Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-27

peen selection Of their highest func,;onarcs ~
s @ , t.1n. Una, mas ed Esan aud directed her de
disiinctoo has been elec 10y the people has forced
passage TO Though "the House the People" Pts,
Castlereagh Canning. owed ,e political elevation TO he
peoples AMI whehc for good for cv icw any,
81 human affairs Aud, If consult our own %
this point and refer to James Madison we must admin tia, h.
vas nohment Of tho capacity Of the people To choose puc
agents, and Of the haiI,y Of any Other reliance r'
ResoiUsd fherors That the appointment of deputies 10
veon despolc ,cn;eie and involves am ii e ss,
dSyowai Of e peoples capacity TO themselves
tsesctred That the people arAonpe
o. thsr QUA matters, without the Of directors.
EON.FREEHOLDERS.
At most numerous aud respectable adjourned
meeting Of the citizens OF tho town Of PETERSBURG
(fresholders and non-frechoaersI friendly to an OK.
tension OF the elective franchise, at the Courthouse
ON Saturday evening, March 81, 1920: MAJ Daniel
e. Butts, Chairman, Edward Pescud, Secretary:
Mr.. Wm. Robertson, Jr. from the select commit
Gre, appointed at the previous meeting, made rcport
accompanied with several resolutions which, having
read, he proceeded to supporpat considerable onrtb
and with great earnostncss and ability
he was succeeded by Mr.. Robert Gillian who,
although he objected TO one or two OF the positions
assumed III the report advocated its general features
With great fervor and enthusiasm.
Mr. Gillian having concludes he was was follow
CA by Col. James Robertson, Jr. at considerable
Length. Col. RS. views were different from those
uf the committee. Hc Tor running a separate
ticket for the Convention, favorable TO an extension
OF the RICH, of suffrage but time did not admit OF
putting his plan into operation aud as nnion anlonr
the friends OF the nulftecho!des was absolutely ne,
ceSsary, he waived his own particular views on this
important subject and supported in a most animated
ana logical manner, the plan proposed by the coin
Inittee.
Mr.. Wm. Robertson, Jr. ngain addressed Tho
meeting Tor few moments, in support and explana
ton OF that portion Of the report and resolutions
which had been objected tu.
The question was called for from, various paris
OF the house, lin consequence Of tho lateness of thc
IF thn ~,
thus overruled the vote taken OH the passape of
the preamble and resolutions, ind carried in the 1Tr
NATIVE by an unanimous vote, with solitary excep
ton.
The following is the report with the accomranv
ing resolutions. agreed upon by the committee and
adopted by the meeting:
j, We have been taught to believe, and do believe,
that ejom is the natural and Inherent right of man
of which he cannot be deprived except by force or
fEaud and that in country boastinp OF ite repu
can institutions and principles, is mortiyinr TO sec
,iIat large portion OF this community have been de-
priyed of its political rights by another portion of the
same community, (wtbout the least shadow of JUS
tce in an equal participation in the government un-
der which they llvc for which their ancestors offered
up their lives and fortunes, Which they have at all
times defended when necessary, and which the non
freehoiders, well as freeiiolders have equally in
herited We have been taught to believe by tho
Bill of Rights that. TO preserve the government in its
purity, frequent recurrence TO fundamental princ
rles is highly neccssa-y-and the anc Invaluable in
strument has instructed us, That majority of the
cofa1,1ty, not of rcehoIdcrs have an Acknowledged
and indubitabe right alter amend or abolish pir
form OF government whenever 1t shall be found rot
10 answer the object for which il was established.
minority Of more than five thousand freeholders OF
thus commonwealth have declared that It's constitution
ought TO be amended. Pnis nesting declare il rs
their opinion that, in ,s PRESENT situation the repre.
s.'ntatlon IN THE legislature is grossly unjust oppres-
sive, and unequal. That largo portion. ifnot ma
Jointly, ofths free white male population totally
represented. What the powers ofthe judiciary ourht
10 be limited so rs to make them more immediately
responsible to those (thc people) from whom they de-
rive all their power, and for whom they arc mere
agents Non rcelioldcrs well as frceholdcrs, are
presumed TO be peopl'. That tho legislature Ourit 10
he grculy limited and reduced in It's numbers; being
under Its present organization oppressive and BURDEN
sDmc That the grievances above enumerated arc
some OF tho many by which the people Of this
rnonweaith, non frecholders, opposed. That tax
alton aL6 representation were clarcd nv our ances-
iors to be indispensable to freedom. firm and stca
ny adherence to this principle produced the revolution
by which they established their independence. This
meeting therefore unequivocaly and publicly declare
II as their opinion, that the principle which thcv now
contend for with the frechudcrs, is dnntica1ly the
same That they are taxed without being rcprcscn-
trd by which they deprived of their roliticn
right IN all respects, and to all inteuts us orr forcfl
theirs were, by tho British government. They also
contend that the political truth that all men are by
nature, free and equal, and which was great prin-
cipc OF the American revolution, is at war with the
principles of dcspotism and the pride Of ars;ocracv
and ought to be the foundation of all our fundancn
tai Institutions. This alone unncrvc the despos
arm and stay the cuPidiiy of the arstocra. 1t pa-
css check on the proud wave Of usurpation limits
the evil aims of ambition and nlscs gor aud enter
prise into tho body polite. It's saulary energies iii,
the poor man iro,n state OF vass6age into n political
being, and clothc him with that majesty which the
God ofnatnrc gave him, and of which, If man dvost
him, II is tyrnnncpl aud socegious ~ il therefore
FIAT they peaceahy but firmly. urge their inst claims
90 an equal Participation in this government. That
IN thus urging what they conceive 20 be thcir Iusl
claims thny sec.; than the recovery Of those
Just and equitable rights. which they humbly conceive
- be Gtriy oad ergfici,V delegated 10 them by the
9th aisice Of the Bill n Rights, which by the opera
ton Of unjust lcgisniinn, as bees long and preiu.
dicinlly wrbhcld from thcnt--what rms odi1us end
oppressive 10 their ancestors. Is moro by the
role odcus and oppressive 20 them.
We have seen, with deep modification, that the
Legislature has far transcribed their legitimate
vnd constitutional rights sto pass law for elcctiug