Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-26

ton of the gentleman from Chesterfield it will dis
appoint every hope, and hopes if this be to an
cannot make the government to suit those who have
required IT. and not come to the conclusion, that so
iarg" number OF the people as are justly entitled to
suffrage, should be excluded from votin,r.
The gentleman from Chesterfield, seemed TO oucs-
ton some of the facts. which had been stated bv his
colleagues, as from their own knowledge and partc-
ularly those OF the gentleman from Mononga!ia
They had stated the eff ct of the moro extended
suffrage given in Pennsylvania and Ohio rpon those
citizens of Virginia, no were, as they believed nm
Justly debarrcd from the exercise of the right of suf
fragc. As to tue elections i'll the other Sates-hc
had never witnessed election in the State of Ohio.
he had seen two III Pennsylvania; but he never saw
more confusion at any election, than he Witnessed
II IRE, IN 1919, when members of CONGRESS- were
elected. He did mean to saw that there wos NOT
generally more order preserved at the elections in
Virginia, than those which he had witnessed in Penn
s}iVania' close on the borders of Virginia, where
old men and their descendants, who are Virninians
constituted considerable portion of the population
and their habits aud examples favorable to gen
cral order. The gentleman from Chesterfield had
alleged that his attachment to Virpnia was The ,t
tachmen OF the heart and he had no doubt tba, tho
statement was correct; nor had he any doubt thar
every man feels that attachments whether he has any
direct interest i'll the soil of the Commonwe,ltb or
not lfnot, would the gentleman be willing 70 r,et
any man to whom he denies the right of sufrane to
| bear arms In defence of the Commonwealth If
there was nofhlng better than the mere reason or
policy OF aiegiance, to secure the attachment of
men To the State how could we trust anv man
livery man whether he has property not has the
feeling towards the State in which his interests and
affections are to be found
If the Committee should concur in The rosolrton
to extend the right of suffrage to those who nav
enue taxes he hoped that would also be extended
| 10 th"se VINO pay county taxes. There are
thousands who pay no revenue taxes, who
are yet assessed for county rates. md
these are not included, although they constitute val
liable class OF citizens. There are Manifestations
sands OF the of frecholders who paw taxes vet
are now excluded from the exercise of the rigbt of
suffrage They are settled on their fathers lands
and are following their craft, and they have a ripkt
to be heard at the polls.
Mr.. DopDRIpGE concluded with nm onol,nv f,r
having detained the Committee long on a subject
already 50 fully discussed and so well considered
Mr. oTANARD rose to offer an amendment by way
OF extending the resolution of the gentleman from
Chesterf1eld He wished it to be received as sur
geseed IN spirit OF compromise. For the purpose
OF furnishing some ground for compromise he should
propose to extend the right of suffrage to two other
classes. Such gentlemen are still determined TO
abide intiexiby by the freehold qualification NAV
vote tor the first of his propositions, but would not
sustain the second He then moved to amend the
amendment offered by Mr. Leigh by adding the fol-
Lowing
And every such citizen who shall be lessee Of
tenement oi the yearly value of dollars for .
term OF or more years, by deed duly recorded
three months before the time he NAV offer 1o vote
and OF which lease at least wears SHAH no mn
expired at the time he offers to vote
And every such citizen who shall within ono VOC
before he may offer to vote have tax or taxes to The
ai"""i" vi assessed on property, whether
real or personal, owned by him, and shall have actu
ally paid such tax taxes at least three montba he
fore he shall so offer to VOTE
YIN the Suggestion of Mr.. P. p. BARPoUE who
SAID he might be disposed to vote for the first promo
stIon only, Mr.. SrANARD arreed to divide tbpo r..
! propositions. ~ ''''
| mr. DoDDRIDaE suggested that it might perhans
be better to take the sense OF the Committee firs on
| tention offer. -1'0 AZ
Mr. SrANARD declined to withdraw his propositjon.
not Perceving that 1t could tend any ENHANCEMENT
| II pressed at this time.
| MI. Z. JOHNSON objected to the amendment be-
! cause 1t introduced the tenant, while the owner of
the fee might be excluded He also suDoested that
there could be frauds pcrpeta,ed under this provi
son lie suggested the propriety of confnnr tho
quacaton to lessces for The condition Of the
lease with view to fraud, might be that the lease
shal be renewable. on payment of a fine which the
tenant could not pay.
MIR. LEIGH said that if the proposition should be
adopted 1t would then be necessary nerbans 70
modify It's phraseology.
MIR. STANARD stated that, if adopted it MIGHT he
superbuous to retain that feature but it was not
considered necessary to give the precise form of the
limitation until the committee should have deci
tded on the principle The reason of his fxinq
thTce months tor the limitation of the record was
because deeds generally take date the LIST of Jan.
lary' and as the elections take place in April. if
longer time were required, it would amount to an
exclusion for fifteen months.
! Mr.. NICHOLAS wished TO have tho hI,nI, e. e.
term OF years filled, before he couId aav hoo, ho
snoutu V9Ie' II the term required was long enough
10 give tbe evidence that the lessee had nermaoent
common interest in, and attachment to the common
wealth. ne should have objection to the provisions
put IL was proposed to limit the term to five wears
ne would prefer the proposition of the gentleman
from chesterfield He referred to a Statement
whlcn ne had Just read in the newspapers of meet
ing OF the tenantry of the Duke of New Castle. =
IL appears that the Duke had about 2OOO tenant c
ana he had said that if they did not vote for the nor
son he had nominated they must leave their farms
ne tenants called meeting in order to resist this
dictation' They give notice to the Duke oftheir in
Se"''pn 10 nod THIS meeting. lie replied to thern
IN very cavalier like manner. Informing them fLnf
nc was the owner Of the estate, and would exercise
ms rights as such. This Slowed the kind ofipfuence
mlich landlord could exercise n tenant. Until
Lot vote Tor the proposition lie could not give
y : OfC hap, l..