Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-25
Rtrtt,totu0 S9aDta.
MONDAY MORNING. MAY IS. 1874

of the county Of Essex friendly 10 an ex,nna;o
the right OF suffrage, convened in Tappahnnnock on
Monday, the 18th day of May, 1920: Edwin Upshaw
Esq. was called to the chair and Can, W. LII
| appointed Secretary '"e'
The object Of the meeting having been osp,anod
oy MT. Z. III Griswold, motion, IL was resolvad
that committee be appointed TO prepare md rcnor,
preamble and resolutions To this nicotine VIZ
I upon the Chairman appointed the following gentle
~ y, 70 compose 'nat connitee: C. q. GriswoId E.
n q. montague IL. r. Pitts, VIM. Blackburn, H. d.
brooke Is; =. l.. Matthews, WIN. Eubank, Dr. Jas.
liagan and IL w. Shelton, who after retiring fav,
minutes, returned, and by their Chairman reported
tho following preamble and resolutions. which wer.
adopted with but one dissenting voice
hiie the members of this meeting denrcca,e a.,
unnecessary excitement, they are not nse,,sble TO
tue odious usurpations of the existing Government
nor contentsd TO remain passive. when the nalienable
rights oil great body of their fellow freemen
OF virginia, are tramped under foot. We hold II "a
DC udeniable, that the government of this Con,,or
wealth Is, under the present Constitution vested y;
the hands OF minority Cf the people that n mo;o
MY and urge majority Of the conmuntv are Vi
without Their consent, and subject TO the oner,ton
oil laws TO which they have not assented--tbr, a e..
q nitn," the ifeehoders are in the eniov,non, nf ~
ercfunre prr'Iege, the privilege of being heard il,
the enactment of laws while larue md resnertnhIr
portion OF their fellow Citizens is held in scrro v.s
saiage oy an odious vcsge of aristucratic rule We
iodt equally evident, that these farrant sbnses
Inese pa'paoic alteration from equal distribution
OF pohticai power and political privepcs are in d.
rect and open violation oft the plain and simple prnc
Piles OF natural right, regulated lbe rty and repbl;ca
rule set forth as with the spirit of inspiration in the
Rights ~ "
1t Is unnecessary here, to enter into an arm
ment, to prove the right Of all frecnen of Virginia
VINO give sufficient evidence Of permanent COM
mon interest with, and attachment to the comnun;,,-
to the exercise of the Elective Franchise n ~ 81
right recognized by the Bill of Rights and which fey
| have had the hardhood TO deny. We will no, s,o,
therefore, TO prove by argument, what to view
4 yTnn ito ttn
we admit the force of that reasoning which v;e,ys,
interest IN the soilthe possession Of few acres of
sterile land rs the only possible evde nco of sttacb
nicnt TO the community" There ale other, and
stronger, and denrer ties which bind man ipdissol,
bly, and forever, TO the land of his birth the bo,ne
ms kindred and the mausoeum of the time blanchod
bones of his ancestors ~
Entertaining these views, we canuot but consider
mat provision IN the act, for organizing Conven
ion, passed at the last Session of the Iooisat,ro
winch restricts the privilege Of voting for members of
Convention to frcehoiders alone as aristocratc in
s nature oppressive in its operation and IA nm ni,,t
and unwarrantable cncroachment upon the inherent
hdefeasiblc rights of the freehold conuDunitv
An encronchment, against which, VIC had su,nosed
oeir long suffering moderation and patient forbear-
ahce would have afforded them an insu.naountable
barrier.
For more than fifty years have the non- reehoders
WIN P"iehce submitted to the violation of their
"gh's' Ihey nave bowed their necks to the woke OF
oppression, and yielded their limbs to tho fet,ers
winch power had forged and " hich time wns con,in
ualy rvlttingu them. Unmindful of their WRONGS
ana regardless of every thing but their count ry when
the hostile mercenary bands OF England sought to
oTdgoon us into submission 10 a tyrants will tbey
rushed TO the battle field. Their Impressions md
thor oppressors sunk together in the dust" AMI with
the souls OF frecmen, each neTved a frecman's arm
and, amidst the clanking Of his chairs struck com
quering blow for liberty. The battle won-penco
restored-and independence secured they looked
forward to the restoration Of their rghts rs the sur
reward LOT the blood they had shed in defending
NOSE ~ their oppressors They were Disappointed
Still they murmurcd not Still with natience tho,
IN hope submitted. They were good citizens IN
wiling to disturb the harmony of n society ;nst
emerging rom the horrors of desolating war thew
yeideu cDeerfui obedience to the laws and confirm
ted their proportion of money aud personal service
to the exigcncics of the country. Again was our
country invaded, and again they stood forth in nor
deencc' For more than bali century, Oppressed.
their rights usurped, and their liberties tramplrd
upon, amidst difficulties, expressions and discour
agemcnts, have they continued to confde in the Iib
crafty and justice of their freehold brethren for tbe
recognition Of their rights and the restoration Of
ther HoCrtl2s Their confidence has been continual
~ 6buscd,-thoir hopes have been unifprmIv d;snn
pointed. And IT, IN moments of great excitement
whcn smarting under the corrosive CALLING of their
chains, End when their hearts were sicRcnod b,,
"hopcs deferred" they have vcnured 10 asser, tbe;
claims, and appeal 70 the Justice OF the Lords Of Tho
SOIL Their appeals have been characterized U;,h
calmness, moderation, and decorum. Yet thew have
been invariably treated with silent conternpt or in
sulting derision.
This patient endurance in long suffering. while II
affords unequivocGl and irresistible evidence of their
permanent attachment 10 the community" should
have proved an al-powerhl advocate OF their claims
But so far from its thus operating, il is made an
argument against them. and they are now gravely
told "For fifty years you have admitted our right 10
"rule,-have acquicsced in being our savcs--have
borne all the indignes injuries and insults we have
"boen pleased TO heap upon you--hnve not complain
cod when trnmplcd upon murinurcd when fpurn-
cd ns Of the dust, and II is now too late 10
complain. You have forfeited your rights forever"
Whilst thus suffering, whilst thus patiently await-
ing their cnfTanchsemcnfS the non freeholdera have
not been insensble ofthe gross injustice which held
them in vnssalnge nor have they ever waived their
claims to participation in the councils of the conn
try. they have steadily looked forward with any
ious and, at times with frightened hopes to diHeTen,
periods, as the termination of their suTernos Those
pcTiOda hhve snccnasIynIv nrriund nnd -. -.