Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-12-09

led on this subject, and then PTocoeo.ecl %
rive a history Of the Legislation Oh t2 q, -
reference to this same object. A %" was
introduced, passed, and sent 70 lal -. &c.,
20 defeat which the bIll 20 DIVIDE 'l5 ~.
into Senatorial districts was in'ro!l1 81.
Ale, all Ibis legislation, aud al TINS us
.ussion In the various public as5eiho' ...
and In the newspapers, be ASKED y -. -. s~y
resDectfll Tor the white PoPHi".'ol .,c,
II was known that this extension Wa l..h
tbo one winch was required, and an " s az
WAS REQUIRED. The gentleman iFo," .A','-
helst. Mr.. Thompson, says U'o
iects of the Convention were L..
ed and discussed and crclla'e1 ~ . ...g
district. Such, Mr.. Doctno$e sI'o -
the case in bis district The lieo, I.-'i.
therefore could not have been c.io1',e''
none were cheated. there was no ma" C"'
pable Of cheating them out o. 11" 80
In was well known how far t was GeS'i ~
that che suffrage should be eH'enoeu'. I I'
called attention TO what bad oeeA s"'', y
his colleagues on this SUBJECT, a'u 10
which he could not add much. lie en'Fea-
led the attention of the Committee 10 me
points that had already been urged Oh '-'S
sui SF,.o,,otl.,,, from while
commencing the state oI our puOllc NOR
~ aftrbuies thom 90 thc influence OF onr
-o- eminent, declaring that governments
5ere am influence in forming and lmProy-
mp public opinion. That legislation un-
IeT cverv form Of government, has tins
effect. is political uuth-lt Is not the
whole truth. however, but only hall
The I7w-giyer 60 be wise must regard
,nblic opinion. His laws must, ina great
degree, spring up out Of public opinion and
h. comfortable 10 it; and thus, while pub
he ooinjon acts over the law giyer, ms
laws NAV and viii act back on that opln
ION. and serve TO direct and improve it
Thus. public opinion on the one hand, and
LEGISLATION on the other have recipro-
cal action, operating each on the other
rs moral cause and effect
This consideration suggests the duty OF
government 70 consult public opinion un-
der an ITS. aspects and changes. A duty
which has been so well defined, and so
ably enforced by my worthy colleague
from Brooke, Mr. Campbell, that ] have
only TO beg this committee to bear hs ar
uument I'M mind viii not attempt TO add
% u.
Asto the question Of extending TO the
RIGHT of suffrage beyond the freehold inter
est. be would state ms opinions. Inc hee-
holding community was q minority OF the
free white males above q years Of age;
and they who are refusing 10 extend the
right of suffrage beyond that class are a
minority of that minority. The freehold
ers assembled us here TO assist In effect
ing their own design, which was TO provide
that their Notwithstanding brethren should
share with them in political power. There
was therefore minority, aud the minority
In tbis Convention l5 opposed 10 tne MAJ
;,~5tv or the fesholders. 10 the whole DO
al If freeholIers are numbered at 81, UOU
,5ey who are entitled 10 vote are some
vbsrs about 1900 which is less ,lan
oDs bolfof those who are charged on the
land tax books. He had ascertolued this
fact from an actual examination Of the
books.
h was admitted that the largest vote
which had ever been given was that given
on the Convention question. The number
of those who voted IN favor OF the Conyen
ton was 81 .S93. and of those who voted
against il 1850, making an aggregate
Of 9S. $50 He could not say what pro-
portion of feebolders entitled 20 vote, o.
united 10 exercise their right ltwas gen
sraIlv estimated that about one sixth may
have omitted 10 vote. During the last
winter. the subject was talked Of frequent
lv by tho members Of the General Assem-.
6lv, and It was generally placed at thatra-
tio. he then adverted 90 the number of
frseholders who are charged with no prop
erty tax, and 90 the proportion Of female
names-much greater ln the slave-holdng
than the aOn-slaye-holcing partof the state
which are found on the property tax
books, and which he estimated at about 9
Der cent. Of the whole. These persons
are considerable property holders boz ihe
slave-ho.dog part Of the State, holding
this kind Of property by bequest and me
heritanCe. Again there are many minors
To- the State who are subject 10 property
tax, but who cannot be permitted To- vote
Takng these excluded persons together
hnv--.iil-eaaount 10 an almost equal pro-
portion with the white males who are per
united 20 vote Mr.. ID. then went into
some other calculations TO shew what
would be the operation Of an extension OF
the RIGHT 20 an those whose names are TO
Be found on the property books.
He came to the discussion Of tins point
under circumstances Of great tlsadvon
tage. He was one of those who wished
the qualification TO be fixed 10 the first me
starce He ,.lshcI 10 ascerlnln the sense