Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-19

| The Convention met at o'clock. The third sec
ton OF the report of the legislative Committee still un-
der corsi GRAFTON
! Mr. WILSON proposed to insert a, the end of the
fourth paragraph, aud preceding the proviso, the fol-
lowing CLAUSE:
Resolved, That every free white mile citizen os
this Commonwealth, of the age oftwenty-onc years and
upwards, who shall have remained IN the State two
years. and ~ the county which he proposes vote one
year. next preceding the time of offering vote; who
shall have been enrolled in the militia subject 10 mi
tary duty, and who shall have paid all Lewis and taxes
assessed upon him his property for the year prccc-
ding that IN which, he offers vote, lprnviled sch
taxes shaii have been demanded of him. shall, have 4
right TO vote for members of the General Assembly.
provided that person shall be permitted exercise
the right of suffrage who is pauper, who is of un-
sound mind; whO has been convicted OF any Infamous
crime; or who shah be commissioned officer or
private soldier seaman marine the regular ser
wee OF the United States, or of this Commonwealth
And The Legislature shall prescribe the mode OF trying
Al! determining disputes concerning the said quai-
Cations of voters, whenever the right Of a person 10
vote STALL be questioned"
Mr. Joy~Es moved tn strike ont The words. s.aIl
eNieS and taves" and insert ga State, county, or cor
nora''on tax" The amendment was accepted by Mr.
Mr.. FirzHUGH proposed an amendment forbrdding
ali capitaon taxes to be levied in future and to ex
clude the payers of county captation tax from the
proposed amendment of Mr. Wilson amounted IN effect
to un,ve' sal suffrage.
Mr. CookE said would not be universal sufTra &c
That there was large class of nsolvenis in every
county turned by the sheriff, aud no of course would
be excluded because they could not pay the county
levy. That there were 600 deIinquents returned in
orc county alone, and suppOsing the of the State
To furnish IN equal ratio, there would be $4,000 per-
SONS excluded. NJ. Leigh inquired What county,
Mr.. Cooke replied, the county oF Ioulon Mr. Leigh
doubted the correctness of the statement He thought
there must be mistake. Mr. Coke stated that he
had the fact from gentleman of the delegation from
the LoudOun d'strc'. Mr. Mercer said that as his /
county named he found it necessary TO cxplain
He then read from statement, the number Of persons
returned de linqurnt for nonPayment of the county
levy, for Ne-u years in the county of Louion which
fully supported the fact stated by Mr.. Cooke Nj NJ
then said, that the number appeared great, but it must
be IecOeced that 1.-THE 'bles persons from 10
years OF age and upwards, and that IN many
doubt where the father charged with severed
ttheables for hi nsclf his children, was turned
Delinquent for the whole.
Mr.. Leigh much feared, from what he had heard in ,
the Convention and lit the Committee nf the Whole +!
that Constitution they could form which would suit
the rest of the State could be made the county
OF Loudoun. One gentleman had told US, said Mr L.,
that ~ thai county, mag straes could be had who
were able and willing to perform their duties. Ano-
ther gentleman says that the parents are unable 10
pay the county eves on their children. The SheriHs
we're too lazy to collect the levies, &c That no re-
semblance TO this state of things existed in that part
of the country he acquaited with aud therefore no
Constitute on could suit his constituents and the
people Of Loudoun. Mr.. Leigh concluded his remarks,
by saying, that the remarks of the gentleman from
Fairfax, CHR. Fitzhugh) strictly lru-, that the
amendment did amount universal suffrage, or at
least that it would operate, the entering wedge
Mr.. MERCER rose to explain, the gentle lAIr.
NJ. repeated what he had befure said.
Mr. LEIGn replied lie expressed hi5 doubts again.
whether some error did not exist in the returns of de
Hnquents in LOudOun county. lie thought lie would
not have been misunderstood. lie thoughtn probable
these returns have been caused by transient per
sons, who were At work some public improvements
having been included in the county levy. Mr.. Mercer
said there were no such works carried the time.
Mr. LEroH said although he agreed with Mr. Fitz
hugh, that the amendment of Mr. Wilson would
amount TO universal suffrage, yet h- should vote
against the amendment of Mr.. F., because he could
not exactly all the effects, which might result from
IT, and as it seemed TO include questions proper
for ordinary legislation.
Mr. F,TzuuGH remarked that the question was,
whether the proposition Of Mr. Wilson better with
or Without his amendment.
Nj. DoDnnInsE hoped the amendment Of Mr. Fitz.
hugh, might prevail. lie thought tax should be
imposed ON persons without property. Military ser
vice. performed by such persons, sufficient compcn.
saton for protection. lie thought the county levy
system unjust. lie made the oh lection 10 the
road laws. II oppressive the pnor rnecha mic
and drove many Of them living on the borders of the
State, other adjoining States here NO such burden
existed. lie wished the adoption Of a principle,
which should exempt persons from taxation Oh pro
perry, under stated amount.
Mr.. COOKE proposed a division Of the question on
The amendment Of Nr. Ftiziugh. lie sgtecd to the
fist branch which excludes all capitaton taxes. lie
objected 20 the second clause. tie thought IL mprac
tcabIe or # not actually 81, encountered with many
difficulties, as Co render it inexpedem.
Mr. Meteor said be thought the system Of capita
ton taxes so unjust, that hc believed it would be
abolished.
The question was then pat the first branch or
Mr. zhugls amendment. The ayes aud noes were
called for.
AYts -Mcssfs Copton, Anderson, CoGinar Hor.
rson, Williamson, Johnson, Mccoy, Moore, Bciruc
Smith, Miilcr, BaxteT Mercer, Fitzhugh, Henderson
y borne, C'olc, Naylor, Donaldson, Boyd, Pcndlc-
ton, George. VI MILAN, b.. Campbell Rynrg. CIovl
Mathews. OglcsDy. Duncan, Laldlcy, Sunrl rs, S ~
D"ddrldge Morgan. 4. Campbell, WILSON, j. s Bar
bour, Scott M,,rac. Green, W. Compbell Clav'or
S'nndcrs. Cabcl, Mnr.m, Stuart. Gordon, Maseie
Joynos, Upslur- 30.
NoEs. -hlcsss. Jones, y. ". Leigh s.. TAYLOR
Giles. oirax. D.omgoDle. Alexander, GooIe, Mar
shall, Tyler, Nrhnl,s Ba.dsin Tcolrant ClaiboIlc
Urqlhart W Icigh, logan, Vcnnhlc, Madl,on y
J.. Barbour S.anarl, Holiaday Powell. Grgra. /. NJ
" SOM R"aGc, W. y. Tlyio.. Morris Garnet.
Chapman, Taz"wll. Loyal. Prcn.is GigeJy
p B'auch. Towncs. Plcasauts, Thompson Rose Bates
Hoaln, Coaltcr. Bpyly Perrin
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