Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-01
GOyfW@NTIDNa
MR.. BAYLY'S SPEECH.


amendment, wish to express my opinion in favor Of
| extending the right Of suffrage; which 10 under
conside ration am not In the habit Of apoogisinS
when consider II to be my duty to address this com
mtse, and shall not do II will say, that al
though did nterd to speak the proposition
der discussion at som. cher time, and expected that
o'hcr gentlemen would have occupied your ausn'ion
on this day; yet the question about to be taken
anu ~ my commitments among the remo., In the
the right OF sursge extended. owe It TO mysef and
TO them, to give the ressoss Why shall for
the amendment of the gentleman from Monongs!ii.
In the year 1870 the people Of Accomsck petioned
the right Of suffrage to other persons than frehsder
ana to redress Erisvances existing under IN. Consi,u
ton Al that time. very few fre-hodcr-, in the other
Tour counties, which represent in part. wished for
such measure. But at this ,ne. with the great
change Of public opinion tina, has taken place in these
counties, and the almost unanimous wish Of the IRE
holders Of tho county Of Acomack there can be no
doubt, but very large majority OF the fseholders Of
The District, are in favor Of extending the right Of su
hage to others than landholjers
When was elected to this Conve ntion, considered
ito he duty to inform myself Of the alterations and
lamendmen's TO the exiting Constitution. which the
people In every part of the State demanded; and TO
correct these evils In the Constitution. And will
frankly state to this Committee some Of the gre.
amendments in the Constitution, which my constu-
ents wish us to make; and as l most cordially unite
with them, in the hope that those improvements will
he made, am not to he considered Iev.iler, revo-
'uhonist CT radical rsformer; such character does
not belong TO me, IL 10 far from sense of duty
points to me- to pursue that course, which will lead
to the correction of the evils complained Of in every
part oil the State; which hope aud expect will be so
amended by the Z Institution shall submit. TO the
people, that they will cheerfIly ra,ity il.
III thought that the adoption OF this aner,lrue eat
power in the hands Of ,ho,e who would in my man
ner. abuse IL, would not vote for the anendment-
out would give IL my most decided di,approbation. Ii
may be dangerous, perhaps, where tn, non eho,dsr.
are destitute OF property and principle. Such is
me character condition of the people among whom
| I'VE; no were among the first 10 favor III" exten.
lion oil the Right Of Suffrage, and NOW 80 un ami
nous for it, IL may be, that the pei liar situation OF
that people, the difficulty TOR all TO acquire freehold
and the denial OF that right TO those who have
hoid less than 20 acres OF land may be great
IN Creating that unanmity, which this time exist.
among them, upoa this question They have not. the
.cHes oil acquiring freehold, that exists in other part,
OF the State, quality themselves to he voters, where
mere Is 90 much waste and useless land. If man
conld by law, vote in the county where he ras des
upon the requisite freehold situated any other county
IN the State. he might purchase freeheI in the Vest
where the rocks aud mountains half their
ties, for l or 50.
PenDed up ia peninsula. every one whs WHINE, to
obtain vote, cannot r=aIz- that sling under the
present system, however much he may prize the pri.
vhege; whatever may b. hi. standing or even his
means The territory Is small, and the traci.of rs
&C e., which are necessary 10 make the aualic elton
are not e,'Iy TO be ob,ioed any price, but
he qualification OF electors, are thus confined 10 the
SOIL the re'peetabity OF the Inhabitants, are not ex-
ciusivsiy derived from that have never he
heved, that the quaic stion ought depend on the
right in the sell; such principle is believed TO be
correct among the people with whom live, assure
YOU They do not draw their subsistence solely from
ms land great proportion OF them worthy Me-
ehancs, and many earn their bread by plougbing the
Ocean Its not es,y for such meu, their first on
erng into life. 10 lay up or $780, purchase thu
q""ite freehold, 10 quality them 10 vote How
ever easily that might he obtained in other parts of
the State having vast mountain. of worthless land
where Oh acre. may be acquired by weeks Isbor on
erPrze and indun TRY cannot always he rewarded in
heNe population. have never considered the pos e.,
siCh VI freehold tho best evidence and Ia. of nrr
manent and common interest with. and attachment
to- the community. believe, that many situations. and
circumstances III life. fuTni.h tests a. certain.
Much has been said the necessity Of disfranchi,-
ing the comm soldier No such s..ity applies to
the Eaten Shote. There il ia con- dsrcd the sacred
huy oil all 10 protect their country against any inv aiding
enemy Daring the two wars in which this country has
been engaged there were exernpts, nor was Their.
enc example oil any man shrinking from his duty all
rushed TO The post CT danger the moment tho alarm
given--pooi and rich-ths aged was found quit.
as ready as thu young-No was isen di.auaiied
from the protection OF The property Of the feehoder
IL The proposition Of the gentleman from Mononga-
has project Of the non choder,'-No, sir, il the
wish OF the eehoiders Themselves, restore 80 the non
feeholdsr' ihr,e tights which they ought always
have had-if FL s96 TO 1861 gives any EXPIRE Of
their will they have said that they are desrous 10 a.
bandon the distinction they hold
u this government belongs TO the freehoIdsr. IL il.
they who say We willing TO part with th. exclusive
power aud share il with brethren. The fire ehcid
ers possrsag the government, and the sovereignty b.
ing in the people, AMI tbs freehoders sire that the
rest ct their fellow citizen, shall be admitted to p,rii.
cipaie IN polii power-wha good rea.on can or ha
been assigned Tor this Convention to opuo.s that
IL is not the ireehoiers merely; IL the freehold
ers them,elvc,, who complain Of the existing .st. Of
things. have never heard the non .frsehodsrs hsif
so loud 10 call for this Convention the freehoisrs
themseves.
IL was from the most hckiy settled part Of the coun.
" oil hccomack, AMI from those who resid- az the
Maryland line, that tbs demand TO extend the right Of
suffrage was most earnest. Many Of The Greebold,r.
nave cut up their farms Already into small eaements In
give TO their IONS The RICH, Of voting that they can Ion
of 10 without depriving themselves Of that pr
vilege And ho'e who reside in b- north Of the conn.
ty, having constant nterccure with the people Of the
State OF Maryland, trading to THAR town. ihyy
acquainted with their n,tuon,, and they how the
extended right Of su age opcrass there and fnJinr
no evil resulting from H. queny they are an xious
Tor the change in their State
Farms divided and sub divided so often tina. even
that cannot he further done TO any advantage ss 10
leaye support 10 iSniiy practising th- ereates in
dnstry and frugality The farm being now 80 SIN III
hat it can only be given sou aud generally the
hfI born. he remains at home with his fther-cniI.
Yates tic land-snppors him in his old asc-and a hi.
aesih inherits the freehold. The ojber are sent
from home, generally 10 The towns in MARYLAND and
Pennsylvania o learn u'efu mech snirAl irAdcsih,y
reiutn-ihey will not leave the view Of the smoke Of
'hrr isier's dwelng-the old man, perhaps can cut
OF an acre ofland rota his little farm, purchase on
in the nrghtou hood; which iserscted slipyard
or bI1ck'nith shOp-these young enter with great
skII and industry on their tales and marry:
hsse useful nechsUcs, having returned 10 State
Toll OF patriotic love for this Commonwealth, ant 2.
much attached 10 her interests the lsrgc. reehol
az ret you are going 10 10 them in the CouS
uon you are now mailing, "Joung man, you ha'o 70
urned IN your country, with perfect knowledge Of
20 ir Useful profe.sion--you arc railing ~ family of
gedt ptomiss IN The welfare Of Virginia. but YOU get
your living by ihr )wing the broaIaxe the sr,g ham