Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-25

reehod quaiit1cation. and he could surrender ST
hem without deep regret. There is instance of b.
departure fron this principle in which, in short 81
,eriod not SHIRT in the life Of man, but in the n
lie of nations, without degencrntng universal suf
rage The adoption of that principle will and must
produce the degradation OF countries. Man will n
pursue downward when left the controu s
If the passions which would thus be brought into il
influence. He referred tn the construction of his
friend from Augusta relative 10 qualified voters and
stated that far the gentlemen the other side
nd discovered that this the construction they
To carry the right of suffrage to the
utmost possible extent. He hoped his friend who had
brought the committee into this difficulty would pu,
his hand TO the hclm and aid steering the vessel IL
between this Scylla and Charybdis. He called the
attention of the Committee to- the resolution which
he proposed TO rescind aud quested investigation
into its singuarity. He then read mis- resolutions,
seriotim, explaining he Proceeded the mean
ing, and opera ion OF the provisions.
he proposed that only such freehoklers as are now
qualified can vote under ms proposition the first
resolution He then Showed what he had stated OH
former occasion, as to the echoder being debarred
from voting on his tenement while the tenant if he
pay tax OF cents for horse, has such right. He
had m,ntioncd this TO show how cautious gentlemen
ought to be. and not to introduce provisions which
were contradictory IN their character.
lie proposed that all who now vote under the en-
listing laws shall have the hight to vote. lie had
been told that nothing can be Unequal lhun the
freehold qualIhcatlon-that while in come parts the
freehold OF % acres may be assessed at very high
price while IN other parts it Will be asscised al
above halt dollar dollar acre. II had been
stated that the law provided commissioners sworn TO
value lands. He astonshed TO hear from the
other side that a certain occasion some 10
or 80 frceholders were created at clip. 1t was
provided that six months possession is required un
less acquired by devise or marriage settlement He
pointed ont the wisdom Of this provision and con en-
drd for the nlprobabIlty that abuses to any great
extent could prevail under it. lie insisted that the
present qualifications brought to the polls the great
substance OF the moral part of the State
/ There difference bet ref1
power which ought 20 be refused, and taking away
! right which had been given. Had. he found the
provision for which the gentlemen on the other side
engrated in the Consti ution nc would have
hesitn'' long before h. would have touched it, but
being opposed to 1t In principle he could not consent
to engra 1t there. He referred to the land in Ches-
terhcu, where p acres OF improved land NAV be
purchased for p dollars while other parts % acres
would cost great deal OF money. The persons who
come - the polls on this comparatively valuslcss
freehold BRING with them affections strongly fixed
on the part Oh the country where they hold even SO
small stake, and a disposition 70 prevent any causes
which would be injurious TO u. He was satisfied
there may be . OF land which will ent,tle
rechodeT, and thai there viii be- 10 acres still more
valuable IN the hrndS Of another debarred from vo
ing because of the quantity being within the specj
Hcation- \ man may hold mil! with one acre
more valuable than so acres OF barren land. To
meet these cases ne had inserted a provision. He
could say That the owner OF freehold of The value
OF 90 dollars should be entitled TO a vote. No matter
what was the sum- he wished 10 shew the principle:
''t ''"d4I'S dIu 'tCnls III common, holding
erest and share IN any freehold being of the yaue
ot one OF these minor treeholds should lave the
Ight By the existing laws remainder expectant for
'eTn OF years Is provided for hut reYcrsion exrcc
tout after me = not provided fcT. lie wished 10
count the value of the fee simple a, two thirds and
the revenue at on"-thrd He had made this con-
cilson with view TO place those who have re-
versionary interests on the same footing with n II
her freeholders. As TO and-holders, he would
allow the value of lease ten years purchase so
that If It was worth djllars wear It would be .
valued Mt 80 dollars, the limitation of the freehold
qn ratification, and thus admit such oaseInlder IN
vote lie slated the exception 20 this privilege
winch he desired to be made where leases arc f,r
I'VE years, IN which the tenant has only an in
erest to the amount OF his labor and capitol exDen
uedi q where the conditions are such that the lcpse
holder Is under the perfect controul of tho reehol
der, he did not intend to give up the RIGHT The
iandholder who has his tenant so under his confront
tat ne candirect his vote, has the power comoaI
ana therefore IN such cases the qualification is NOT
extended. The tenant, who secs a distress warrant
hanging over him, ready to take the he'd from, L;s
chla ana ms wife, feels himself dependent and
Whether the landlord exercises his power humanav
by sparng the tenant or oppressvely the tenant -
at his disposal. In the one case tIude-in tho
other fear, VIII operate TO prevent the tenant from,
acting independently. He referred TO the onnra,e 90
character oil the land system of Great Britain nIr
the purposes TO which tho power of the andholders
IS often there applied. The virtue ofths communitv
ne might be told. would be a security against
THESE expressions and cOrrupIions. IIe believed
that, at present, man in Virginia would dar, to
use hs power IN this way, but he could not tell how
soon the tinc would arrive when this power would
TT aPpIIeu 10 'hcSe purposes ofrnproper nhuenccs-
human passions are the same, and he was not to
DE tod that appeals to the gratitude or to the fears
OF tenant would not here be as effeclual as tbev
nave been found i'll other countries
What Is tie proposition of the Select Committee
al teas eholders who have ono year unexpired
l-casehoiders IN that situation re almost as much
under the control of andholders as in any other Sit
uation. 10 what may this lead? II had been
sugSestoo that INC first consequence would be the
abolshing of the right of distress in order 10 prevent
inc undue exc else Of the power of the landlord
o"t you must do more than abolish the ript of dis
Iress you must also take away from the landlord an
tie o'"er remedies which the law mas given to land
may be told il IL extraordinary that / should en-
tertaln these oplnlons that IL is monstrous that
should stand up for the exclusive protection Of life
aud liberty aud going against tho influence Of pron
erty When he influence Of wealth is exertedfor the
purposes OF corruption, It will attack the integrity
oi th' voter and introduce rottenDess az the very core
OF the moral structure Of society lie would rather
give all the tulluoupp of 80