Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-24
laEronrrD Fom 1Ir RIcnMo,D wnlc.l
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.


names IL, begged To make the suggestion, that the
divisions on questions in Committee were to be re-
gsricd only tho tight OF comparisons of views; and
when the names announced, such the pride OF
opinion, that members might be inclined afterwards {
70 adhere 20 opinions, which they might have been
disposed Change but for their premature committal
before the public eye. lie merely made the sugges
ton. The Committee would take it for what it was
worth.
MIR. BAYLY, of Accomac, then rose address the
Chair. He had hoped that some other gentleman
would have risen; but the question seemed to be
ready be taken. and person was DESTROYS to i
make any remarks and as his stituens among
the foremost making the call for this Convention,
lie held il TO be his duty to give the reasons which
would induce him to vote for this amendment. Afler |,
collecting the opinions of his constituents every
par, OF the district to the defects of the Cons,itu
ton, he had determined, and sense of duty had
ponled out to him that course which would lead to
the correction of the evils of which they complained
lie hoped that because such would be his course, he
should not be considered by any leyeller,
lutionlst radical reiormeT. He could the
Committee that such character could Justly be i'm
putcd to him If he believed that the proposition now
before the Committee would III the slightest degree.
endanCcr the security .uf property or could pu power
In the hands of those who would in any way abuse it,,
not only would be not Vote for this amendment, but
lie would feel bound to meet it with his must decided
dlsapprObatioH.
But If there b. uon-freeholders IN large numbers
any part the State WHO destitute of property
and OF princplc such not the character of those
among whoir lie lived. Feeling it to be part of his
amendment the people whom he represented. and
who were early concerned in taking up this subject
having been among the first to present petitions to
the Legislature, he induced to take this occasion
to troubl, the Committee with these remarks. The
people of Acconac have not those facilities for ac-
quirng freelolds winch abound in other parts of the
Stat where there Is much waste and useless lands
Penncd up Ill peninsu az every one who wishes
60 obtain vote cannot reHize that under the pre-
sent system, however much he may prize the ptiyi
lego, end however respectable may be his Standing,
and even his means. The territory is small. and the
tracts of twenty five acres which necessary to
make the qualification, not easily be obtained
at any prize. But although the qualification is thus
confined to the SOIL the responsibility of the inhabt
ants not exclusively derived from that source The
people of that county do not draw their subsistence
solely from land. great proportion OF then are
worthy mechanics, and many their bread by
poughIng the ocean II IS not easy for such men, on
their first entrance into life, lay by two hundred
dollars to buy such freehold might qualify them
to vote. HoweVer easily this may be done in other
parts OF the country having vast mountains of useless
lands, and therefore freehold of p or so acres is
easily acquired lie declared that he had never con
sldcred the possession Of freehold the best ev
dence and test of permanent common interest and NJ
tachment to the community. lie believed that many
situations and circumstances of life furnished tests as
certain.
He could not coincide with those who are disposed
TO DISTINGUISHING soldiers. Such u disposition did not
peryade the Eastern shore. There il was considered
the sacred duty of ali 70 protect the country against
any invading rncmy. During the TWO wars in which
TINS couH:ry has been engaged, there were no eS
empis All rushed TO the post of danger. Young Ii
and old-no disqualified then for the pYo. Il
lection OF the property of the frecholder. lie asked
II the amendment OF the gentleman from Monongalia
sprung from any desire to give to the non-freehOlder
privileges IN his own seeking only 1t was not so.-
The lreehoders themselves, 81 900 10 10000 have
SAID that they are willing to abandon these exclusive
rights then the ircehoiders possess the govern
eh anu me sovereignty Is IN the people, and if this
Convention know that the feehoiders desire that the
rest Of their fellow citizens shall be admitted to mar
cIpate IN political power what good reason can or
mas been assigned for opposing that desire1 He had
never heard the non-reeholders half SO loud to call
for this Convention the frceholdeis thenselves-it
was from the most thickly settled part of the county
OF Accomac that the demand to extend the rirht of
suffrage was most earnest. The small freeholder
could not divide his farm to advantage TO himsof or
family; he hns only sufficient to qualify himself w
ter-th'S quahhcation he can only give to one son.
and generally the first born; he remains at home with
his father cutIvatcs the land, supports him in bs old
age, and ut his death nherits the freehold Tho
other sons are sent from home learn useful me-
chanIcal trades-they retUrn-the old man can nor
haps purchase of land for each SON On ,y6ich
one Will make shp-yard and another erect a black
shth shop and are not these useful and worthy me-
chaHcs who support themselves and family by honest
INDUSTRY Oy tile use oil the broad and sledpe ham
mer to be trusted, rs he who holds the plough ham
dies' The one is sent from Virginia obtain trade
he is bound an apprentice but the moment he is free
he loves Virginia and returns home. marries and set
ties himself for life the neghborhood OF his birth.
but he must not vote for those who make laws to 90
vern Inn; solely upon that barren plea lac does not
love his country.
The soldier it is said, is not 10 be trusted, and he
who serves in the militia is not 10 be trusted Tbs
was doctrine which would not be entertained 4
more patriotic band ofncn never entered the army
OF " ashlngton than those who went from his couG.
w. They fought by lis side at Brandywinc, at Ger
mantown, and NJ Monmouth; and he had seen offer
at the polls, men who had assisted in gaining the in
dependence OF our country, and who when they came
10 vote were told thoy had right there and vero
thrust aside by old tories Such things as these ron
sod the people TO complain and induced them TO vote
Tor Convention. lie hoped he should not he accn-
seq OF declamallon--what he stated TO the Commit
tee were facts not 10 be denied.
Hiuch mad been said about confusion al clcciions
Extend the elective franchise and there will be mn
'ar OF confusion lie had ncvoI witnessed any con-
belong to the county lie had never seem nor hoard
81 any confusion IN any part OF Virginia But rcoct
this proposition, and Let the old restrictions and dis
qualifications continue, and it Will not be lone boforo
yon viii have confusion. You must show a disnos,
ton TO redress the evils Of which the people conplan
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