Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-08

would. through the medium Of the legislature;
and wi,hou, iunult, bring about the desired
convention, aud with it, the objects OF rational
reform; and, my constant efforts have been
10 oreven, the confusion which might be ex'
nee ted TO arise from the pursuit OF those 90
iects through any other channel. Thus lar my
wishes and predictions have promise OF fu'.
6lment. But what are the objects OF ra'ionai
reform! 1t is to this, that l am called 10 an
swer by the queries which you have sahmit'eo.
First then, in the order Of your inquiries, as
first in the minds Of great portion OF our com
mupity, shall speak as 70 the extension OF inc
RICH, Of suffrage, and will say, in the language
of the resolutions passed by the friends OF re-
form, in 1928, at Stanton, "that the rignt Of
suffrage should be extended 10 all free whi'e
male citizens above 81 years OF age, Uhefher De-
holders or not, who are capable Of furnishing
sufficient evidence of permanent common ''te'es'
,piih, and attachment 10, the community, IN suen
manner as TO guard against universal suffrage.
Blu, what :tey would deem such sufficient EVIL
dence, that body did not attempt 10 define, nor
what they meant BY universal suffrage, feeling
no doub, the difficulty Of coming 10 one CON-
mon sentiment upon this important SUBJECT
The difficulty whiHh they felt, am pcrsuad.
ed per- at'es The community at large, and VIII
not b. found lea., with those who reflect most
deeply upon the matter. AS 10 my own opin-
ions, notwi, hstanding the insinuations thrown
out, have az no time made any mystery oil
hem. and will now state them with perfect
candour. so far as they are definitely made up
The freeholc limitation Of suffrage was drriv-
ed from The country Of our forefathers. In Eng
land the elective franchise belongs 10 the free
holders, and to The freemen of the corporations,
"The house of commons, (says the elder Pitt,)
represents the proprietors Of the lands; and
those prop,ie,ors, (freeholders, virtually re-
present the rest Of the inhabitants. The the
ory then was. tina, the freeholders were recog-
nized as perpetual body OF electors, represent.
ing the whole community for the purpose OF
choosing their representatives in the govern.
ment. Whatever may be the beauties, or the
defects, Of this system. the people, the only le'
gitimate source Of political power, have certain
" right to reform, alter or abolish II, at their
pleasure. The recent manifest ation, TOO cit at
to be- misunders God; show that the great body
of the community is no longer content that this
mower shall remain vested, exclusively, IN the
freeholders; and justice, policy, and the Princl-
piles Of the age. now demand OF us a change -
To this change then, shall yield my cordial
assent, and appreciation. Whilst make TINS
declaration, I must say, at the same time, nat
when have contemplated the purity, the order,
and the decorum with which our electi ms are
conducted in Virginia, and con,rasted them
with the intrigue, the ,umult and rio, exhibited
In those States where universal suffrage pre-
lyails, could not but feel great spyrehensions,
that when the dooI should be opened 10 admit
those to The exercise Of the rlgnt 10 whom II
nigh, safely be extended, that il might be
thrown so vide as TO let in those also, who,
feeling no interest in the result OF public mea-
sures, and knowing little Of their operations,
and caring little, would quickly assimilats our
elections TO those we have spoken OF in other
States. Willis, felt the apprehension here
express, felt also conviction that there was
a large portion Of non.freehoders who had
cause to complain Of their exclusion, who
might be admitted 10 the polls with safety, and
10 whom have ever believed that the privilege
| would be, and ough, to be extended, whenever
the matter was acted on in Convention. 1t an
here asked to whom of tile non -freeholders, be-
ing free white male citizens above the age OF 81
years, would &c willing TO extend the elective
| franchise, ! would answer, that after tie most
mature reflection which have been cspa-
BILE Of giving the subject, ] have been una
BILE To devise any better test Of the claim for ad'
| mission than q reference to the time Of resi-
dence and the tax list; leaVlnS hoWeWr, inc
precise limits TO be adjusted upon the fullest
con sideration and consultation, of those whose
duty il may be to decide. That The claims Of
the non-freeholders will be, as they ought TO be,
re specially considered, and admitted to lib
eral extent, have no doub'; but that they ought
to be, or will be, admitted to the extent Of
VIVA, is generally understood as universal sui.
fiage, l do not believe. Is i, right or proper,
that men hanging loose upon society, who have
no ties tina, bind them down to The country,
who are here to-day, and gone Tomorrow,
should control, by their votes, The property and
personal rights Of those to whom the country
belongs, and who belong tosthe country? Sup
pose the Potomac Canal to be brought into the
county OF Loudoun, or Of Fairfax, & that three
| or four thousand laborers brought together by
all The winds Of heaven, shall have resided in
such county 10 months engaged upon. tina,
work, and having been subjected to the pay
men, of county levy, should presen, them.
selves at our polls, led on by some influential
contractor, and elect the candidates of their
own choice for the county, OF the district, what,
would ask, would then be thought Of prin-
II