries, and insults we have been pleased 10 heap
upon yoiI--have not complained when tramplei
upon, nor mnrmured when spurned worms of
the dust, and il is too late to COMPLAIN You
have forfeited your rights forever"
Whilst thus suffering, whilst thus patiently
awaiting their enirancbisement, the non freehold
ers have not bsen insensible OF the gross Injustice
when held them in vassalage, nor have they ever
waived their claims TO participation lin the coln-
ellis OF the country. They have steadily looked
forward, wthianxious and, al times, with hrigh.
teneu hopes, TO different periods, as the termna
lion OF their sufierings. Those periods have sue
cessvely arrived and are past But thew provet
not, TO the eho.der, the day of his emanci-
; patton from ignominious thrnldom. And even now
when the spirit of even handed Justice is solving
the letters OF the Irish Catholic, and restoring him
to his proper rank in the scale of political power
the " powers that be- in this boasted cradle of the
revolution, are resisting, with desperation the ils
claims OF their suffering non-freehold brethren
and attempting TO rvet still closer the chains thai
bind them to the dust.
Under such circumstances, it becomes The non
ireehoiders who fee! the spirit OF to arouse
themselves to a manly assertion of their rights
and once more TO raise their united voices in de.
manding th cir peaceahe restoration, They have
been patient until patience is no longer common
Idaoie-they have iorborne until forbearance ceas.
es to be a virtue-the3 have endured their multi.
pied and aggravated wrongs, until longer endur-
aiice would be base dereliction Of solemn and
sacred duty to themselves and to their posierity
| Therefore,
Resolved That the Withholding Of the Elective
/ Franchise from citizens of this Commonw e alth who
| give sufficient evidence of " permanent, common
interest with, and attachment TO, the community u
IS gross violation OF the charter of our liberties
Heroived, That the possession of land does not
constiute the only evidence Of "permanent at
tachment,' and therefore, ought not to be a re i.
quisite qualification for the exercise of the right
| of suffrage.
Resolved, That, relying upon the equity of orr
claims, and trusting, that that will be yielded to a
sense of necessity, which has, hitherto been de-
MED to sense Of justice, we will assert our claims
in Convention and demand their recognition.
Resolved, That be appointed committee 10
prepare memorial to the Convention which will
meet in Richmond in October next, setting forth
| In hrm and determined manner, the injuries we
have suffered, and the rights of which we have
been deprived, and demanding, az freemep asking
Justice, reparaon for the one, in the recognition
| and restoration the other
| resolved, That be committee with
power of addng TO their number. to circnla,e co.
pies OF such memorial throughout the county for
purpose OF obtaining signatures.
| Resolved, That he committee NJ cor
resPondence TO concert with similar committees in
other counties m easures for ensuring the exfen-
sion OF the right Of suffrage.
| Resolved, That when this meeting adiorlrns. II
VIII adjourn to meet again at this place on the third
Monday IN June next, TO adopt the memorial pre
| pared under the 4th resolution, and to concert
measures for its extensive circulation
Resolved, That these proceedings be signed bv
rrnn nnH Secs r..