Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-22

IEtbtQ.
To the Non-Freehoiders of P;cJnonJ
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY % 400

to, expressed their determination to vote for NOM
bers of Convention. There arc very few persons of
intelligence remaining in the commonwealth who
do not acknowledge constitutional and inherant
right 10 vote, or who do not admit that the law
rcstricting suffrage TO the frcehoders was so fay
IN the teeth OF the Bill of Rights, which in so many
words, lays down the fundamental maxim, that n
mpoHfy OF the community possesses the inherent,
naeDablc, and ndefeasibe right to alter or abolish
the form OF Government, subsisting for the time
beng. To our knowledge, many of the most en-
h9htcned antagonists Of the Convention gipe up The
question, and concede the construction which VIZ
give TO the Bill Of Rights, be the right and tn7,
construction.
But let us suppose our right to be doubtful Let
us grant for argument sake, thai the constrpc-
ton which we put upon the Bill of Rights, is an
erroneous construction; that an ordinary Lepish
turc as some contepd can repeal the whole or INV
part OF the Bill of Rights, Let us suppose anv mr.
all OF these positions be true and still we ought
not to omit giving our votes. We are content 10
refer tho decision Of tho question of right to th.
Convention. Our poll will go before that wise and
supreme body. II they say that We had no right to
vote--that the law denying the privilege, was q
valid and constitutional law, then we will acquiesce
Convention, than from necessity But if this should
be the result, ami the Convention ultimately decdr,
TO reject our votes, still we lose nothing by votintr
anu iRilict injustice upon no living thing If they
decide that we had the right and that our votes arc
as good as the votes Of freeholders we shall hav,,
the satisfaction of having overthrown an arbitrary
unjust and tyrannical law, and of having success
fully indicated rights und privileges against
vho ,uieb nI 10 r
SO that, friends and brethren, we can lose notbmp
by rating. We hurt no man by it. There is an
appellate tribunal to review our conduct; q tribunal
VI whose justice, wisdom, impartiality and rcpubI-
cahsm, we have unbounded confidence If we shall
ne mistaken IN our construction of the law and the
constitution; if vote having no lawful right 70
vote, the Convention will reject out sufrages, md
adJudge the election precisely II We had never
voted.
How important this privilege is, ID manifest from
the fact, that wc the non freeholders of Richmond
hold the balance, and can incline the result as W..
please. Our numbers hardly less, and probably
moro than I00-concurring as we generally do VIC
believe as far opinion has been developed in SEN
tmcnt, we can select what four of tho candidates
now before the district piense-for our views are
also the views of powerful division OF the Richmond
ireehoiders. Let then, exercise our rirhi, On,
this most Interesting crisis which can possibly oec,
in Republican Community. If it be not orr yicht.
still let us exercise it, and test the question before
the convention, since by doing, we offend against
no law which we believe ourselves bound to respect,
and slncc we inure no man by it. We have every
inducemcnt to vote--the belief that we have been
wrongiully bereft Of rights by the Legislature
the wish dear to every free man, to enjoy the nesi-
nabIc privilege of su!iragethe firm conviction that
wcarc sustained in the course by the Bill OF Rights
the certainty that five vote and together we can
select men who Will represent feelings and opin-
Lons--and the undoniabe fact. that we may do rood
to ourselves and others by voting, and do injury
by it, TO none.
We will notice ono or two suggestions that We
have casually heard. One is that MS the non.ffee.
holders in other parts of the district have not voted
neither ought we in Richmond Indeed! new idea
truly, that because others either through ignorance
or fear or Indifference yield their rights that ve who
arc neither ignorant, nor afraid nor indifferent, must
do so too! 1t surely was not tho fault of the nonec-
holders of Richmond, that their brethren in other
parts of The District did not vote go far from
1t, the non-freeholders of Richmond, wer6 tho 6rs,
III the State, TO dcnounce the convention law 10 INSERT
theT nght to vote and to make known their PURPOSE
OF cXerclsingit They did what they could, TO ro,ns
and stimulate the whole body of non freeholdcrs To
just sense OF eimporsance and necessity Of vont,
for members Of convention. And because ovs brp-
thren below were too sluggish and tinad to claim,
what the constitution gives them is it reasonable TIM.
their sluggshness and timdity should affect ps and
incur a forfeiture of our rights and prviIeqcs We
think the force Of the argument lies the o,bc, wov.
and that The luke-wurmness Of others ought to act
as stimulus upon us, to urge rs to give proofto the
world that we both know our rights, and dare min
tain thon1
II IS said by some but whether in earnest or in de-
iison we know not, but we imagine tho lnttertbat
many non-freeholdcrs will be ashamed TO vote with
U.s. ana thus to lot it be known that they are not
ho'ders-that they have neither n uartor nero lot