Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-16


euotnitted TO 1t, and thereby have become in no
degree agents m perpetuating it to the pre-
Tine es II they had originally participated in it's
oiieeioh ts continuance has been dependapt ON the
VIII OF the majority, and every moment Inst thew b,
permted 1t to survive, it may be said thew have en-
ac,ea It anew 1t is unimportant to the conclusion tc
ton ,,n ns ,,na mas been led whether the cousttu-
uon was established by the direct voice of the peonle
OF mas only been ratified by their silence hut ma the,
sohe ought to have made it, will for tho rraaart
AUNT that they did make it in their primary charae
.eis de men, presume it will not be denied thar
they who make q constitution NAV alter or .boI;,
H. But 1t IS said that the freehoders only are emit;
ted TO the elective franchise under the present CON
~ . and therefore, that they alone, have right
TO eject members of Convention. The f,llacu oS
inns position is easily exposed Fbe ffeeholders ar,
out part OF the people, and ma IT have no r;nbt t
govern the whole but by their rseo the whole il is
ItIh'eniaby true have granted to TINT mn ~ tho ;ls
toconduct the present goae,.n,pe,s but to-, - ~
gr ened to them the right TO prevent change of th
government, nor to make laws for the whole in aUv
En- allc!S, tnah those which relate Immediately 10
tce soinnlstratlon OF this government ma;or;fy
o. me people have right to alter their CONSTITUTIONS
anu IN proposition to change it the froeloll.r,,
slanaS on no higher ground than if he were non
Teenoder. III the votes OF none but the freeholder
DC requisite to make prevent a chance then tb.,
powers OF the freeholders, which are merely conven
loiiai, ana were granted for reasons which NAV no
longer exist, irreuocable-pcrryet IF tb;s b
the cage, majority of the peonle cannot al.nr
or abolish their government when it courses to afford
t.ieni hapPiness-a conclusion which every man ia
stontly repudiates.
The ffeeholsrs are but mediate aaepts ho,,,,oa,,
the people and the administrators of the Government
ana they cannot carry into elementary assembIv
ot the people, any rights except those that arr.
common to every member of it. With view to IL
lustrate distinctly nv objection to tho second
section, will suppose that the people of Vrgiuja
"ith one impulse move west of Missouri and deter
nne 10 'orin Constitution; every would be- en-
tttco TO ne heard Ill their Convention; thew frame a
constitution in all respects like our own and limit ,,
right OF suffrage for members of their Legislature \,
irechoiders Futy-two years after, they propos Il,
go again INTO Convention and can it be asserted thos
the freeholders alone could elect members IN th :
convention 1t 1t be true that but freeholders
could elect the members, it is equally tre that mona
o'it themselves would go into Conventions if this b;.
tae case, majority Of the community cannot alfes
Their form OF government; position which no rn., 3,
thus commonwealth will have the ntrepdity TO take
sur every man who voted to FORM has AN ndisutabI.
igt vote TO amend or destroy the constitutions IF
these DO the rights of the people, can the newer "a,
restrict any portion of thenf the use of these rights,
reside ID the two houses of Assemblyf The powerg
ana the objects the General Assembly we al kno,.
put taey can limit the right to vote for members 81
cenvnton, they may also enable a to rue thu.
:ioie. The2 Legislature caHnot confer a,tboritv,
where the people have said they sfould rot ~
mo- ssssn 70 inc 1eeslatufe power g
sfd1es of the rest; but they will hive ass,,ss sfs
power, when they sa have passed the secund secT
ayr. Chsirian-iti is said That If VOC m -,
that women, children and slaves have rssft
10 vote do not sgreeto this-Phe male il, eyer,S
fah1 OF animal creation, whether human, brute sr
Is tne natural protector of the female and irp1s
infant offspring, and therefore, has ripbt IN rus
them fwenty-one years is the period Sed unun fy,
the Judgment and observation of the people the 6
nlaea States' and those from whom they have des.-
cehaeo, as tHe TIME ut Which is morally eor,nn,
tent to perceive his interests and physically able IL
protect them. AT that period guardianship ceayes
because protection is no longer necessary. Aera
sves' 'hey nave never been received into our com.
n'umty, and they cannot therefore hovo - =,
'"lei community of which they are not members
! nope sr that the motion to strike ont the Graz
action VIII prevail, and that the secsnd will be- sfs
i;iaeH az to recognize the right ofevery free white
n'ae citizen ofthe State, wbe is twenty ves,s m
te vote for members ofthe Convention.
(De5dte es"a'nued on I'd pssk)