Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-19
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
GOVERNOR GILES.
CONVENTION.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

FOR THE ENQUIRER.
PLAN OF ACTION.
TO he Observation-Disclosures of Virgi,ia
FELLOW Could we consult the
spirit oi that Industrious advocate Of civil liberty
Patrick Henry, as 10 the course we ought to adopt
with respect 10 the approaching Convention of our
slIoW-aitzers. the reeholders OF the State, it is
probable the Response would be something like
this: % Indulge no longer il the illusions oil hope
You have reasoned anil demonstrated with your
opponents, until argument has been exhausted
and remonstrance Is vain; and, no,o, il you would
obtain your just rights, you must acf--I repeat t.
you must act or be prepared to re!inQnish them
:orever!'
= Deeply impressed with this conviction, | have
been looking anxiousy for sone practicable and
efficient plan TO be submitted to the non fire ehoi.,-
ers OF the State, which they could carry into ope-
ration with concert aud with facility without vio-
iating any pri0cp,a, law. or precept Of the existing
government, or disturbing the good order of socie-
~, and which would enable them TO counterfeit,
etecfuohy. the unjust and anti-repubiican provi-
SION OF the act OF the last legislature entitled IN
act TO organize Convention" which limits the
right oil voting for members of the Convention to
the freeholders Of the state, thereby setting them
apart from ths great body Of the people, and con-
shutting them privileged order, and depriving an
equal or greater number Of that body of right 10
which they are equally entitled AS to those
other provisions, of like character, which fix the
basis and apportionment of representation in that
Convention, no remedy can now be Devised; but
having looked ia cai's fer the desired one for the
aforementioned Injustice, mean the exclusion of
tbs entire class Of non reeh0it from, pofins for
representatives TO The Contention, I beg ieavs
10 offer 10 you, tor your calm eraticn and
dispassionate adoption, the following Plan ot Ne
lion, by which. ii carried into execution in cool
united, active, and persevering manner, we NAV
Obtain ourJusf toe'sht IN the formation Of a ne,c
consfttofio1I, and thereby secure our equal poIt-
7cni rights. under the future government
1. Let the free white male non-ireehoders of
each election district in the State, who shall have
arrived at the age OF twenty lone years, assemble,
IN the most orderly manner, at the usual place of
election on Saturday, the 18Th day of lulu and
let az many as shall have met at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
appoint three discreet and intelligent persons 10 re-
ceive their votes and superintend the election.
who should take oath before a magistrate of the
county, requested to attend Tor that purpose that
hey viii faithfully perform to the best of tn cir
abilities. the duties herein assigned to them, anu
that they wilfnot receive the vote OF any person
who shall not satisfactorily prove to them
the facts herein required TO be proven before
he can vote at said election. The superin.
PENDANTS should then appoint clerk, who
should be furnished with poll book or sheet
having suitable caption, with column for each
person TO be voted for, headed with his name, and
should be sworn fairly to record in the appropriate
Columns OF said book or sheet, all the votes given
in, which shall be received by the supe riniendants
Ihen ietevery one ofsuch non freeholderswho shall
not iabour under any OF the disabilities which, by
law, disqualify freeholders for voting, and who
shall satisfy the superintendent that no is citizen
OF the u. 3. and has resided in the county, during
the last two years, and shall soleRnly declare tn at
he considers II as mis- home, and that he has no
intention or expectation of removing from the
state, vote, cioa pOce, for four discreet and fit per.
sons TO represent, in convention the nom hold
ers OF the Senatorial district The persons voted
LOT may be ireeholders, or not, but should each
nave arrived at the age of thirty five years and
not ne subject to any disability Except that of not
being freeholders) which would render them, by
existing laws Ineligible to the legislature. At the
close Of the poll, the said clerk should attest and
sign II, and HE supernte ndants should Jointly GER
tify the same. The magistrate should be request.
cd to attend during the election, and to direct the
attendance OF a constable TO make proclamatiop
keep order: &C.. and should furnish the superin-
pendants jointly, with certificate of their having
acted as such, and sworn before him faithfully 10
dislcharge the. duties thereof.
X Let one OF the superinIendants of each of said
selections in each Senatorial District, meet on
Z0ursdGy the 10th Of Jui at the place of the most
central Courthouse in the District, to be desig-
mated by the superntendants of the election al the
court house OF the first named county in the Dis
tIriot Immediate notice OF such design to be
syiven by them to the other superinte ndants in
csach eiechon District, and requiring the atten-
dance of one Of them, accordiDgIyJ with the ori.
fginal polls taken under their ndance and
dpon ascertain the four persons having the great
.st number OF votes (whsre a tie interferes, deci-
ping by iot fairly and publicly drawn) and forth
with published in the newspapers printed in the
'oistrict, and in the city of Richmond, the names
CT the four persons so elected, with the number of
" totes given for each.-They should also at the
Same time, eve to each representative elect, a
joint certificate Of his due election, and to anu
0se OF them copy of the magistrates certificate
and copy Of the poll taken at their respective
elections, certified by all the superntendants OF
each election District, respectively.
b. Let all the representatives thus elected, as
sembe in Richmond, or Manchester, on the last
Monday in September, organize meeting, and
Bgree upon firm, temperate, and respectful
memorial, to be presented to the Convention Of
the Freehoiders, by a committee Of their body, on
the day after the meeting OF said Convention, set
ting forth the prominent facts aud circumstances
relative 10 their election the main motives and OBJ
Jecu OF their constituents the grounds upon which
they Claim 10 be admitted intot Convention, up
on an equal footing with the representatives of the
Freehoters, claiming and requesting so TO be adj
United, and presenting The alternative which they
wall DO bound to adopt in case the object of their
claim and request shall not he conceded TO them
TO wit {: TO 20 into separate Convention revise
and amend the present Constitution. or form q
neto one ana. submit II 10 The people sf,nultdne-
ohsly toith the amended or neto Constitution of
the Convention Of the FreehO'ders; unless, in the
event OF the rejection Of the said claim aud request
Unsatisfactory assurance, formally sanctioned by =
majority Of the whole Convention, shall be given, .
within one week from the day Oh which the said
Inetnoriai was presented, that the equal pot-
zeal rlgnts and interests OF the free white non
3reeholders OF the State shall be secured to them
~ the amerded or Dew Constitution; and especidi-
~ that representation tie legislature shall be