Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-01


aud Monmouth. and their vsor is well known By the
venerable Prerilent Of this Con. enon: aud rtjoics
that he has not iorssksn tho soldier OF The revou ion
or they never have iorsakeu him. But, sir the Indie
pendenee Of the country being attained. they dsband
themselves and return home in begxsry; and these
men who have saved the Constitution of their country
ny that very Constitution, expelled from the poll.
max, way for some old Scotch ory-hey have no right
to he there, because they have she,cn permanent
feresf in and attachment to. the community Sir, ihi,
scene has occurred in avery old county in the State,
and IN many 10 yearly Witnessed. Such things reused
the people to complain aud induced them to vote for
Convenon-I mean the freehoders. They csnnot, they
NOT 10 participate in the elective franchise under the
very government that their vaor established.
Gentlemen say the non-ireeholders DO wish thi,
privilege 10 be extended 10 them. I know OF no such
description men; and il there be ANY that opinion
IN this ancient Commonwe they are fit subject. for
, king tru'i shall not he considered as using the
language OF empty decltnstion. What stats facts
no, TO be denied.
Much has been said about confusion at elections I
20 not believe. il No extend the light Of suffrage a,
Tar as any OF us WISH that there is on this score
Oar people are not Of that riotous character have
never seen any confusion in that part OF the country
where live at elections have seen nor he ard
Of any confusion i'm any part Of Virginia at elections,
Dnt THIS proposition and let the old restrictions
and dsqua'ihca'ions continue, and you will not be
long without confusion. and great confusion the polls
and from the polls You must show disposition rs-
dress the evils of which the ope or you must
expect that their complaints will louder tone
But suppose the people shall be come corrupt and
their own worst enemies at elsctions-Q entertain no
fear that they wl) that rio & blood shed should
DO the consequence. There is remedy for THE and
simple one: II is To lay OF the counties INFO small 6.
ecorai districts, and you prevent all danger Of rio;
and a, gentleman near smgge.ts let tho elections
be held on the same day III all she districts, and hat
VIII prevent large collections Of people place
and consequently prevent confusion. No, sir; tb.re
no such danger. Have your people ever shown a dis.
position for insurrecon Have you or he ard
ot dispo-on among them 10 riot and nsirr cjion:
Have you ever or heard Of a disposition among
them to rise in Ainst the general government!
although at times they have been m, ch excited a.
saihst the administration OF that government They can
he trusted; they may with the utmost safety, even il
You restore TO the utmost limits of the elective power
be trusted.
(and use that expression, only in reference old and
tiled frends) tells us ab,ut revolutionary France AID
hs eviis which grew out of IL, in that country Much
good has resulted to the peopl. from that revolution
why, sir II may have happened, that the head. Of one
or two contemplate mobiles may have fallen into the
sack OF the execuoner brought on by their own vice,
ann treason, hut nobody amenteo their fate. The
pie were bound down in chains, which the government,
refused, not only to knock of, but to siacksn they
were broken and torn a-undrr; and like the bursting
ef volcano, deso!stsd all arosnd. But i, that tn.
state OF things her.! Is tbere any or rich no.
beman TO throw his gold among the people at our cleo
ions TO promote the utmost confusion and rc Let Il,
not take for guide facts recorded by pen,ioneI ALL
hors during tho French Revolution, and prutep nj that
what has happsnsd to that country and its institutions,
VIII happen TO our Institutions, but rather go to the
tomb at Monticello JeHsrssnsav tin. scene. a, tn.
eom.ns OF the Revolution; he Minister Of
of
| Universal Suhags! No, Sir; on the CONTRARY the
longer he lived, the moro he was attached it, even
unto de attn.
Did the sight Of the scenes Of that Revolution.
even under Roossperr-, tho venerable gentle m
from Louioun (Mr. Monroe-he, also, was Minister
to France0 from his attachment to the rights of
MANI He Ina. told you that there is nothing lear from
extending suffrage in this country. Ours ar.
kind OF people, aud on them place all my confidence
They will not break out in mobsof sanEuisary violence:
They only ask their rights freomen aud for this pr
pose The amendment 10 offered. am ds.i, Gus 10 know
why IL that certain parts OF tho alth ada
cent to other states where Universal Suffrage 10 enjoyed
10 the fullest extent, all in favor OF this great
mean the rsehoiier. in those districts. You see the
Sou h West part of the State, which iuns Tonne
and Kentucky; the North West which in. Ohio and
P'nn'yyana AMI the North East which joins Mary
land, all anxious fer hi, change. Can be- that all the
wisdom lies IN the centre OF tho State! The people of
those parts oil The state TO which have referred have
witnessed and know how this thing operates upon their
neighbours; and are, with very few exec ption, in IA.
vor OF extending this right TO ireemen The result OF
tho trial 10 conclusive We are not making expert
ment, we are following those already made Yes. the
experiment is not to be made the plan ha. been tried by
other states and the result H. that their pop on and
property has rapidly increased and tboy owe bat
man can govern himself
The question Of Internal mprov ment in this State
has somehow got into this dcbatc-how | do not com
Prchend exactly. am in favor of Internal Improve
ment to limited extent. with the aid only Of The fund
set apart for that purPose and my main for hay
ing gone with the West the subject OF their roads
and division of counties has been nv prid---v..
sir my pride Vrgnian believe il is our interest
and duty to hold out and TO give every nducement to
emigran, from the Northern States and from Europe 10
settle that part oil the country, and to retain po-
puation at home. We have Virginia fall from being
the first State Of the Unon TO that OF the third and
without great oxertions part she will fall still
lower look TO the West as my hope, see her main
tain her present station in these states Extend the
elective franchise, make your system Of government
LIBERAL and republican, and will fill western yr-
gnia with Inhabitants and all parts OF your State with
moro dense population. The right oi suffrage ba,
hitherto been coatined to frcehoders exclv,ivcly will
any one give why il should be required of
voter to members of the General Assembly when
the same requisite is not DEM, nded Of those who fill the
high departments Of the State! Your Generals your
Governors, your Judges your Treasurer your Auditor
not required 10 he freeholdsrs. They are not re
quired to posses this emblem Of "'psrmanent common
interest with, and attachment to, the community
That evidence exaccd alone from the native born CT.
tzen the honest planter when he goes TO the polls So
also in the Federal Government The President the Sc
majors, the Representatives, the Judges and ali others
downward from them placed in Office without en-
quiring whether they are frocholders or not Can any
man give plausible reason, why man is fit to I'LL all
those high offices, and not fit TO TO the polls2 II
you can trust in all high Offices without an interest
IN the soil, why cannot you trust voter also, without
that interest in tho land? think the cases have sted
ought TO be sufficient for extending the right Of
suffrage | will not reply to ophcts that gentlemen
have used both sdes-such arisocrat republican
&c I may be called either; those who know me best
arc republicans by acts and deeds, and not by words
They have confided their interest to mo- and, 7 trust
u will not be abused. Make constitution that the pco
pie will! gladly approveredrcss all tho evils complained
OF by the old constitutions and YOU may call II srisocra
ey, oligarchy and every thing bu; Republic Yet The
people will raify 1t.
In Virginia epiihes have lost their power; will