Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-23
THURSDAY, Nov. 10.
MIR. TREZVANTS SpEECl

MIR. TREZVANTS SPEECH.
Mr. L. said that he hadno intended to have sailanv
thing upon the subject under the consideration
committee, had he expected To hnve said nn,,
thing upon any other subject which might he dis
cusscd IN the Convention, but the proposed amend
ment the question under debate notwthstandino lie
Importance, was about TO be submitted without an,,
other discussion than that which il received yns,nr
day, he cit Lm'e'i imDeled to submit a few 70
marks-rcmarks of course which could not ba III,
result OF any previous preparation, and which neces
sarIly must be desultory III their character Wiz
was the question under consideration? The ob,rct
OF the amendment was to abolish the presen, mo1G
cation OF the right of suffrage and 10 s,Ibsti,n,c j.;
its place one entirely TO us When n ncc,i,
undertake to make change in their political instiI,,
tons, affecting the foundation OF government it be-
bJves them TO proceed with the utmost cnuti IN &, o.
cumspection. We should recolet that we are abo,,,
TO introduce an experiment which is to operate u,nn
the affections, preiudces. and long established bob
Oh the community, and the consequences cannot 4,
distinctly toreseen or forctold. A numerous NAV,
iatIon, falling not much snort OF a minn cannt -
once throw off their old usages and customs. mud
accommodate themselves to an entirely new order &c
things, radically different from that under which tI
had lived IN peace and tranquility without incurrnc,
the rlsque of many and great evils. This govern
ment had existed for more than fifty years and M.
der n, the people had enjoyed happiness and con-
tentmeut. There were, it is true, occasional clamcr5
arising from local causes and preiudices and M.
from any real defects in the form OF government and
he hoped this amendment would not be adopted 70
allay such complaints. In that part of Tn, state in
which he resided, ne had not heard of any serious
complaint touching the right Of suffrage. The pcope
there, IN this respect at least, were satisfied vlv
then adopt this new qualification of The right of sui:
rage, Which III his poor opinion would put TO hazard
the best interests of the country and even endap0c,
the the liberties of the peole We are called upon TO
substitute for the freehold suffrage tina: which if be
not universal suffrage, falls but lte short Oft II is
proposed that those who ~ years ofage who beaY
arms q have resided months in the county in which
they propose to vote should have this right 81 the adop
ton OF the principle amounted in effect TO what be
called universal suffrage. He was told by one zen
cmun Ito the correctness of whose statistics he did
not however feel himself bound subscribe that the
adoption of this measure would add to the number of
voters in the State than 60 thousand, the pre-.
sent number being somewhat more than 40 thousand.
Thus the power ofthc government is 10 be transfer
rcd from the hands of the 40 thousand who have the
deepest interest at stake, TO the 60 thousand who
have comparatively but little interest. II is no Idle
chmcra Of tho brain that the possession of land fur
nshcs the strongest evidence Of permanent common
interest with, and attachment To the community
Much had been already said by gentlemen on both
sides, demonstrating the powerful influence of locO
attachment upon the conduct of man, aud he could
! not be made TO comprehend how that passion could
be more ehectuafy brought into action, than by II
consciousness Of tue fact that he vas the oeyrsy 81
the spot which he could emphutcoly call lis home.
IL was upon this foundation he wished TO place tlu
right of suffrage. This was the beat general stan
dard which could be rcsored TO for the purpose o..
determining whether the persons to be invested with
the right OF suffrage were such persons could be.
consls emily wi the safety and wcl being of llL
community, entrusted with the exercise of that right
Much had been said in the discussion Yesterday, Of
the oppression and impolicy resulting from an Idhc-
renee To- the present restricted suffrage, which he pre-
sumcd was Intended 10 produce effect upon pub
lie opinion, for Inc could not suppose it was intended
as a serious argument addressed to this Commute,
Among other things we had been seriously told Inv
gentleman, that many Of tho citizens of this Com
monwealth, non ffooholders, labornp under n Cons,
Of the great injustice done them in wtblioldinrr
this right Of suffrage, were known TO abandon fbc'
native State, and 10 cmgratc TO other States in tho
Union where suffrage was universal tbBt tLercbv
| they might enjoy that most Invaluable RIGHT mi,
was mere hgtnont Of tho fancy II Is adnittcd ~,
oil sides, thrt to obtain he qualification Of n vote
the expenditure ofo trinc in amount would he ali
that was necessary. Yet we are told that the nor.
secuted citizens Of this Commonwealth arc miyrn.
ting to other parts Of the Union 10 avoid this
odous principle. and doing this at an oxpenro
100 much beyond what would bs required mako them icc
holders Gentlemen deal n idncl,ul suggestions IIo wsJ
venture 20 hazard the opinion that at ever lived IN
70 y TO other counties 10 avoid that any ohc kind of pol
cal oppression The ca one he hnped !, had
sprung from the fruitful imagination of the peotlcpo, r.
those who indulge ~ these ances inquire Of Viz ape
as may have engraicd TO ote States what Their opo. ave-
upon this subject Wh tcybo found revilc Virginia cid,
curses, because, while ctZens here onoysd moi inc ,i
Of SUFFRAGE No They would hold very different lanc,,,e
and instead OF complaints Of tyranny aud oppression ill.,