Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-26

ever been gwen was that given on the Convention
question. The number of those who voted in favor
of the Convention 2l 1913, and of those who vo-
ted against it iG,887 making aggregate of SO 78o
could not say what proportion of the frccholcrs
entitled vote, omitted to exercise their RIGHT 1t
was generally estimated that about one-siXth may
have omitted to vote. During the last winter the
subject was talked over frequently by the members
of the General Assembly, and it generally placed
at that ratio. He then advcrted to the number of
frceholdcrs who charged with no property tax,
and to the proportion of female names-much great
in the savc-holding than the non-slayc- b0ldur
part of the Stae-which are to found on the proper
ty tax books, and which he estimated at about 8 per
cent of the whole These persons are considerable
property holders in the save-hodng part of the
State, holding this kind of property by bequcst an
inheritance. Again there arc many minors i'll the
State who are subject to property tax but who can
not be permitted to vote. Taking these excluded
persons together. they will amount almost equal
proportion with the white males who arc qualified to
vote Mr.. ID. then went into snma other calculations
to shew what would be the operation of an extension
of the right TO all those whose names are to be found
on the property books.
He to the discussion OF this point under cir
cumstanCcs of great disadvantage He was one of
those who wished the qualification tn be fixed in thu.
first instance. He wishc ascertain the sense of
the committee, bciarc the final decision of the basis
The committee had eready refused to 90 into the
House with the resolution; and had refused to record
the names Of the members when they vote OH the
Journal. There Is some reason expect that new
basis may be provided iur the Senate. We have
already had-lst, the combined basis-2d, he basis
on the federal nuhers-and 3d. the basis on taxation
only It ssemS TO he the detcrmnl ton of the oen-
tleinen to have an arStocrucy of wealth in the Sen
ate He considered all these basis as founded in
error and as insufficient to crafty public expectation
tic thought the true policy extend the rirht
ct suffrage to all to whom the S,a;e look r support
rms was sufficient to prove that they had common
interest IN the State. The abolition of the poll tax
lie presumed will be OF the first measures of the
white basis Of representation should be it adopted
lie had witnessed many efforts to abolish this tan
anu lad assisted In many attempts make roads md
10 auopt systems of measures which would be agree
ahe 10 the west lie advertcd TO the arduous du,ic,
imposed upon the people by requiring them TO work
upon the roads. This is peculiarly grievous tax
on him who has to employ white labor. lin some
parts the people are compelled to travel many miles
with mattaoks on their shoulders to work on the
road In this labor, from ten to twenty tavs are
consumed every year, and he who engages iabour-
er has to pay larger for his services TO cover
to him this lost time.
lie complained that the RIGHT of sufIiaco would bo
contracted SO much to exclude 40 COO persons If
the extension were to be limited by the propostion
OF the gentleman from Chesterfield; and that this if
done, would be done by minority of the freehoLIers
who are themselves minority of the ouoli6ad r,,,
lie deprecated such an attempt to exclude so GREAT
number, by the minority Of a minority In repIv
10 me references made BY the gentleman from Ches
tereld to England he admit ed that TO that country
we are indebted for many of our best priviepcs
From Eugland we have drawn much and shall vet
draw more. We had profited by the enlightened
road
TO accord this, than himself We arc indebted to
that country for the tiial by ury-the habeas cor,s
ana othe' valuable privileges. The precedents of
me gentleman were looked for in, and brought from
England Tor every occasion. But in that count ry
! whenever reform required no matter Inv u,ho,,'
the Ministers have always been prepared with an
pology tor refusing IT. At one time the Christian
relg'on was 1t jeopardy, Church and State were il.
danger. and at another time, it was answered.
I'VE are at war with France. That must he tor
minated before the proper time will arrive Tn.
proper time never has arrived. If we 20 back to the
time OF the great charter, i'll the 10th cenfury VII
eXtorted that charter from the Sovereign which s
nov IN effect to this dayf The Barons Tbnv or
torted t-They were the reeholders and the rest of
Inc nation were non-treeholders like the majority of
the people OF this State-Henry the Sd had confar
red these liberties before john for when tho Rorong
made the demand and were asked bv John what wore
the liberties they desiredS-the answer wasssJ'hosa
Willch your father gave u.s. The demand was then
reduced to writing, and the grant was regular
signed, sealed and delivered. This grant is still nrc
served IN ITS original form, in the tower of London
w know what sort of feelings the Barons had
t ney ,iaG arms IN their hands when hey required
the Kings consent to their demand. lie welded
put afterwards appealed to the Pope promised to
uesCaKe crusade to the Holy Land and made 3,
g1it Oh his Kingdom to the Pope and st. Peter.
MS was the way by which he endeavOnred TO evade
his obligation. But St. Peter did NOT interrers ~
behat OF the King, and ne found himself in minor
lty The ball. as the gentleman from CLesterGoid
;'i was pun III motion: 1t was going down hill
a contrary motion. s''O 1t
,,-"Hoc opus, hc labor est" He had not traced
side. 9e" y" 'he other
lhls was one civil revolution, by which the people
gained, and in which the evil predictions of its onpo
sers had not been verified, and of the snme cboFrpp
ter was that which obtained the lesser charter and
another which extended the articula super cta,Ias
1' and more important one, was the revo-
luton OF 1888, by which the clause "oua,ndju bene
seJaceret" was invented in the Judges comnniss on,
m exchange for settlement of the succession to the
Grown, upon the heirs Of the Princess Sonbia nf
Han0ver-a settlement desired by the Monarch who
This gave to England independent judiciary, and
ne prayed to God, that to remotest ages, thew NAV
never part with this sheet anchor of free State.
UnnaPPly Tor the people of Scotland and Ireland, in
tnel several articles of union with England no pro-
VISION was made to the independence of their
Judges the consequence of which has been in our
own days, that for the same CHARGES Catboiics -,